[GoBlue2419]

Luke and Dylan walked into the Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh together alongside their families, with excitement, nerves, jubilation, and a little bit of fear all wrapped into one emotional package. This was the day they had been counting down to for months, or years to be entirely correct. They were wearing their best suits, but both looking to the moment when they could remove the jacket in preparation for putting on the sweater of whichever team drafted them.

As the #7 ranked prospect in the Draft, Luke was hoping to be one of the first names called. Dylan's final ranking of #38 was an improvement over the preliminary ranking, but coming off of the outstanding season he had for Pinecrest High School, his name had been receiving a lot of pre-draft buzz from many of the experts around the league. One of the happiest moments of Dylan's young life was hearing Jeremy Roenick exclaim about him in a Draft Preview a week ago, "I love this kid. I see him as a definite first-round talent, and I know I'm not alone in that opinion. There may be several teams looking to move up into the bottom of the first round to get a shot at him."

The boys and their families all took their seats in the arena, sitting amongst the other draft candidates and their families. Luke said a little prayer as Commissioner Bettman spoke from the podium, kicking off the evening's festivities. There was a whole throng of folks back in Pinecrest gathered in the school gymnasium, watching the event on the big screen, clamoring for the moments the names of their home town boys were announced.

The Winnipeg Jets owned the first pick in the draft, and most so-called experts were predicting one of three players to be selected in this slot. Nail Yakubov, Morgan Rielly, and Martin Frk were all worthy candidates. But perhaps a surprise was also in the cards.

Winnipeg GM Kevin Cheveldayoff stepped up to the podium as the anticipation levels in the arena picked up a notch or two. "With the first pick in the 2012 NHL Draft, the Winnipeg Jets are extremely proud to select . . . . . .from the Halifax Mooseheads, right winger Martin Frk."

So there it was. The first pick made, and Martin Frk's biography changed for the rest of his life. He will always be known as the 1st player chosen in the 2012 NHL Draft. Only time, and effort, and a little luck for sure, would tell if along with that title he would be known as the right choice for the Jets, a good player but not a great one, a disappointing selection, or an out and out bust.

As Nail Yakubov was selected next by the Flyers, and then Morgan Rielly chosen #3 by the Coyotes, Luke's nerves started to pick up a little more. He was hopeful his name would be called 5-6 picks. His mom, also feeling the nerves, reached out and grabbed his hand, calming Luke's nerves in a way only a mother could. He knew that whatever happened from here on out, he would have his parents' love and support.

The Panthers selected Luca Ciampini with the 4th pick, followed by Nick Ebert at #5 by Edmonton, and then Slater Kokkoek 6th by the Columbus Blue Jackets.

"With the 7th pick in the 2012 NHL Draft, the Anaheim Ducks select . . . . . . goaltender Jake Paterson, from the Saginaw Spirit," Ducks General Manager Bob Murray proclaimed.

The 8th, 9th, and 10th picks came and went, and still no mention of Luke Halvorsen. The Minnesota Wild held the 11th pick, and Luke was extremely hopeful he would get to stay close to home. The Wild selected a defenseman with their pick, but it was Adam Pelech instead. Luke's nerves started to pick up again, now starting to wonder how far he would fall.

Three more picks were off the board, as the Islanders, Maple Leafs, and Penguins all chose players other than Luke.

The Dallas Stars owned the 15th pick, and Luke thought to himself, "I've never been to Texas, maybe this will be my opportunity."

Dallas G.M. Joe Nieuwendyk stepped onto the stage, up to the podium, and announced the words the Halvorsen family had been waiting for. "With the 15th pick in the NHL Draft, the Dallas Stars are very happy to select . . . . Luke Halvorsen."

A loud roar reverberated through the Pinecrest gymnasium as the gathering back in Pinecrest heard his name announced, with one or more of the janitorial staff fearing major cleanup from a roof cave-in due to the deafening cheers.

Luke hugged his parents, then his sister Natalie, Dylan's parents, and finally Dylan. As he took off his jacket and started to head down the aisle to the stage, Luke turned back to Dylan, stuck out his fist, and said, "Minnesota forever!" Dylan returned the sentiment, excited for his great friend, but now ready to hear his name called.

Luke walked onto the stage, smile beaming from Pittsburgh to Pinecrest, and shook his new General Manager's hand. "Luke, we are extremely excited to have you put on this sweater," and Nieuwendyk handed the Dallas Stars sweater to Luke. The exhiliration, the joy, the relief he felt as he pulled the sweater over his head would be hard to describe for the rest of his life. So much work had been put in to get him to this point, but Luke knew fully that now the real work would begin. He was committed to doing what was necessary though to be the best player he could be.

The moment on stage could not last forever, and it was time for Luke to head backstage.

The Blues, Canadiens, Senators, Blackhawks, Devils, Flames, and Bruins held picks 16-22, and as each team made its selection, the anticipation increased for Dylan. Hearing all of the discussions regarding his supposed rise in the minds of G.M.s around the league, Dylan tried to keep his hopes in check. There was a chance he could move up into the first round, but there was also a chance he could slip like Luke had done.

"With the 23rd pick in the 2012 NHL Draft, the San Jose Sharks select right winger Dylan Patterson," Doug Wilson, general manager of the Sharks proclaimed.

And there it was. Hopeful to move into the first round, this was even higher than he could have even anticipated. Dylan hugged his dad, who whispered in his ear, "I'm so proud of you son." He hugged his mom next, gave her a kiss on the cheek, followed by hugs from his older brothers Dean and David, and then younger sister Daria.

Meanwhile, the crowd back in Pinecrest once again threatened to blow the roof off of the gymnasium with the force of their cheers. Two of their own had just been selected in the first round of the NHL Draft. For a hockey-crazed town in the hockey-crazed state of Minnesota, this was pure bliss on ice.

As Dylan pulled the Sharks sweater over his head, visions of skating with Joe Thornton, Logan Couture, and Patrick Marleau danced around in his head. He also thought back to the celebration with Pinecrest after winning the state championship, skating around with the trophy along with Luke, of the hours of pond hockey on the farm with Luke and the others, the hours of time spent in the weight room, on the rink doing drills and working on his skating, and back to the first time he put on skates and stepped onto the ice. Even at the young age it was, he remembered it so well.

"And now it begins," he thought. He followed up that understanding with one more, "Minnesota forever!" and walked offstage to begin the next phase of his hockey adventure.