A year ago or even a few months ago Lane Pederson wouldn't have predicted this day would come so soon.

The 19-year-old Swift Current Broncos forward has now taken the next step towards his dreams by signing a three-year entry-level contract with the NHL's Arizona Coyotes. The deal will take effect next season.

"It's been pretty exciting," Pederson said. "It's been pretty surreal. It's obviously a dream come true. If you would have asked me a month ago if this would have been happening I would have said no way. It's a pretty exciting time for me and my family. I can't thank the Broncos enough for giving me this opportunity."

Early in his WHL career Pederson had a reputation as a good two-way player who was contributing as a solid bottom six forward. It was enough he earned an invite to Anaheim's rookie camp in the summer of 2015.

The Saskatoon product's offensive game started to pick up steam with Red Deer and really took off in the middle of last season when Swift Current picked him up in the big Jake DeBrusk deal. Pederson then found another gear with 14 goals and 20 assists in 37 games.

"It's been a pretty quick turnaround from the start of my career to where I am now," Pederson said. "Lots of it is opportunity. (Mark Lamb) traded for me last year and it's probably the best thing that ever happened to me. I just got a shot and had some early success in Swift and just kind of rolled with it."

Now after Lamb traded for him with the Broncos he could end up being Pederson's first pro coach with Arizona's AHL affiliate in Tucson.

"That would be pretty cool," Pederson said. "Everything comes full circle. The hockey world is a small world. It would pretty exciting starting there with Mark."

With two seasons of WHL eligibility left there was no rush necessarily to get a deal done from either side. It is still a big relief for Pederson to know he has a future in professional hockey ahead of him.

"It's quite the weight off my shoulders," Pederson said. "One less thing to be stressed about. I can go out play my game and have fun. I just get to play hockey now. It's awesome."

Pederson is the third member of the Broncos to sign an NHL contract this fall following Max Lajoie's deal with Ottawa and Colby Sissons' with New Jersey.

"It's a great recruiting tool," said Broncos Coach/Director of Player Personnel Manny Viveiros. "It shows that the organization in years past that we brought good players in here. That's ultimately what we want to do is get these kids to the next level. The kids that have signed have all worked really hard and deserved to get NHL contracts. We feel we have other kids here that deserve it as well. At the end of the season hopefully we are going to get these kids signed too. That is just going to make our team better."

Swift Current is off to a great start this season with a 7-2-0-1 record tied for top spot in the Eastern Conference.

"We're a fast team," Pederson said. "We've gelled pretty good on and off the ice. Manny's system has really worked super well. Everyone is buying in. We are playing as a team right now. We're scoring by committee and no one is really doing it on their own."

That type of team game will be necessary as they continue their BC road swing against the Western Conference leading Prince George Cougars on Tuesday. You can hear the game live on The Eagle 94.1 FM with Robertson Family Group Broncos Hockey at 7:30pm.

Click here for the full interview with Lane Pederson