Owen Allard knew one day he would get a chance.
With the Utah Hockey Club calling his name in the fifth round of the Upper Deck NHL Draft Saturday in Las Vegas, that chance is now a reality.
It's the reward of hard work and patience for the 6-foot-2 forward, who was a seventh-round draft pick in the Ontario Hockey League and patiently waited his turn before a shoulder injury forced him to miss a chunk of the 2022-23 season.
But when he returned this past year for the Greyhounds, Allard didn't miss a beat, largely thanks to the votes of confidence the front office and coaching staff gave him, netting a career-high 18 goals and 26 assists while on the fourth line for head coach Allen Letang.
It also allowed him to carve out a niche as an important depth scorer with a physical edge, something that Allard said he can bring to the table for Utah.
"I was playing with Nate Danielson and Owen Beck on that line," he recalled. "It was really cool to play with and learn from those top-end guys."
And while Allard's linemates definitely have been upgraded in camp -- see Tij Iginla and Cole Beaudoin -- it doesn't overshadow the opportunity for him to continue to learn and develop his game.
It's just another step in the process for a kid who just continues to overcome the obstacles in his path.
"If you don't believe in yourself, you can't do anything in this life," he explained. "When people don't know your working, you've got to put in the effort."