St Adolphe’s Pickering scores first NHL goal

“Welcome to the big show, Owen Pickering!”

Those were the words from Pittsburgh Penguins colour commentator Phil Bourque after the St Adolphe product notched his first NHL goal Dec. 3.

With a scoreless game against Florida, the puck bounced to the right point and was held in by Blake Lizotte, who moved it over to the left point where Pickering was waiting.

The big defenseman let loose a shot that flew past a perfect screen from Michael Bunting and behind Spencer Knight to open the scoring for Pittsburgh.

“I blacked out, it was pretty cool,” Pickering told reporters when asked to remember his feelings when he saw the puck go into the net.

“It was sick… You dream of that since you were three. To get one was pretty cool.”

When asked where he kept the puck, he gave a sheepish chuckle before sharing it was in a place of honour beside his first Western Hockey League fight puck.

The Penguins would go on to win 5-4 in overtime.

Pickering made his NHL debut Nov. 16, joining the Penguins for a shootout victory over the San Jose Sharks. He picked up a point, with his parents and brother in attendance.

The 2004-born defenseman turned pro this year and started the season in the American Hockey League.

“I know what I need to do to contribute,” Pickering said following his goal.

“I just keep trying to do that no matter who we’re playing.”

Pickering’s playing time was slightly derailed when an illness forced him to miss games, but he was able to get back in the lineup and contribute.

The ice time in the NHL isn’t coming after an injury. Pickering replaced Ryan Graves, who was a healthy scratch, to make his debut.