Once a Bear now a Bruin…

-          By John Harrington

When Brendan Pelikh was 7, he decided it was time to start playing hockey. Thinking it was going to be a breeze, from what he saw on TV with the L.A. Kings, he knew it would be no big deal. Those guys made it look so easy. And so effortless. So, he convinced his mom to take him to Valley Ice – splat! – he spent much of that session as a human Zamboni, cleaning every inch of the ice with every part of his body. When Brendan tried to wind up with a Kopitar inspired slap shot, he spun back, missed the puck, and landed on his keester, like Charlie Brown trying to kick a football. And it was there, in that moment of humility, a passion for the game was born!

Now a 6’4, 230-pound winger for UCLA, Brendan looks back to that day and is forever grateful to the sport that has given him so much. He fell many times at Valley Ice yet picked himself back up over and over again. But it was during some of the most darkness days later on in life that his hockey brotherhood rallied around him, and as a team, picked him back up. Together. As one.

Brendan’s life was humming along smoothly after playing Peewee and Bantam a few seasons with the Bears. As a Midget, he decided to stay in California and play for the Kings AA. Soon after, he was accepted to Groton, prep school in Boston, and earned a spot on their team with two other former Bears. He took his education seriously, and as a perfectionist, studied hard, and played hockey hard. Then his entire world was turned upside down when his father, followed his brother, were both diagnosed with cancer. His father had battled the disease years before, only to have it return. His younger brother, a hockey player as well, found himself in critical condition after a tumor burst in his neck. It was a tumor he did not know that he had. As the walls closed in on Brendan, he did not find himself alone. He had the support of his teammates and community who stood by him, on and off the ice.

Speaking with Brendan about his painful journey, he recounted this experience with grace and strength. He attributes his teammates unwavering dedication, loyalty, and friendship as the key to remaining strong for his father and brother. This is what hockey has given him, a foundation of lifelong relationships who will always be there for him, and in return, he will be there for them, anytime, anywhere, and anyplace. If he never convinced his parents to take him to the rink that day, he doesn’t really know where he would be now, or how he would’ve handled the devasting crisis within his family. We all know sports can give us so much that it can almost be cliché. But what a beautiful cliché it is. There is nothing quite like the hockey community, not only within our own club, but from our friends/opponents at other clubs who put all rivalry aside to protect one of their own. I have been around many sports and have spoken to new hockey families who left other sports behind, and agree, without reservation, there is something so unique and special about our game.

Brendan fought through those dark days and graduated Summa Cum Laude from Groton and is now a sophomore at UCLA. Inspired by his father and brother’s battle to survive, in and out of hospitals, Brendan is studying to become a doctor. He told me Groton was tough academically, but that hockey set him up for success with structure and time management (to name just a few positive habits learned around the rink). Now Brendan can be seen sending chills down the spine of defensemen with his hulking and athletic frame. He recently lost his excess pandemic/hibernation weight (nearly 70lbs!) and is having a stellar season. He needed to lose the pounds to get stronger and more efficient. And stronger he has become as he’s increased his presence on the scoresheet. UCLA has 25 players on the roster, with many of them former opponents from his youth hockey days in So Cal. His network of deep, meaningful relationships continues to grow. He is having the time of his life, studying, playing hockey, and hanging out with his friends and family. His father and brother, their cancers in remission, survived that brutal year. For a young man of 19, Brendan has lived more than many, and comes across as a man you can trust and depend on. His friends and teammates are lucky to have him in their corner, as he too is lucky to have them. At the end of our conversation, Brendan offered to speak with anyone who needs guidance or support with hockey or health. What a class act. Just the kind of teammate everybody needs. Let me know if you would like his contact info!

Why hockey? (TEN WORDS OR LESS)

Hockey has brought me my closest friends and fondest memories.

When and where did you start playing hockey? Who inspired you to play?

I started playing when I was 7 at the Valley Ice Center’s In-House Program. My dad, who is from the Soviet Union and took me to Kings games for as long as I can remember, is who inspired me.

Years at the Bears? Best Bear Memory?

2014-2018

Best Bear Memory was playing in Sweden during my U14 year. Although we didn’t win the tournament, I made long-lasting friendships and memories with teammates whom I keep in contact with today. A funny memory was when we went to a Pizza Hut that ran out of cheese.

Nickname among your hockey friends?

Big Russian

Which coach/mentor/role model stays with you, to this day, in the back of your mind? How did they elevate your game? Favorite quote/expression you remember? Or something they did?

Peter Torsson elevated my game by showing me the quirks of hockey no other coach has. He taught me how to shoot in stride, stick handle off my body, and greatly improved my physical conditioning. My favorite memory of him was him hosting our team at his parents’ cottage on a lake in Sweden.

How did you balance studying, commuting, practice, and lots of missed school days?

The way I balanced everything was by not procrastinating. Whenever I got homework assignments, I did them as soon as I could. Whenever I got in trouble with schoolwork, I was always honest with my teachers, who were understanding. My best advice is to stay on top of schools and make sure that important things are done before more fun things like video games are done.

Which exercise gives you the biggest advantage on the ice?

Plyometrics, such as jump squats and lunge squats with a medicine ball, gave me the biggest improvement in my game.

Where are you playing now and how did you get there?

I’m playing club hockey at UCLA. I got into UCLA from Groton, a prep school, where I graduated at the top of my class Summa Cum Laude.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Hopefully, I’ll be in residency on route to becoming a doctor. I’m not sure which specialty I want to pursue yet specifically.

Who would win in a hockey fight? Tyson Fury (on skates) vs. Tony Twist?

Who would win in a fight in the ocean? A lion or a shark? Tony Twist any day.

Best celebrity sighting?

I met Dustin Brown at Toyota Sports Center.

The longest drive you/parents made for a hockey game?

7 Hours to Phoenix, Arizona.

Favorite hockey slang that confuses your civilian friends?

I like to talk about long hair by calling it lettuce. It’s relevant to everyday life and confuses everyone!

You have a Bears Time Machine, you fly back to your first day of Mites, what advice would you give yourself?

I would tell myself not to overthink my mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes on the ice, even players like Crosby and Kane. Dwelling on mistakes will only negatively impact your next shift.

What is the funniest misconception you’ve experienced when trying to explain to hockey players outside of California…that yes, there is indeed hockey in California?

I always hear the classic question about how ice doesn’t melt.

Look at your phone, what is the very last song you listened to? Be honest! No reason or apology necessary. (we all have that one song).

You Broke My Heart - Drake

Any real-world experience, which made you think “Yes, that’s just like in hockey.”  What did you learn from your hockey life, which has helped you in the real world (school, job, friendships)?

There are a lot of times in hockey, whether it be on the forecheck or on the penalty kill, where you have to do your part and trust your teammates will do theirs. If you try to play someone else’s position, everyone fails. In high school, there was a final physics presentation where my group members and I agreed on our own roles right off the bat and trusted each other that we would complete our work as promised. Our project was great, and just like in hockey, we succeeded by doing our roles and trusting each other.