2017 NHL Draft: Forward Parker Foo selected in the 5th Round by Chicago Blackhawks 

An historic year set new highs for the Brooks Bandits on Saturday morning, as Edmonton’s Parker Foo was selected by the Chicago Blackhawks in the fifth round of the 2017 NHL Draft with the 144th overall pick.

Foo is the second player in franchise history to be selected by an NHL team directly from the Alberta Junior Hockey League club, after his teammate Cale Makar was selected fourth overall by the Colorado Avalanche Friday night.

Foo, 18, got the call from the Blackhawks shortly after waking up and checking his Twitter feed but not finding his name among tweets Saturday morning.

“They told me I had a good combine — said I blew it out of the park,” Foo, who attended a pre-draft combine a few weeks back, told the Bandits later Saturday.

“I never really had too high of expectations for it. I got invited to a couple of camps and that pre-draft combine. From there on, it just kept building and building. Teams told me I would get drafted, and I had a couple of meetings.

“It never really seemed real — I never wanted to get my hopes too high. It’s really incredible now that it’s actually happening.

“It’s incredible (to be selected by the Blackhawks). I was there a couple of weeks ago. It’s a top-notch facility. Everything is incredible there — mind-boggling really. Obviously, the Blackhawks are an unreal team — all the superstars, and the coach is unbelievable.”

The 18-year old forward is coming off a sensational sophomore campaign with the Bandits, during which he registered 66 points, including 34 goals, in 60 regular-season games. He was second-leading goal scorer for the Bandits and fourth overall in the AJHL in goals as well. He added a further 20 points, including 10 goals, in just 13 AJHL playoff games, ranking second on the Bandits in scoring, fourth in the AJHL and second in the league in playoff goals.

Foo tied for the team lead in scoring at the 2017 Western Canada Cup, placing second overall with nine points, including five goals, in five games as the Bandits won that title for the first time in franchise history and followed that up with five points, including two goals, in five games at the 2017 RBC Cup.

He was named the team’s most improved player after scoring 27 points, including eight goals, in 44 games with the Bandits in 2015-16 after being signed just before the 2015 AJHL Showcase. He is committed to NCAA Division I Union College to begin his post-secondary hockey career next season.

“My skating got a lot better in my first season,” Foo said. “I was thinking the game better. My confidence was a huge key — I had the freedom to do my own thing.

“There’s so many people to thank.”

Foo’s older brother, Spencer, is on the verge of inking an NHL deal after three strong seasons with the Union Dutchmen, including a 62-point campaign in ’16-17.

Source: Parker Foo gets called at the 2017 NHL Draft