Andover's Shane Lachance Drafted By NHL's Edmonton Oilers

ANDOVER, MA — Andover native and Boston University recruit, Shane Lachance, is seeing his hockey dreams come to fruition. Over the weekend, the 17-year-old was drafted by the National Hockey League.

The NHL's Edmonton Oilers had six picks this year — Lachance was among the new prospects to the franchise, coming in at No. 186 overall.

"It's an exciting day for them and their families. Every one of these picks that we made today fit, at some point, in their game around the philosophy that we want the Edmonton Oilers to have in the next coming years," said Oilers Director of Amateur Scouting Tyler Wright following the conclusion of the 2021 NHL Draft.

Standing a towering 6'4", Lachance hails from the Boston Junior Bruins program, where he scored 6-9-15 in 25 games this past season, the Edmonton Journal reported. He won't officially turn 18 until the end of August.

Lachance was at his family’s Andover home with family and friends watching the draft when he learned that he was selected. He described the experience to The Eagle-Tribune as "surreal."

“It’s such an honor to be picked by a legendary organization like Edmonton. Wayne Gretzky played for the Oilers, and now they have the best player in the world in Connor McDavid. And to be picked by a Canadian team is pretty interesting," Lachance told the newspaper.

The love of hockey clearly runs in his family. Lachance's father, Scott, is currently a scout for the New Jersey Devils. Before that, he played in the NHL from 1991 to 2004.

"You should be proud of yourself. Just get to work and make the best of it," the teen's father told him on the phone after learning the news.

The teen's grandfather is also legendary retired Boston University head hockey coach Jack Parker.

As for what's next for Lachance, he told The Eagle-Tribune that he will take his skills to the country’s premier junior league, the United States Hockey League. In late-August, he’ll play for the Youngstown (Ohio) Phantoms, who traded for his rights in February.

He told the newspaper he still plans to follow in the footsteps of his father and grandfather and play for Boston University.