Boston Bruins: Ex-Bruin Andrew Ference Shows How He Got In The NHL
Andrew Ference was an important member of the Boston Bruins a few years ago. If the fan base had their way, he still would be. Ference brought leadership, humor, and a snarl that still seems to be missing from the current incarnation of a Bruins team. (If Ference was still a Bruin, he’d be that top-four defenseman the Bruins could use.) He was an alternate captain for the Black and Gold when they went all the way in 2011 to capture the Bruins first Stanley Cup in nearly forty years.
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It wasn’t always easy for Ference (now captain of the Edmonton Oilers). In fact, his getting into the NHL was by no means secure. Back in 1997, Ference was playing for the Portland Winter Hawks o the Western Hockey League. While he was eligible for the 1997 NHL Entry Draft, Central Scouting had determined that Ference wasn’t good enough to be listed or ranked. For a lot of players, that would have been a crushing blow.
It wasn’t for Andrew Ference. Ference went through the same type of physical testing that Central Scouting did. Once he got all the information, he made a seriously chancy roll of the dice. In a move equal parts inspiration and desperation, he faxed the results of his testing to all the NHL teams in the league.
It certainly made an impression. How many 18-year olds would send their resume to every team in the league? Ference ended up getting drafted in the eighth round(208th overall)of the 1997 NHL Entry Draft. Ference crossed the 1,000 NHL games plateau last season, and has made an impact on every team he has played on. It’s great that Ference took the time to share this with social media. It could certainly give some undrafted player a great idea next year.