University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Share NHL Entry Draft Memories: Part 2
6/20/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Hockey
The 2011 NHL Entry Draft will be held June 24-25 at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. There are a few incoming freshmen who are draft eligible, but today we check in with current Gophers and what they remember about their draft day. (Part 1 of this feature ran on GopherSports.com on Monday, June. 13.)
Nico Sacchetti (selected by the Dallas Stars in the second round, 50th overall, in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft)
"I went to the draft on Friday night in Columbus, Ohio but knew that I was not going to be drafted in the first round. I had talked to a few teams and knew that Dallas was the most interested in me and they did not have a first-round pick. They told me beforehand that if I was still available in the second round that they would take me. I figured that if nobody took me before that that they would take me. It was pretty much what I expected. It was a feeling of relief and excitement at the same time. I was happy it was over with and was happy with the team that selected me. It was nice to be there and to experience everything."
Jake Hansen (selected by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the third round, 68th overall, in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft)
"I probably would have gone to the draft if I thought I was going to be a higher draft pick, but I knew I was going to be somewhere between the second and fourth round. I love playing golf and felt comfortable out there with the boys. I started getting a lot of text messages from family and friends that said congratulations. I was a little nervous and was waiting for the call. Then I got a call from Columbus and they told me they picked me. It was definitely a relief to know it was over. Columbus is one of the teams who interviewed me, but I spoke with 12-15 teams so I had no idea where I was going to go."
Taylor Matson (selected by the Vancouver Canucks in the sixth round, 176th overall in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft)
"The draft was in Columbus that year, but I did not go. My family was paying for me to go to Holy Angels at that time, so going to the draft would have been tough. I was at home by myself because my parents were out of town. I was just sitting at the computer hitting refresh over and over again. Four names would come up with every refresh and when I saw my name I was pretty excited. I got a call from the draft floor and it was Vancouver's general manager. I gave my parents a call and they were really excited as well. I was at the computer for the entire second day of the draft. I started with the second round and was there all the way through to the end of the draft. I had friends who were getting drafted and wanted to see where they were going as well. It was getting toward the end when I was drafted when I was picked. There were probably 30 more players to be taken as I was drafted in the middle of the sixth round."
Kent Patterson (selected by the Colorado Avalanche in the fourth round, 113th overall, in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft)
"I went to the draft in Columbus, Ohio. I thought it would be a fun time and mixed in a college visit as well. I was happy to picked and Colorado is a good organization. I went on Friday and saw Patrick Kane and all those guys get drafted. I was sitting right behind P.K. Subban so it was a good experience. On Saturday I did not know when I was going to get picked so I got up and started walking around. I had just gotten back from the bathroom when I heard my name. From there I went down onto the draft floor and met everybody and did all that fun stuff. I don't know if I felt relief at being picked, it was more exciting than anything."
Seth Helgeson (selected by the New Jersey Devils in the fourth round, 114th overall, in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft)
"I knew I was not going to be drafted in the first round, so I did not go to the draft. I was watching the draft on television on the NHL Network and that is how is I found out I was drafted. The Devils then called me and told me they drafted me. I interviews with New Jersey at the combine and then I worked out with them before the draft. They were one of the teams who talked to me the most, but I did not really know where I was going. I did not know where I was going to go in the draft. People kept saying I could go anywhere from second to fourth. I was getting nervous as time went on and was relieved when I heard my name. After I got the phone call I told my parents and then got a lot of text messages from friends and from former teammates in Sioux City. It was a good time. I did not watch the end of the draft though, it was time to stop watching."
Nick Larson (selected by the Washington Capitals in the seventh round, 185th overall, in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft)
"I did not attend the draft. I wanted to take it easy that day so my dad and I went golfing. I got the call when we were on the twelfth hole. I was projected late second or early third but I hurt my back pretty bad in high school and I think that scared some teams off. We had a tough time figuring out what was wrong with my back and how to fix it. I had gotten a few calls during the day from teams asking about my back. I told them I thought it was going well and was going to be fine. It was a good feeling when I did get the call though. I think it is one of those things that does not hit you right away. I was not playing very good golf, so I was pretty mad about that at the time. We finished the round and I talked to a few guys afterward from the Capitals."
Grant Potulny (selected by the Ottawa Senators in the fifth round, 157th overall, in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft)
"I was not at the draft. I got a phone call from a guy who said he was with the Ottawa Senators. I did not believe him because I thought it was somebody playing a prank on me. He said they took me in the fifth round. I called my dad, who was golfing, at told him I was drafted and he did not believe me. I did not even think there was a prayer, so it was quit shocking that I got drafted."
