Langley’s Dennis Cholowski has been drafted by one of the premier National Hockey League franchises.
The Detroit Red Wings selected the 18-year-old in the first round of Friday’s NHL entry draft at Buffalo’s First Niagara Centre.
He was chosen 20th overall.
Let's all welcome our 2016 first rounder, @dcholowski27 to #Hockeytown! #DRWDraft pic.twitter.com/q58IpLi7HE
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) June 25, 2016
So honoured to be selected by @DetroitRedWings. Very proud moment for me and my family.
— Dennis Cholowski (@dcholowski27) June 25, 2016
Cholowski was in attendance at the draft with his family.
The six-foot-one, 176-pound defenceman spent the past two seasons with the Chilliwack Chiefs of the B.C. Hockey League.
Tyler Wright, Detroit's director of amateur scouting, told DetroitRedWings.com that Cholowski was a really good fit for their organization.
"We think he's just kind of hitting the top of the iceberg," Wright said.
"He's a young kid that's still growing, could be one of the best-skating defencemen in this draft. So we're really intrigued by size, skating ability, puck-moving ability.
"You can't have enough smart, good puck-moving defencemen on your hockey club."
Cholowski is off to Minnesota’s St. Cloud State next season on scholarship.
More to follow.