Jordan Smith took his first step into professional hockey on Saturday afternoon.
The Sault native and anchor defenseman for the Soo Greyhounds was selected 39th overall in the second round by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in the National Hockey League entry draft in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Smith, the lone Greyhound selected in the first three rounds, is currently in North Carolina attending the draft proceedings.
Smith's selection may have come a little earlier than expected. Smith was ranked 51st on the list of all North American skaters compiled by NHL Central Scouting and The Hockey News rated Smith 66th in their overall world rankings.
Smith, who stands at six-foot-one and 207 pounds, played in all 68 regular season games in his third year with the Hounds last season where he recorded six goals and 26 points to go with 127 penalty minutes.
"It's the greatest thing I've had happen in my hockey career thus far and a real honor to be selected where I was selected. From here I just hope that my skills and my work ethic can take me to the NHL," said Smith on the Mighty Ducks website.
The draft concluded on Saturday after round three and will continue with rounds four through nine on Sunday.
Other Greyhounds who could be selected on Sunday include Tyler Kennedy, Jason Pitton, Brad Good and Jakub Cech.