Dalton Thrower should probably brush up on his French skills.
The 麻豆社国产native was selected by the Montreal Canadiens with the 51st overall pick in the second round of the National Hockey League draft on Saturday (June 23) and said it's an honour to join one of the most storied franchises in the history of the game.
"It's a huge honour," he told the NHL Network after being picked. "It's really hard to explain the feeling I have right now. I'm just very excited to be a part of the Montreal Canadiens."
Some experts had Thrower being picked late in the first round on Friday (June 22) but he said he didn't mind waiting an extra day to join an NHL club.
"I came into the draft with an open mind and I'm very pleased with the team I ended up with," he said. "I wasn't expecting to go in the first round but there was some talk of it."
He said donning the Habs jersey was a dream come true.
"You can't really describe the feeling," he said of getting selected. "You work so hard for this moment and for it to finally come, it's just an awesome feeling and a huge honour."
Thrower, who said he models his game after that of the Vancouver Canucks' Kevin Bieksa, said his main goal for the summer is to continue working hard and be ready for training camp in a couple of months.
"My goal is to be playing on the team in a couple of years," he said. "I just need to learn how to speak French. That's about it."
Thrower will continue his training regimen throughout the summer and then attend the Habs rookie training camp later this summer.
