Fitzgerald's Selection to Bruins a 'Dream Come True'

Most young hockey players dream of some day being selected to play for their hometown team. North Reading’s Ryan Fitzgerald experienced just that on Sunday in Newark, N.J., when the Boston Bruins called his name in the fourth round of the National Hockey League draft.

“It’s a dream come true,” Fitzgerald said on Monday, one day after he was taken with the 120th pick of the draft. “Everyone back home was calling me or texting me. It’s nice to hear from all of them, and I can’t wait to get back home and be a part of the Bruins organization.”

Fitzgerald said it was a surreal day for him as he sat in the stands waiting for his name to be called at the draft. He was projected as a second or third round pick, but slipped enough that the Bruins were able to select the Malden Catholic resident.

The North Reading resident moved into Boston College earlier this summer and will begin taking classes and getting ready for the upcoming hockey season with the Eagles.

But first he’ll take part in the Bruins’ development camp beginning on July 10 on the ice of Wilmington’s Ristuccia Arena.

“When I put the jersey on and hit the ice, it’ll really hit home,” said Fitzgerald. “I’ve always watched the Bruins play. They’re hard to play against. I have a little fire in my game and I think that’s something the Bruins like. I think I fit their style well.”

This isn’t the first time Fitzgerald will have spent time with the Bruins organization. His father Tom, currently the Assistant to the General Manager for the Pittsburgh Penguins, was a member of the Bruins late in his career.

In addition, the Fitzgerald family includes Ryan’s uncle Scott, the assistant director of amateur scouting for the Bruins. Longtime NHL player Keith Tkachuk is also related to the family.

“I’ve been pretty fortunate,” said Ryan Fitzgerald. “Not a lot of kids have the opportunity to grow up around the game like I did. I really had a leg up on a lot of other kids. How (Tom Fitzgerald) carried himself and showed how to be a hockey player really rubbed off on me.”

As Ryan Fitzgerald, whose brother Casey could also be drafted when he finishes at Malden Catholic, sat watching players come off the board during Sunday’s draft, he couldn’t help but hoping when a pair of teams were on the clock.

“You’re sitting in the stands just waiting to be called. Every time Boston or Pittsburgh had their pick, I held my breath a little,” said Fitzgerald. “It was a big sigh of relief when it finally happened.”