Don Bosco student Cody McNaughton took one step closer to realizing his dream of hockey greatness after recently being picked in the first round of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) draft.

Selected 12th overall by the Guelph Storm, the three-year veteran Toronto Junior Canadien said he's looking forward to donning a crimson and white uniform next season.

"I'm really excited. It's the team I wanted to go with," said the 15-year-old right-winger, who models his game after NHL superstars Jarome Iginla and Todd Bertuzzi.

Described by Canadiens head coach Dan Cameron as an "always entertaining" player, McNaughton is famous at morning practices for mimicking all the best moves from the previous night's NHL highlight reels. At just five-foot-nine, 165 pounds, Cameron said McNaughton is still growing, both physically and as a great two-way player in his own right, but he's bound to make an impact with the Storm.

"He's a great, quality kid who's always upbeat and always has a smile on his face," he said. "He's pretty quiet off the ice, but when he's on you'd better keep your head up, because he's also a real physical player who plays like he's six-foot, 200 pounds."

In 82 games this year, McNaughton scored 66 goals and 70 assists with the Canadiens, so it was no surprise to anyone, least of all his father Glen, that he was scooped up so early.

"He worked hard and did everything he was asked and more to get to this point," said the elder McNaughton. "He's at the next level now, and if he continues to work hard, I think he'll realize his dream of playing professionally."

As for his son's new home ice in Guelph, McNaughton senior said he and his wife were ecstatic to have him playing for such a family-oriented - and nearby - team.

"It's so close by, we expect to make it out to all the home games," he said. "But the big thing is that we know he'll be well looked after."