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Bolton native drafted by Calgary Flames in 2020 NHL Entry Draft

October 15, 2020   ·   0 Comments

Written By ROBERT BELARDI

Oct. 7 was a long day for Rory Kerins

The Caledon native, a reasonable prospect in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, had an idea where he was going to be picked. He was ranked 107 by Future Considerations and 109 by McKeens. But the wait, was completely worth it, the local native tells the Citizen. 

He had talks with teams before the National Hockey League draft last week. One of which, was his boyhood club the Calgary Flames. Imagine that. 

Now into the sixth round of the draft, Kerins had been nervous. His heart palpitated the entire afternoon as he anxiously waited for his name to be spoken. 

 “The Calgary Flames select…” 

It was time. At pick 174,  the Flames selected the Soo Greyhounds forward. 

“When I got picked it was amazing, hard to explain or put into words. So many things go through your head for 15 seconds, I got pretty emotional,” Kerins wrote to The Citizen.  

“Then you get calls from Brad Treliving (GM of Calgary) and Geoff Ward (coach) congratulating you and it all happens so fast. So, it was awesome, in terms of being nervous, i just wanted to get drafted, I just wanted to go to a team that believed in me and I believe I did in Calgary.”

The Flames, took the No. 72 ranked skater amongst North American players in the draft. Kerins had the fourth most even-strength goals in the OHL, only behind top first-round selections Marco Rossi, Cole Perfetti and Jack Quinn. 

He recorded 30 goals and 29 assists on the year. 

Growing up in Bolton, Kerins, grew a love for the Calgary Flames due to his relationship with Flames assistant captain Sean Monahan. Kerins’ brother and Monahan, became close friends growing up and his father coached them for years. 

“I was around him a lot and I took a liking to him early on in my life. We still keep in touch. Ever since he was drafted to Calgary in 2013 that was my team and I fell in love with the way they played and the “C of Red” at the Saddle-dome.” 

He says it’s really cool, to be drafted by his boyhood team. He did grow a liking for the Toronto Maple Leafs as well, but when the Flames came to town and Kerins had tickets to the hockey game, he never forgot to put his Flames jersey on before heading off to Scotiabank Arena.  

Now, he says he has not received any direction on reporting to camp. 

To Kerins, that will come. As an OHL draftee when he was 16 to the Greyhounds, all Kerins wants to do is focus on working hard and enjoying the journey. 

“I really look forward to the journey, most guys say the real work starts now – but for me, it started a couple years ago, so I just look forward to the process and continuing to put in the work I have been.”

He will return to the Greyhounds for this upcoming year with the hopes of chasing the OHL cup. 

“At this point that’s all I want. I miss hockey.”

The NHL is pursuing a January 1 2021 start date for the next season should everything run smoothly. Further announcements are expected to be made as the Fall rolls along. 



         

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