Shawinigan Cataractes Sign Ex-WHL Overage Blueliner Rhys Pederson

The Shawinigan Cataractes have signed overage defenceman Rhys Pederson, who has 199 career games of WHL experience, on Monday.

Pederson, 20, left the Vancouver Giants after he cleared overage waivers last week, which made him free to sign anywhere he'd like. Shawinigan pounced on the opportunity, now brining the big blueliner over to the QMJHL.

The 6-foot-5 rearguard was a fifth-round pick by the Edmonton Oil Kings in the 2021 WHL draft, and played in four seasons for the Albertan side, even wearing an 'A' on his sweater last year.

For his overage year, Pederson was sent to the Giants, who eventually had to trim down their roster to not exceed the limit of three 20-year-old players on a roster. No other team claimed him off waivers, and here we are now.

The Stettler, Alta., native is a big, steady defensive defenceman, which is exactly what this young Cataractes team could use right now. With five rookies on their blue line, they'll hope this signing will help them climb out of the bottom four in goals against.

Pederson will fill the second of three overage spots on Shawinigan's roster, alongside Kody Dupuis. There's still room to add another 20-year-old player, if the team so desires.

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