Greencastle couple’s grandson drafted into the NHL

Marge and Frank Ferlin, Greencastle, were in the audience at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn. June 25 when their grandson was drafted into the National Hockey League.

Brian Ferlin, 19, Jacksonville, Fla. was selected by the 2011 Stanley Cup champion, the Boston Bruins, in the fourth round.

“We just about went crazy,” said Frank. “We had a big celebration. It’s something you never believe could happen to anyone you know, let alone your grandson.”

Ferlin’s counterparts in the entry draft were Dougie Hamilton, 17, Toronto, Ontario; Alexander Khokhlachev, 17, Moscow, Russia; Anthony Camara, 17, Toronto; Rob O’Gara, 17, Massapequa, New York; and Lars Volden, 18, Oslo, Norway.

Ferlin played with Indiana Ice of the United States Hockey League. Last season his scoring record was third-highest, with 25 goals and 48 assists in 55 games. He intends to play for Cornell University next year.

“I’m from down in Florida, which is a little bit of a, not a hockey hotbed,” Ferlin said during an interview posted on the Bruins’ website. “I was thrilled to hear my name called.”

At 6’2” and 207 pounds, he is a power forward. The son of Mark and Sherry Ferlin, he and his dad drove up to five hours one way for practices and games during his teen years. His sisters, Alyssa, 15, and Leah, 12, are also involved heavily in sports, hockey and soccer, respectively.

Ferlin graduated this spring with high honors from a high school in Indiana, where he lived for the past two years. His favorite activity also gave him the opportunity to travel to Europe a few years ago in an Under-17 league.

While he has followed the professional teams as a matter of course, Ferlin told the reporters after the draft, “Now I’m a Bruins fan.”

The grandparents have cheered his games since he embraced the sport at age 11, often watching events aired on the internet. They plan to catch some of them live in Ithaca, New York next year.