Colton Parayko almost dropped the phone Saturday morning when Hockey Hall of Fame defenceman Al MacInnis welcomed the St. Albert product to the St. Louis Blues.
"I could barely talk back. My stomach kind of dropped on the spot," said Parayko, selected by the Blues in the third round, 86th overall, in the NHL entry draft. "He basically said we've heard highly of you and we'll keep in touch."
It was the greatest day of Parayko's life.
"It's something that everyone dreams of as a kid. To hear your name or get a phone call about getting drafted is pretty unreal actually," he said. "It's quite an accomplishment but I'm looking at it as the start of a whole new process because there is still a lot of work to be done. I've got to keep moving forward and focus on keep working hard."
The six-foot-five and 207-pound defenceman knew he was on the NHL radar screen during his second Alberta Junior Hockey League season with the Fort McMurray Oil Barons, but wasn't sure if any team would pick him.
"I talked to a scout from St. Louis and he kind of said to keep working hard," Parayko said. "I talked to a couple of other teams too but I didn't know exactly where I was going or even if I was going to go."
Parayko, 19, showcased his skills at two major international competitions last year. He played in the inaugural World Junior Club Cup in Omsk, Russia with the Oil Barons and was one of seven AJHL players on the gold-medal winning Canada West team at the World Junior A Challenge in Langley, B.C.
The first of four AJHL players drafted in 2012 credits Oil Barons' head coach/general manager Gord Thibodeau and assistant coach Tom Keca for his development as a hockey player.
"They did an outstanding job. I can't say enough what they've done for me," Parayko said. "The whole organization was a pleasure to play for. It was incredible. I honestly wouldn't want to be anywhere else in the AJHL."
Parayko broke into the AJHL after a season of midget AA with the St. Albert Crusaders and recorded three goals and nine assists in 42 games with the Oil Barons. In the playoffs he added two goals and one assist in 12 games.
The former Paul Kane High School student finished last season as the second-highest scoring defenceman on the Oil Barons with nine goals, including five on the power play, and 33 assists in 53 games. He also recorded three goals and nine assists in 21 playoff games for the AJHL finalists.
"I had a pretty good rookie season and this year I improved quite a bit on my skating and my strength but there is still a lot of things to improve on as well."
In the fall Parayko will ply his trade with the University of Alaska Fairbanks Nanooks in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association.
"I'm excited. I've heard they're all good guys and you can't go wrong with that."
Walters drafted
In the meantime Parayko will prepare for the Blues' development camp next month. He will be joined by St. Albert's Nick Walters, who was taken in the fourth round, 116th overall, by the Blues. They were among four defencemen the Blues selected with their eight picks in the draft.
"I know him a little bit. When I see him we'll have a little conversation," Parayko said.
Walters, 18, spent the last two seasons with the Everett Silvertips after playing midget AAA with the St. Albert Raiders in 2009-10. The Silvertips' first-round selection (eighth overall) in the 2009 Western Hockey League bantam draft had six goals, 12 assists and 95 penalty minutes in 62 games last season.
The six-foot-two and 190-pound Walters was the second Silvertips' player drafted this year. He played for Team Pacific at the 2011 World U17 Hockey Challenge and represented Team Alberta at the 2009 Western Canada U16 Challenge Cup.
Raiders products
Also drafted last weekend was left-winger Troy Bourke and defenceman Matt Benning, former teammates of Walters on the Raiders.
Bourke, a resident of Onoway who played midget AAA in St. Albert, went to the Colorado Avalanche in the third round, 72nd overall. Benning was chosen in the sixth round, 175th overall, by the Boston Bruins.
Bourke, 18, led the Prince George Cougars with 18 goals and 56 points in 71 WHL games and competed for Canada at the U19 world championships.
Benning, 18, completed his second AJHL season with the Spruce Grove Saints, where he accumulated four goals, 21 assists and 152 penalty minutes in 87 career games.
His dad, Brian, was selected 26th overall by the Blues in 1984 and Jim Benning, his uncle, was grabbed by the Toronto Maple Leafs as the sixth overall pick in 1981.
