Ryan Bourque became the third member of his family to be taken in the National Hockey League draft when the New York Rangers selected him as the 19th pick in the third round (80th overall) on Saturday.
Bourque joins his father, Ray, who was taken eighth overall by the Bruins in 1979, and his older brother Chris, who was chosen 33rd overall by the Washington Caps in 2004.
"We wanted to get goals and get faster as an organization, and I think we accomplished that. (Ethan) Werek and (Ryan) Bourque might have been the two hardest, working kids we saw all year," said Gordie Clark, the Rangers' Director of Player Personnel.
After two very successful years with the U.S. National Under-18 team, Bourque will head to the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) to play under Hall of Fame goalie Patrick Roy and the Remparts.
Bourque was not the only Boxford native taken by the Rangers in the 2009 draft, as New York also selected Chris Kreider in the first round. Bourque and Kreider attended middle school together before parting ways in high school.
"Pretty small world, it's crazy how that works," said Bourque.
Bourque will head to Madison Square Garden today where he will participate in the Rangers' annual Prospect Development Camp at the training center this week. The camp brings together all the prospective players together for a week of on-ice, off-ice training under New York's coaching staff as well as a chance to experience the NHL lifestyle.
