Growing up in northern Alberta, the Kanzig family had more natural affinity toward the Edmonton Oilers than Calgary Flames.
鈥淭hat changed today,鈥� Keegan Kanzig quipped.
The Victoria Royals defenceman was taken 67th overall in the third round of the 2013 National Hockey League draft Sunday by the Flames.
鈥淚'm excited to be going to an organization that is rebuilding,鈥� Kanzig said.
鈥淎nd it鈥檚 close to home.鈥�
Kanzig went earlier than projected and becomes the highest Royals draft pick since the Western Hockey League franchise moved to Victoria from Chilliwack in 2011 鈥� besting forward Steven Hodges, who was selected 84th overall by the Florida Panthers in the third round of the 2012 draft.
At six-foot-six and 240 pounds, Kanzig has just too much physical upside to ignore. The Flames certainly thought so.
He was working out in Victoria all spring and early summer before returning to Athabasca on the weekend to watch the draft with family. He took part in this week鈥檚 commencement in which the 18-year-old used his credits from Vic High to graduate with the friends he grew up with in his hometown high school class.
Kanzig will return in the fall for his third season with the Royals. The difference this time is that his progress will be closely monitored by the Flames.
He knows the draft is just a step and that pro careers are far from guaranteed. In fact, the odds are stacked against most draftees.
鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be a lot of hard work ahead. But I鈥檓 very excited because the opportunity is there,鈥� Kanzig said.
Meanwhile, Wade Murphy of Victoria 鈥� a productive forward with the hometown Grizzlies and then Penticton Vees during his sa国际传媒 Hockey League junior career who is headed to play in the NCAA at North Dakota 鈥� was selected 185th overall in the seventh round by the Nashville Predators in his second year of eligibility after being passed over last year.
Six-foot-two blueliner Nolan De Jong, a hometown product of the BCHL Grizzlies, was taken 197th overall in the seventh round by the Minnesota Wild.
De Jong, headed next season to Ann Arbor and the University of Michigan Wolverines, admitted to 鈥渕ixed feelings鈥� as the 211th and final selection approached.
He had left the room to take a phone call when he heard an eruption of screaming from family members in the TV room when his name popped up on the screen.
鈥淚t was no big deal if I wasn鈥檛 drafted, but obviously I am extremely excited to be picked,鈥� said De Jong, who was rated one spot ahead of Kanzig in Central Scouting鈥檚 final pre-draft ranking of North American skaters.
鈥淓verybody knows Minnesota is a great hockey state. The Wild didn鈥檛 have many high picks. All of us depth picks can grow and develop together.鈥�
De Jong works out over the summer with a group of Island pros from Europe, the AHL and ECHL and sees first-hand where he needs to be physically.
鈥淚 realize I need to get bigger, stronger and faster,鈥� said De Jong, who on Friday celebrated his graduation from Stelly鈥檚 Secondary.
鈥淣CAA university hockey [four years of eligibility ahead with the Wolverines] will give me the opportunity to do that.鈥�
Kanzig, De Jong and Murphy now prepare for the Flames, Wild and Predators development camps scheduled for next week.
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