Kings select Lukacevic in 4th round

It’s not often a teenager is waiting by the phone when it rings at 6 a.m. on Sunday.

But when a hockey player is hoping for a call from a National Hockey League team it’s never too early.

Ned Lukacevic was wide awake in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, when the Los Angeles Kings called from Raleigh, N.C., Sunday morning, informing him he was their fourth-round selection, 110th overall in the NHL daft.

“I’m pretty happy,” the 6-foot, 185-pound winger said several hours later. “(Fourth round) is awesome. That’s pretty cool for me. I didn’t know what to expect. I knew I had a pretty good chance.”

Lukacevic, who scored 19 goals last season, was the only Spokane Chiefs player to be drafted in the two-day, nine-round draft from the home of the Carolina Hurricanes, although 44 Western Hockey League players were picked.

“I was surprised,” Lukacevic said. “I thought Jimmy (Watt, goalie) would be drafted for sure. I thought Chad (Klassen, forward) would be drafted. I was looking at the draft all day, hoping they would get picked, with a couple of others. It’s unfortunate. Sometimes the ball rolls that way.”

Lukacevic heads to Los Angeles in two weeks for a two-week training camp.

“I’ve always liked that team,” he said. “I knew it was a cool city from when I was a little kid and went to Disneyland. I have an aunt and uncle there, so that’s cool.”

Last year no Chiefs were drafted for the only time since 1986.

For the 14th straight draft at least 40 WHL players were picked. Medicine Hat defenseman Cam Barker went third, behind two Russians. Eight WHLers went in the first round, the most since eight in ‘97.

Calgary left wing Andrew Ladd went fourth, one of three Hitmen taken in the opening round. Kamloops, Prince Albert, Vancouver and Saskatoon also had first rounders.

Calgary, Kamloops and Tri-City all had five players selected and Memorial Cup champion Kelowna had four. T-C players went in the second, third, fifth, sixth and seventh rounds. Only Brandon, Everett and Regina had no players drafted.