Former Okotoks Oiler and now University of Wisconsin Badger, Dylan Holloway is expected to go in the first round of the NHL Draft set for Tuesday, October 6.

Okotoks Oilers play-by-play announcer, Gino De Paoli, says Holloway has a special story around him.

"He was signed when he had just finished the WHL cup when he was 15 to go to Wisconsin so right away when someone from a big NCAA college comes calling at 15 you know you have a special product and that's what Dylan was."

Holloway was an Oiler during the 2018-19 season and had an impressive campaign posting 88 points in 53 games, and 13 points in 11 playoff games.

De Paoli says he was a huge asset to a very talented Oilers roster that year.

"In his rookie season, he was maybe the best rookie in the league and maybe didn't show it that much because that was such a deep Oiler team that went to the south final that he wasn't the number one option at times but all the skill and all the right tools to be a complete player."

 De Paoli says Holloway was just that, a complete player or as complete as you can be as a 19-year-old.

"Most nights he was over a point per game, had broken all the Oilers records before Jack Works came along and broke them this year. His skating is his best attribute in my opinion and just how he's a very powerful skater, his ability to win draws was noted in how he was such a complete player."

De Paoli predicts he'll go at the 17th spot to the Chicago Blackhawks. 

The Calgary born Bragg Creek native, does have a chance to end up in a Flames jersey as they pick 19th.