Two days after being drafted by the Colorado Avalanche in the second round of the 2009 NHL draft, Stefan Elliott was already boarding a plane to Denver.

“They are flying us there, the first two round picks, for a press conference tomorrow,” Elliott said while waiting for his flight.

The 18-year-old North Vancouver defenceman was selected with the 49th pick at the NHL draft in Montreal on Saturday.

Elliott, a North Shore Winter Club product, impressed scouts with his solid two-way play and scoring ability while skating for the Western Hockey League for the Saskatoon Blades this season and was forecast to be a potential first-round pick. But the Argyle graduate found himself in Bell Centre’s stands Saturday morning when the second round of the draft began.

“It was a little disappointing,” he admitted. “But it doesn’t really matter where you go in the draft. What matters is what you do with the rest of your life.”

Elliott’s family flew from Vancouver to be with him during the draft weekend. Together they sat in the stands and listened for his name. When Colorado selected him in round two the whole family cheered.

“It was a big relief,” Elliott said. “I’m really happy.”

Originally the Elliotts planned to spend family time after the draft exploring the French-Canadian city. But now that he’s on an NHL team roster, Elliott quickly learned he’d be put straight to work.

Colorado got great value in drafting Elliott, said Billy Coupland, his former winter club coach who also works as an NHL scout.

“He is certainly going to be a national league defenceman,” Coupland said.

Elliott’s the kind of high achiever who’d use the fact he didn’t make the first round picks as motivation, Coupland explained. Not only is Elliott an overall great athlete, who also excelled in soccer, but he was also an outstanding student, he said. Elliott was named the Western Hockey League and Canadian Hockey League 2009 Scholastic Player of the Year.

“His understanding of the game is second to none,” Coupland added.

Elliott’s not the only former winter club player to be taken in the draft. Selected in the first round, Evander Kane is heading to Florida to hit the ice with the Panthers. The 18-year-old Vancouver Giants centre finished his WHL season with 96 points, making him a top pick. Centre Drew Shore, who moved to North Van to play for the Winter Hawks, was also snapped up by the Panthers in the 44th pick of the draft. For the first time in five years, the U.S. citizen will be returning home to play with the University of Denver.

raldous@northshoreoutlook.com