Mass.-ive movement
Locals go early, often
CHICAGO — Several Massachusetts players heard their names called about where expected on Day 2 of the NHL entry draft. All described it, one way or another, as the biggest thrill of their young lives.
These four went in the third and fourth rounds yesterday:
• Defenseman Ben Mirageas of Newburyport, who will enter Providence College in the fall, was drafted in the third round (No. 77 overall) by the New York Islanders.
• Defenseman Reilly Walsh of North Falmouth, on his way to Harvard, was another third-rounder (81st) who went to the New Jersey Devils.
• Goalie Keith Petruzzelli of Wilbraham, heading to Quinnipiac University, was taken in the third (88th) by the Detroit Red Wings.
• Defenseman Jack Rathbone of West Roxbury, going to Harvard along with Walsh, was chosen in Round 4 (95th) by the Vancouver Canucks.
“It’s awesome,” said Rathbone of having all four Massachusetts players drafted within a few minutes of each other at the United Center. “I mean, this is what we’ve been dreaming about since we were little kids. I’m good buddies with all these kids. I was rooting for them. Just to hear their names called, and eventually mine, it was a dream come true.”
Several youngsters already playing for Boston-area colleges, or set to begin doing so in the fall, were also drafted.
Boston University made it five first-rounders in two years when goalie Jake Oettinger (26th, Dallas Stars) and center Shane Bowers (28th, Ottawa Senators) were taken. BU also saw defenseman David Farrance selected (third round, 92nd) by the Nashville Predators. Merrimack College defenseman Johnny Kovacevic went to the Winnipeg Jets (third round, 74th) and Northeastern goalie Cayden Primeau went to the Montreal Canadiens (seventh round, 199th).
“To hear my name called was a huge relief,” Mirageas said. “It’s definitely been a really hectic couple of months, but it’s also been the best couple of months of my life so far. I just want to thank my family and all my coaches and teammates. I couldn’t have gotten here without all of them.”
Mirageas cites New York Rangers blueliner Brady Skjei as a player he emulates.
“He’s just a tremendous skater,” Mirageas said. “He likes to create transition as seamlessly as possible and put up points.”
Walsh gave credit to his father, Mike, who had a brief stint with the Islanders and is the longtime coach at New Hampshire’s Proctor Academy.
“Growing up with my dad, he wasn’t in the NHL for long, but he did make it,” Walsh said. “It kind of put things in perspective for me that anything is possible. That opened my eyes right away. He did make it, though he didn’t stay very long. So that will be motivation for me to be better than he was — not in a competitive way, but in taking everything he learned and taught me, and using it to my advantage. My dad is everything to me. ... I definitely wouldn’t be anywhere without him.”
The 6-foot-6 Petruzzelli was delighted to find himself wearing Red Wings red.
“It’s hard to put into words,” Petruzzelli said. “It’s such a great feeling. It’s a great franchise. You never know what’s going to happen, Obviously it’s a huge honor to be drafted by Detroit. I can’t wait to get started. I’m going to be hitting the gym and trying to put some muscle mass on.”
Like the other Massachusetts kids, Petruzzelli had plenty of family on hand.
“My brother, little sister, mom, dad, both my uncles, my grand dad,” he said. “I think my dad might have been the loudest guy in the building. He was going a little crazy. And there were tears from my mom. It’s awesome.”