Too nervous to follow the NHL Draft at home, Kyle Burroughs was on the golf course with his father and a couple of friends when he found out the New York Islanders had selected him.
The Islanders chose Burroughs — who turns 18 on July 12 — with their seventh round selection, 196th overall, at the NHL Draft on June 30 in New Jersey.
Burroughs is a defenceman in the Western Hockey League with the Regina Pats.
"I didn't want to sit around waiting," Burroughs said on Tuesday, a few days after the draft.
"I thought it would be torture."
So Burroughs, two of his friends and his father, hit the links at Belmont Golf Course.
Of course, he was following the draft via the newsfeed and was on the 14th or 15th hole when he saw the Islanders had picked him in the final round.
"It was a surreal feeling," Burroughs said.
"It was weird at first and then it was excitement.
"It is a childhood dream come true, just something that every kid dreams about and it came true."
Burroughs had spoken with the Islanders prior to the draft, but he had also talked to several other teams.
"I really had no idea (they were interested)," he said.
He has since spoken with team officials.
Burroughs will leave for the team's development camp this weekend. The camp begins July 8.