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NCAA star Brock Boeser scores game-winner in Canucks’ debut (Video)

Greg Wyshynski

Less than 24 hours after his NCAA hockey career ended, Brock Boeser scored his first goal in the National Hockey League.

A game-winner, no less.

The newest member of the Vancouver Canucks had whirlwind journey in the last day. His North Dakota team was eliminated from the NCAA men’s hockey tournament in double-overtime against Boston University on Friday night in Fargo. That freed the winger up to join the Canucks, who drafted him 23rd overall in 2015, who were in Minnesota to face the Wild on Saturday afternoon.

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He returned to Grand Forks on Friday night, his coach drove him to the airport, he then flew to join the Wild, signing with the Canucks on Saturday morning.

Then the fun began.

He was in the starting lineup for the Canucks, playing alongside former North Dakota teammate Troy Stecher. How do we know this? Because the Canucks allowed his parents to announce the starting lineup before the game:

Then the Canucks did the traditional thing, and had Boeser skate out on his own for warm-ups:

He played 12:44 in the game, with four shots on goal. One of them went in, at 11:51 in the second period, to give Vancouver a 3-0 lead.

As luck would have it, the Wild would rally for two goals but fall short, 4-2, giving Boeser the game-winning goal in his NHL debut.

“Dream come true. I couldn’t have drawn this up any better. And to score too, and have my family and friends here is special,” he said after the game.

Now comes the real task for Boeser: Trying to outdo Sami Salo to become the best No. 6 in Vancouver history.

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Greg Wyshynski is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Contact him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or find him on Twitter. His book, TAKE YOUR EYE OFF THE PUCK, is available on Amazon and wherever books are sold.

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