A local hockey player’s dreams of making it to the NHL are one step closer to coming true.
While team’s were busy calling the names of prospects in Las Vegas on Saturday, the Nicholl family and friends were watching from home in Manotick with a mix of emotions.
Eighteen-year-old William, a centre who played last season with the Ontario Hockey League’s London Knights, was hoping to be drafted with his name eventually called 196th overall by the Edmonton Oilers.
William’s father Randy is a teacher at St.Michael Catholic School in Kemptville and he says he couldn’t believe it when he saw that his son had been selected but added he knew had a good chance.
Randy says he could tell his son loved the game of hockey from the first time he had him on the ice at the age of 2.
“I plunked him down on his skates, he fell on the ice, and there were kids wheeling around him and he was so angry because he saw what other kids were doing, he was able to get up and just start walking on his skates right away.”
William is taking part in the Edmonton Oiler’s prospect camp this week and will return to play another season for London in September.
