Pelawa was a three-sport star. As a first baseman, he led his school to the Minnesota State Baseball tournament in 1985 and was scouted by the Minnesota Twins. He was also an all-state football linebacker, recruited to play in the National Collegiate Athletic Association by Notre Dame, Penn State and Minnesota.[1]

As a hockey player, Pelawa set new Bemidji High records for goals and points, leading the school to the state championship tournament in his junior and senior years.[1] He scored 29 goals and 55 points in his senior year and was named Minnesota Mr. Hockey for 1986.[1][2]

He committed to play for the University of North Dakota,[3] and was selected in the first round, 16th overall, by the Calgary Flames at the 1986 NHL Entry Draft.[2] His nicknames in hockey were "Ice Box" and "The Great White Shark", and at 245 pounds, would have been the biggest player in NHL history if he had played at the time he was drafted.