FeedsTurek selected in NHL draft
It’s every hockey player’s dream to get drafted into the NHL.
The only difference between Northville’s Ryan Turek and the hundreds of other hockey players swimming up the proverbial stream to hockey stardom is:
He actually got drafted.
Late on Saturday, June 24, Turek and his father were following the NHL draft on the Internet from their home in Northville when the phone rang at the start of the fourth round. The caller was his advisor (not an agent) telling him that the St. Louis Blues had just picked him as the 94th overall pick (first in the fourth round) of the draft.
“It was exciting,” Turek said. “I wasn’t sure what was going to happen.”
Turek watched some of his friends—like Kyle Okposo, Trevor Lewis and Mark Mitera— go in the first round (7, 17 and 19 respectively), but admits he was a little nervous during and especially before the draft, wondering if he was going to get picked.
“You always hear stories about guys that are supposed to get drafted then don’t,” he said. “I was real nervous and was thinking a lot of negative thoughts. I was excited, too, because it is a dream of mine to play in the NHL.
“My parents were really excited, too,” he added. “I owe a lot to them because they have given up a lot for me to be able to play hockey.”
Turek insists now he must concentrate on the next part of his life that doesn’t include St. Louis or any other professional team. He’s college bound.
Actually, at the age of 15, he verbally committed to Michigan State University, making him one of the youngest to do so. He’s made a decision and he’s sticking to it. The hockey phenom is taking on a very mature and levelheaded attitude about his future as a hockey player.
“It’s everyone’s dream to get drafted,” he said, “I’m excited about it, but that part is over. Now, my main focus is to play for State.”
He committed to MSU when he was a sophomore in high school. He skated at the 2002 USA Select 15 Festival and played for the Honeybaked Midget AAA team in the regular season.
The next season he skated for Team Michigan at the USA Hockey Select 16 Festival, then played for Team USA at the U17 Five Nations Cup. After his return, he was Honeybaked’s team captain before he left midway through the season to join the Texarkana Bandits, led by former Honeybaked coach Jon Cooper.
He only played half a season there, but was named to the NAHL All-Rookie Team. Then the Omaha Lancers selected Turek with the 10th pick in the USHL Dispersal Draft.
Turek, who was always known for his stout defensive abilities, was moved to forward in his second season with the Lancers due to injuries at the position. He fared well, scoring 17 goals with 11 assists in 52 games. He also scored a goal and an assist in five playoff games for Omaha.
At the end of December last year he was selected team captain for the U18 Team USA in search of the Viking Cup in Camrose, Alberta. There he scored a goal and three assists in six games, earning him a bronze medal.
Turek also played for the Team West at the USHL All-Star game. He scored two goals and was named the team’s MVP.
From there he was invited to Toronto for the NHL Combine where he spent two rigorous days vying for a placement in the draft.
The rest is history.
“We’re very excited, especially for him,” said Sharon Turek, Ryan’s mother. “He’s worked so hard for it. He’s had to give up a lot; he’s missed proms and dances and other things that teenagers normally do to get this far.
“He’s very modest,” she added. “He’s trying not to get too excited about the draft. He’s looking at it as one step at a time. He’s excited about Michigan State and I think they are excited about having him.”
Turek will have his work cut out for him at the college level as he battles top teams like Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan. If you hear his name a lot don’t be surprised—you’re bound to hear it for a long time. He could be proof that dreams do come true.
