Only three years ago, Cole Fonstad was suiting up for the Bantam AA Estevan Bruins in the Saskatchewan Bantam AA Hockey League.

Fast forward to 2018, Fonstad has skated to an outstanding year with the Prince Albert Raiders in the Western Hockey League, clipping at a point-per-game pace of 12 goals and 35 assists in 47 games. In early December of 2017, Fonstad was named one of forty NHL draft eligable prospects picked to play in the Canadian Hockey League's Top Prospects game in Guelph.

On Thursday, January 24th, the 5-foot-10, 162-pound Estevan native will take to the ice in a game that has seen the likes Connor McDavid, John Tavares and Steven Stamkos play in before getting drafted and moving on to have all-star careers in the NHL.

Photo: Terran Station/Fragment Media

"It's really exciting, lots of the guys from the west I grew up playing against in summer hockey," Fonstad said of his selection to the Top Prospects game. "To go out there and see what the talent is like out east it's going to be cool to see where I stack up, I'm just going to go there and have as much fun as I can and learn from it."

For Fonstad, getting drafted into the NHL would fulfill a life long dream that he shares with thousands of minor hockey players across Canada. Should Fonstad hear his name called at the 2018 NHL Draft, it will be the first time in 17 years that a young man born in Estevan will hear their name called at the podium. In 2001, Joel Stepp was selected by the Anaheim Mighty Ducks in the 3rd round, 69th overall. The same year, Dustin Johner was taken by the Florida Panthers in the 6th round, 169th overall.

"It's always something I've dreamed of and I've been working for it my whole life. To be this close and potentially get drafted this year it's really exciting to think about and I'm just trying to keep working hard every day to make it come true and hopefully in June in happens, if not I'll have to try again next year."

"Ever since I was three that was my main goal. When I was in my bantam year with Tom (Copeland), he really helped me a lot. I don't think I'm the person or player I am today without him, he helped me and taught me so many things to set me apart and help me mature on and off the ice. Within the last year it hit me where I was like hey, I can really do this. I'm really excited and it's good to see results."

Most recently, Fonstad was ranked 78th among North American skaters by NHL central scouting's mid-term rankings and it's something he knows about, but also something he doesn't put much stock into.

"Just when they first come out you see them on social media, I don't google it or anything and you hear it from other people and it's cool to see but at the end of the day that's not who is drafting you, it has nothing to do what the teams are saying. You could have thirty teams not like you and one team like you and still get drafted, they don't mean too much I think."

"I want to become pro and one day play in the NHL."

Learning from his peers is something Fonstad has taken advantage of while playing with Prince Albert. His linemate Jordy Stallard was plucked in the 5th round by the Winnipeg Jets in 2016 and his close friend and teammate Brayden Pachal also brings some pro experience to the table, having been invited to Ottawa Senators development camp last summer.

"I think I've become a lot more mature over the year, acting like a pro and taking care of myself off of the ice as well because that is such a big part of it now. Staying on the ice late and doing little things by yourself to make yourself better is what sets you apart and that's what the pro's do so you have to learn how to live that way and work that way every day."

"Our team has come such a long way from when I first came here. We have lot's of guys here to look up to and see what they do day in and day out to become better so that just pushes me to become better so it's just a great atmosphere for me and with the opportunity I'm getting I'm just trying to take advantage of it every day," Fonstad concluded.

Fonstad will suit up with Team Bobby Orr during Thursday's Top Prospects game, which gets underway at 6:00 p.m.