For Norwood native Noah Hanifin, a lifelong dream is coming true. The 18-year-old defenseman was selected by the Carolina Hurricanes with the fifth overall pick in the NHL Draft on Friday, marking a major milestone in what many expect will be a standout professional career.
At 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds, Hanifin just wrapped up an impressive freshman season at Boston College, where his strong two-way play earned him spots on the Hockey East All-Rookie Team and as a Second-Team All-Star. He tallied five goals and 18 assists across 37 games with a +15 rating.
Despite being ranked third by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau, Hanifin dropped slightly in the draft order—something he took in stride.
“It was pretty surreal, and an unbelievable experience,” he said. “I wanted to go to a team that wanted me, and I’m proud to be part of the Hurricanes organization.”
Hanafin was ranked No. 3 overall in the draft. Some mock drafts had Hanifin dropping to Carolina at No. 5, but he said he didn’t pay any of the pre-draft talk much heed.
“In my mind, I was just thinking that anything can happen, so just keep an open mind,” said Hanifin. “There were rumors flying around that the Bruins were looking to move up to take me. I just didn’t pay attention to any of that, and I’m happy with how things turned out.”
Hanifin became the 13th first-round pick under legendary BC coach Jerry York, tying Bill Guerin for the highest selection in school history.
Carolina General Manager Ron Francis lauded Hanifin’s maturity and work ethic, calling him “focused, driven, and poised to have a great career.” The Canes’ Director of Amateur Scouting Tony MacDonald echoed that sentiment, noting, “He was certainly a guy we had our eye on. Things fell into place, and we got the player we wanted.”
Known for his size, skating, and poise, Hanifin fits the mold of the modern NHL defenseman. MacDonald added, “We haven’t seen the best of Noah Hanifin yet. The upside is significant—he has the chance to be a real horse at the NHL level for a long time.”
Hanifin shared the draft night excitement with his parents, siblings, and roughly 30 family members in attendance at the BB&T Center in Florida.
“It meant a lot to have so many people there,” he said.
With the celebration behind him, Hanifin is already focused on what’s next. He heads to Carolina’s rookie camp on Sunday, and upon returning, he’ll weigh the decision of staying at BC or turning pro—with input from his agent, parents, and coaches.
“The draft is just the beginning,” he said. “Now the real work starts.”
Whether he returns to college or begins his NHL journey right away, Hanifin is ready to take the next step.
“As a kid, getting drafted into the NHL was always the dream,” he said. “Now it’s about keeping that dream alive and working every day to make it real.”