"I learned to never give up and keep on going and I did that and was able to score a goal," the 8-year-old said. "And Juraj (Slafkovsky) gave me a high-five."
Slafkovsky, a left wing with TPS in Liiga, was one of six top NHL Draft-eligible prospects assisting 30 players aged 8-10 in fundamentals during the clinic. He was joined by centers Shane Wright of Kingston (Ontario Hockey League), Matthew Savoie and Conor Geekie, each of Winnipeg (Western Hockey League), and center Logan Cooley and left wing Cutter Gauthier, each of the USA Hockey National Team Development Program Under-18 team.
"I enjoyed every second on and off the ice," Slafkovsky said. "It was fun to do that."
Wright, the projected No. 1 pick in the 2022 Upper Deck NHL Draft, also enjoyed the hour-long event.
"It was a lot of fun going out there with all those kids, spending time with them and just getting away from everything that's going on this week at the draft," Wright said. "To just get on the ice, spend time with kids and have fun out there."
The first round of the draft will be held Thursday at Bell Centre in Montreal (7 p.m. ET; ESPN, ESPN+, SN, TVAS). Rounds 2-7 will be Friday (11 a.m. ET; NHLN, ESPN+, SN, TVAS). The Canadiens have the No. 1 pick, the New Jersey Devils will select No. 2 and the Arizona Coyotes are No. 3.