The suspense likely ends early Friday evening, when the butterflies and nerves will be traded for an anticipated call, hugs and tears of joy from family members, a walk to the stage where a jersey and handshakes await, followed by photos and interviews galore.
For Burnaby Winter Club product Dante Fabbro, this week’s 2016 NHL Entry Draft in Buffalo is where a young kid’s dream is realized. But thanks to lessons learned and past experiences gained, the just-turned-18 year old will enter the next phase of his career with plenty of perspective to balance it all out.
“It’s been a little bit of a whirlwind, actually, having seen my buddies go through the same process,” Fabbro told the NOW last week. “I’m taking the time to soak everything in. It’s been a fun couple of weeks but as the draft nears its something I’m thinking about more and more.”
The NHL combine earlier this month pulled together all the top talent available in this year’s draft and gave them a glimpse into what the future may hold. Grilled by hockey people from nearly every NHL team, the teens were put through a mill of grueling physical tests devised to reveal weaknesses as much as strengths.
When you have your demeanor and skills dissected by scouts, general managers and online fans alike it’s hard not to wilt a little under the microscope. But just as he regularly stared down and stopped an oncoming opponent on the ice, Fabbro wheeled it around and wasn’t taken by any curve balls.
“The interview portion of the combine was definitely something where you just had to be yourself (or) they would see right through it if you were not. Just keep a cool head and be yourself,” he said. “The training portion you had guys who’s season just ended and other guys had a little bit longer – it’s pretty much standard in the summer where you want to set (a mark) and through the summer you want to beat those things.”
Born in New Westminster, the 6-foot-tall blueliner has seen his stock rise over the past 12 months, including as one of Canada’s top defencemen at the World Junior under-18 championships in April.
A disappointing fourth-place finish also saw players separate themselves and show their skills against elite competition. By tallying eight assists in seven games, on the same ice surface as fellow first-round prospects like Jesse Puljujarvi, Alexander Nylander, Clayton Keller and Penticton and Canadian teammate Tyson Jost, Fabbro raised the bar. His BCHL stats for 2015-16 in Penticton, 14 goals and 53 assists in 45 games, earned him the top defenceman award.
A right-shot defender, he was recently ranked 18th among North American skaters by the NHL’s Central Scouting Bureau last month. Others forecast him going in the mid-teens.
Where ever he goes in the draft, Fabbro knows where he’ll be in September. He is slated to join the student body and hockey players at Boston University as a freshman.
Asked whether his older sisters Gina and Sophia needle him about joining the ranks of the higher learned – both attend Austin Peay College in Tennessee on soccer scholarships –Fabbro laughed.
“They’re pretty supportive and have been like that my entire life. We have our fights and stuff like that but it’s a friendship-love relationship and obviously I can’t say enough good things about my sisters and my family and how I grew up. I have had a pretty blessed life so far and hopefully things will continue on that way from here.”
The combine didn’t overwhelm the soft-spoken teen. Twenty-eight of the league’s 30 teams sat down and interviewed him. The glare, he realizes, will only get brighter.
“It’s pretty crazy, honestly. You’re kind of lost for words almost. You grow up watching the NHL, all the superstars and its so many kids dream – it might sound cliché but it's every kids dream to go and play hockey if you’re lucky to do so,” said Fabbro. “It’s going to be a fun experience for me and definitely my family who’ll be there. I want to share it with them and give back to them as much as possible.”
