Song said that he feels "like a star" after being chosen as the 172nd overall pick in the NHL draft. (Photo : The Hockey News)
Song Andong, 18, was honored to be the first Chinese-born player to be drafted into the National Hockey League.
Song, born in Beijing, was selected by the New York Islanders in the sixth round as 172nd overall pick.
The selection of the teenage hockey player drew much attention from China.
In one of his interviews, he admitted that being "the first" put pressure on him. "Good pressure. It will motivate me to be a better player. Make them proud,” he added.
Every year, the NHL drafts players and showcase the best college and junior players from leagues in North America and Europe. `
Song, who kept getting sick as a child, tried playing the sport to be active.
Doctors suggest he'd better more inhale cool air for his fragile throat, so his mother decided to take him to play ice hockey.
“Hockey came up as one of the options,” said Song, “and I just fell in love with it.”
He began playing ice hockey at the age of six. At age 10 he moved with his family to Toronto, and at 15 he went to New Jersey to play high school hockey for Lawrenceville School.
Song plays at the Lawrenceville School in New Jersey, and had three goals and seven assists in 26 games.
Chinese television station CCTV's Longmou Li was part of a camera crew that's been following Song for three years. He said that there was a lot of anticipation in China to see when Song would be drafted.
Song said that having the camera crew recording his every move already has him feeling like a star, but said he didn't mind the pressure.
He graduated this year, and will play at Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts, next season. He said he'll use the 2015-16 season to try to earn a spot with an NCAA team.
Chinese-born Charles Wang, one of the owners of the Islanders, is also about to meet Song.
The six-foot-tall defenseman said that he patterns his game after former Detroit Red Wings star Nicklas Lidstrom.
Lidstrom, who earned seven Norris Trophies, is likely to be voted in this year’s Hockey Hall of Fame.
