Ryan Strome and Mitchell Theoret embark on Islanders career together
It’s every young hockey player’s dream to one day have their name called at the NHL Entry Draft, but when you find out you’ve been selected to the same team as one of your best friends and junior teammates, it makes the experience that much more surreal.
Recently, Niagara IceDogs forwards Ryan Strome and Mitchell Theoret had a chance to experience that thrill first hand as the New York Islanders selected both of them in Minnesota.
When Theoret – a player who wasn’t even ranked on any scouting list – heard the Islanders had taken him in the seventh round, he was pleasantly shocked.
“I was taken by surprise at first,” the 6’1″, 210-pounder explained. “I had talked to my agent before the draft and he told me a team might take a flyer on me in the late rounds but not to get my hopes up. So, when he called me to let me know I was thrilled and also excited.”
Although Theoret wasn’t in attendance in Minnesota, he was sure to contact his teammate to celebrate the good news.
“We exchanged a couple text messages congratulating each other,” he said. “Its great, he’s one of my best friends on the [Niagara] team. Going into camp, it will make it easier knowing someone that will be there with me and hopefully we will continue to play on the same team the rest of our hockey careers.”
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For Strome, his selection was not much of a surprise as he was projected to go in the top-10 throughout the season. Nevertheless, the thrill and excitement was mutual.
“I’m very honored. It was really exciting and humbling,” said Strome, the draft’s fifth overall pick. “To be there with my friends and family was very special. They have been my biggest supporters all my life so it was awesome for everyone to be there.”
In many of the draft lists released prior to June 24, Strome was placed anywhere from 6-10.
“I don’t think I got picked earlier than expected,” Strome said. “After the top four, per se, the draft was wide open and I’m happy I got chosen to the Islanders.”
“Each list has their own opinion but they don’t really mean much. I’m just happy I went to a team building for the future with a great offensive core.”
When asked about Theoret’s selection, Strome’s excitement and confidence in his teammate couldn’t have been higher.
“It was good to see him picked. He’s got potential and getting drafted will get him motivated and give him a chance to excel next year and in years to come,” Strome said. “He may not have been ranked, but people certainly took note of him on their own team lists.
“Theo is a tough power forward. He isn’t scared to drop the gloves but has soft hands for a big guy, so I think the Isles want him to be a power forward with offensive upside, not just a fighter.”
Although the pair offers their support for one another on the ice and in the media, they have built a quite the rivalry when it comes to playing virtual sports games on their system of choice, Microsoft’s Xbox 360.
“I think Ryan can confirm that I’m the better NHL 11 player, but he always seems to beat me inTiger Woods PGA Tour ’12: The Masters,” Theoret joked. “I think it’s going to be a pretty heated battle for who gets to use the Isles next year in NHL 12.”
Strome was willing to admit to Theoret’s apparent NHL 11 aptitude, yet insisted the battle for who gets to be the Islanders wouldn’t get between them.
“He is good at NHL [for Xbox] but I don’t play much anymore, mostly just during the season,” he said. “And when we play each other, we choose teams by randomizing our rosters, so it shouldn’t be an issue.”
All jokes aside, both players are ready to get serious and look forward to attending their first NHL training camp in New York.
“I think because I was a seventh-round pick, I won’t be a key player they’re looking at, so I’m going to bring my physical play to the forefront at camp,” Theoret explained. “When I look at the roster, they have a lot of high-end scoring forwards, so I’ll have to play with an edge, and that may mean having to fight, and hit a lot more than usual.”
Strome chose to answer the question in a short but confident manner.
“My goal is to earn a spot on the Islanders, simple as that,” he stated. “I know JT [John Tavares] and Matt Moulson so there’s some comfort already there and I’m looking forward to playing with them.”
The surging center was also quick to credit the IceDogs organization in helping he and Theoret get to the next level.
“Niagara provided me with a place to grow as a player and a person,” he said. “The coaching staff — Marty [Williamson], Billy [Burke] and Ryno [Mike Van Ryn] — helped us lots and gave us every chance to succeed from Day One.
“Top to bottom, the IceDogs organization is unbelievable; a big supporting family.”
In addition to Strome and Theoret, IceDogs defenseman, Dougie Hamilton, was selected eighth overall to the Boston Bruins, while former IceDogs Andrew Shaw and Andrew Fritsch were taken in the draft’s later rounds.
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