Eleven years ago in the center of the Cedar Park Center, a 35 year-old Toby Petersen let go of his crutches for just a moment and lifted the Calder Cup high above his head. Minutes later, he would tell me offstage that season was his last as a player. An injury had cut short his time with Texas in the playoffs, and he had his sights on what was next in his career: coaching.
“It's crazy how things come full circle in hockey,” Petersen told 100 Degree Hockey when reached by phone Friday afternoon. “I was out of sight, out of mind, working with different teams throughout the AHL and the NHL.