Local boy Draeger leads group of four Faribault’s Shattuck-St. Mary’s hockey players taken on Day 2 of NHL Draft

John Draeger’s heart was racing.

Sitting nervously in his seat inside the Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh on Saturday, Draeger waited patiently, like a little kid hoping not to be picked last in kick ball, for his name to be called.

Every time a team Draeger thought had interest in selecting him in the 2012 NHL Draft came to the podium, Draeger became numb. Then he heard it.

The Minnesota Wild, his hometown team — and favorite team — drafted the defenseman and Faribault resident with the seventh pick in the third round, 68th overall.

“I was kind of shocked,” Draeger said. “I knew they really liked me, and I love the State of Hockey, so I’m glad they picked me. It’s a dream come true.”

Draeger was one of four 2012 Shattuck-St. Mary’s graduates drafted on Saturday.

Center Teddy Blueger was the first to go, getting plucked by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second round (52nd overall). Draeger was taken next. Zach Stepan, a center, was taken in the fourth round (112th) by the Nashville Predators, and winger Hunter Fejes was taken in the sixth round (178th) by the Phoenix Coyotes.

Another player with Shattuck ties but did not graduate from the school, goalie Oscar Dansk, was taken with the first pick in the second round by the Columbus Blue Jackets. Dansk spent three years at Shattuck, the last on the U16 team.

The last time Shattuck had at least four graduates selected in the same draft was in 2003, when seven players were selected. Blueger was the highest-drafted Shattuck graduate since Derek Stepan was taken 51st overall by the New York Rangers in 2008.

Draeger, who led the Sabres defenseman with 41 points last season, moved from Edina to Morristown when he was in third grade and two years ago his family moved to Faribault.

He grew up playing in the Faribault Hockey Association, but after his sixth-grade year at Waterville-Elysian-Morristown Middle School he transferred to Shattuck to be a part of the hockey program.

“I knew that’s where I wanted to be,” he said.

Draeger said looking back at his first few years at Shattuck he never expected to be an NHL player, but was more concerned about making a Sabres team.

“It wasn’t until this year when I realized that this was something I can make possible,” Draeger said. “My seventh-grade year I didn’t realize this was possible. It’s unbelievable.”

Zach Stepan, who is Derek Stepan’s cousin, Blueger and Draeger were all in Pittsburgh for the draft. Fejes was at home in Anchorage, Alaska.

In the always-unpredictable NHL Draft, Zach Stepan was Shattuck’s highest-ranked North American skater according to the NHL Central Scouting’s final rankings, yet he had to wait after Blueger and Draeger to hear his name called.

“Your heart is in knots (waiting to be picked),” said Zach Stepan, who ranked third on the team with 43 assists last season. “And once you get your named called and all the cameras are on you, it’s a surreal feeling. It was just one of those dreams that come true.”

Blueger, who led the Sabres in assists (64) and points (88) last season, came to Shattuck as a freshman with the goal of getting drafted shortly after he graduated. As the 22nd pick of the day, he didn’t have to wait long.

“It’s been my dream ever since I was a little kid and it came true today,” he said. “When they called my name there were a lot of emotions that hit me. I don’t know how to describe it. It was a really fun day and unbelievable feeling.”

Blueger was one of a few draftees who received a bonus after getting picked. Since Pittsburgh’s arena hosted the draft, Penguins staff gave Blueger a locker room and arena tour after he was chosen. About an hour earlier, when it was the Penguins’ turn to pick in the second round, Blueger, who had been talking with the organization and knew it was interested, was hoping his name would be called. He wasn’t disappointed.

“I was just hoping for the best,” he said. “I don’t know if I was expecting to go that high but it worked out.”

Fejes, who led the Sabres with 38 goals last season, was watching the draft at home in Anchorage, Alaska, and because of the time difference Saturday’s second round began at 6 a.m. for him. He was still in bed watching the draft unfold on TV when he got the call.

“It’s unforgettable; it’s an unbelievable feeling,” Fejes said. “It’s something I worked hard for my whole life and my dreams have become a reality. I couldn’t ask for anything more. Now I’m ready to take the next step and begin the next chapter in my life.”

The Coyotes’ sixth-round pick on the Sabres forward coincidentally worked out well for the entire Fejes family. It has a vacation home in the Phoenix area.

“The family is real excited,” he said. “They are all happy with how far I’ve come. They just hope to watch me in Phoenix someday.”

Sports reporter Josh Berhow may be reached at 333-3119. Follow him on Twitter @joshberhow