Taylor Fedun (Photo courtesy of Beverly Schaefer / Princeton University) RELATED Fedun's career stats & bio (Princeton University website)

Edmonton native Taylor Fedun signed a two-year contract with the Oilers’ organization on March 8. The 6-1, 210 pound defenseman couldn’t be happier to get a chance with his childhood team.

“You’d hate to use a cliché but it really is a dream come true,” Fedun said. “To grow up in the city of Edmonton, to look up to the Oilers your entire life, to have the opportunity to be a part of the organization is something that I think is really special and one I’m really excited about.”

Fedun spent time with the Oklahoma City Barons of the American Hockey League, but has yet to appear in his first professional game. He was released from his ATO on March 23, and will return to Princeton University where he appeared in 127 games, recording 68 points (20-48-68) and 154 penalty minutes this past season.

Fedun’s best collegiate season came during his senior campaign, when he scored a career high 10 goals and added 12 assists in 29 games.

The blueliner is part of the Princeton Class of 2011 which will graduate as the winningest class in program history with 72 wins in four seasons. Fedun will also graduate as one of the more recognized defenseman in recent Princeton history.

As a senior, Fedun became just the third defenseman in the last 40 years to score double figures in goals. 

“It’s quite an honor. It’s something that I didn’t really know much about until it had happened and it’s such a storied past with the program so it’s quite an honor to be in that type of elite company.”

Fedun, a captain in his final season, was also named first-team All-Ivy League as a senior.

“Again, that was another huge honor. The Ivy League, I don’t think it gets a ton of press for NCAA hockey but… the Ivy League games, there’s always a little bit extra in those ones. There’s always rivalries, every time it’s an Ivy League game it’s always a big one so that was really nice.”

The soon-to-be Princeton grad’s favorite collegiate memory came early in his career there.

“That would definitely have to be freshman year when we were able to win the ECAC championship. To see the guys who had put the four years in, and how much it meant to them, it truly was a spectacular moment.”

Fedun returns to Princeton, where he will finish off his final semester with the Tigers.
 
“Academically I should be done at the end of this semester,” Fedun said. “I just have a few more courses that I need to take care of as well as senior thesis, which is required of all undergraduates at Princeton. So unfortunately, it’s some hands on work that I need to be right on campus for. So I need to go back for that.”

As well as his theses, Fedun also has an intriguing senior project.

“The goal of the project is to build a hovercraft. We’ve actually been working on building some smaller models and in the next month here we’re hoping to ramp it up and make something a little bigger that we can drive around on.”

Fedun will not see the ice for the Barons or Oilers this season, but he will stay in shape and look forward to being a productive member of his favorite childhood organization next season.

“I think you’ll see someone who competes very hard, looks to make a good first pass out of the ‘D-zone’ and when the opportunity arises. Likes to jump up in the play and try to make some things happen.”



Author: Chris Wescott | Oklahoma City Barons

 
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