'Dreams come true': Braeside's Dean Letourneau drafted into NHL
The Ottawa Valley has its newest NHL hero.
It was a dream night for Braeside, Ont.'s Dean Letourneau who was selected 25th overall by the Boston Bruins in last night's NHL Draft.
It was a long wait for the crowd that gathered at the watch party at the John A. Gillies Recreation Centre in Braeside on Friday. Letourneau was selected near the end of the first round, over three hours after the draft began.
It was an eruption of applause when Letourneau's name was called.
"Oh, I just, I can't even talk," said Braeside councillor Scott Brum, who organized the watch party.
"Dreams of that big day, becoming a superstar in the NHL; well dreams come true because Dean Letourneau just did it from here in Braeside, Ontario,” said McNab/Braeside deputy mayor Lori Hoddinott.
Speaking previously with CTV News, Letourneau said he grew up being a Senators and Pittsburgh Penguins fan. Now he'll be waiting for the day he can wear the black and gold of Boston.
"I think he's a project for the Bruins, but I hope he does well," said Braeside resident Bartly Roberts, who attended the watch party.
"You know, it will be good for Braeside, and it'll be good for hockey with him."
Hoddinott says the milestone for Letourneau also represents a major moment for the small community.
"It's big for the adults, but it's also for the kids to see that they could start out in a little town on an outdoor rink, and learn to skate," said Hoddinott.
Before leaving for St. Andrew's College in Aurora, Ont. two years ago, Letourneau spent his entire hockey journey in the Ottawa Valley.
"It was awesome," he told CTV News. "I got to play close to home, I got to be at home my whole life and play in my community."
"It can be a challenge for kids playing in the valley," said Letourneau's father Jeff.
"Because the Upper Ottawa Valley Aces practiced in Beachburg or Westmeath or Pembroke, but rarely practiced in Arnprior."
Letourneau's draft location is a great coincidence given the 18-year-old has already committed to playing hockey at Boston College next season.
Letourneau left Las Vegas – where the NHL draft was taking place – early Saturday morning to fly to Boston for the Bruins’ developmental camp.
But he says if everything aligns during this offseason, it would be a dream to step onto the NHL ice right away next year.
"Next year, I'm going to go play for Boston College," said Letourneau.
'I think that would be good for me to go there for at least one or two, maybe three years to develop before I can step into the NHL and be an impact player," he added.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6947086.1719783953!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
Are you proud to be Canadian? Poll suggests that feeling is dwindling
A new poll suggests the vast majority of Canadians are proud of their home and native land, but our sense of national pride is lower than it was a few years ago.
More WestJet flight cancellations as strike hits tens of thousands of travellers
WesJet flight cancellations grew to over 800 Sunday afternoon, upending plans for close to 100,000 passengers as an unexpected strike by plane mechanics entered its third day on the busiest travel weekend of the season.
Neighbour on the hook for $3,675 in damages due to ‘nuisance cedar’: B.C. tribunal
A B.C. man who reneged on a deal to split the cost of removing a tree with his next-door neighbour is now on the hook for the whole amount, B.C.’s civil resolution has ruled.
Multiple people injured in RV police chase in Lloydminster: RCMP
Several people were injured Saturday night after a man allegedly stole an occupied RV during a police chase at a campground in Lloydminster.
A study identified 6 types of depression. Here’s why that matters
Scientists may be a step closer to that reality, thanks to new research that has identified six subtypes — or 'biotypes' — of major depression via brain imaging combined with machine learning.
Nude beach etiquette: Lose your clothes, not your manners
Most of us have felt the freedom and delight that comes with stripping down to a swimsuit on a sunny day and wading into a cool sea, the horizon twinkling in the distance.
Canada Day is forecast to be rainy for many this year. Here's a look at weather and fireworks celebrations
Canada turns 157 years old this year, and several fireworks shows across the country are expected to paint the night skies in celebration. Here's a look at the forecast and fireworks celebrations across the country for Canada Day in 2024.
Police seek suspect, probe suspected hate crimes after two Toronto synagogues vandalized
Toronto police say they're investigating a pair of suspected hate-motivated offences after two city synagogues were damaged early Sunday morning.
Several U.S. military bases in Europe on heightened alert amid possible terrorist threat
Several U.S. military bases across Europe were put on a heightened state of alert over the weekend, with the level of force protection raised to its second-highest state amid concerns that a terrorist attack could target U.S. military personnel or facilities, according to two U.S. officials.