A Penticton hockey player is Washington State-bound after being selected in the first round of this year害羞草研究所檚 Western Hockey League (WHL) Draft.
Mathis Preston, 14, was sitting at home on the couch in front of the TV with friends and family Thursday morning, May 11, when he heard his name called at No. 3 overall by the Spokane Chiefs.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 surreal,害羞草研究所� Preston told the Western News after the selection. 害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檝e been dreaming about this since I was a little kid.害羞草研究所�
Preston has spent parts of the last three seasons playing at the Okanagan Hockey Academy, posting a total of 130 points in 59 games.
The born-and-raised Pentictonite was the first player from B.C. selected in the WHL Draft.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 really special,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淛ust being from here, it害羞草研究所檚 pretty cool to be one of the only Penticton guys to be drafted.害羞草研究所�
Scouts ranked Preston as a top-three pick ahead of the draft.
The Prince Albert Raiders owned the first two picks and opted to take a pair of Alberta-born players.
That害羞草研究所檚 when Preston suspected he害羞草研究所檇 be heading south of the border.
He says he害羞草研究所檚 never been to Spokane, but can害羞草研究所檛 wait to get started with the two-time Memorial Cup champions.
害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檝e heard it害羞草研究所檚 a really beautiful place,害羞草研究所� Preston said. 害羞草研究所淪pokane couldn害羞草研究所檛 be a better organization to go to害羞草研究所害羞草研究所檓 so excited.害羞草研究所�
Preston will turn 15-years-old on July 21.
After the Chiefs害羞草研究所� selection, three more players from the Okanagan were taken in the WHL draft害羞草研究所檚 first round.
logan.lockhart@pentictonwesternnews.com
