Chicago selects Sweatt at No. 38

As Bill Sweatt left Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, after Friday’s first round of the NHL draft, he received words of encouragement from an old friend.

“Don’t worry, you’ll be there tomorrow,” Sweatt said Patrick Kane, the No. 1 overall pick of the Chicago Blackhawks, told him. “It would be sick if you went to the Chicago Blackhawks.”

Kane looked like a prophet Saturday when Sweatt became the second highest draft pick in Colorado College history by going at No. 38 to the Blackhawks, his home-state team.

The Blackhawks got the second-round pick after trading the 35th pick to the Boston Bruins, who selected Tommy Cross, a Connecticut high school defenseman with a verbal commitment to Boston College for the 2008-09 season.

Tabbed the top NCAA prospect by Hockey’s Future online magazine, Sweatt, 18, of Elburn, Ill., was the second college player drafted. Minnesota sophomore forward Jim O’Brien went at No. 29 to the Ottawa Senators.

The only CC player drafted higher than Sweatt was Mark Stuart, the 21st pick to the Bruins in 2003.

Stuart plays for the Providence Bruins of the American Hockey League but has made his NHL debut.

Sweatt said he grew up rooting for the Blackhawks and every other Chicago sports team, although he also rooted for the Colorado Avalanche because of Peter Forsberg, its former center. He wears No. 21 at CC in tribute to Forsberg.

At the draft, Blackhawks management gave Sweatt an authentic jersey and a hat after his name was called. Sweatt was accompanied by his mother, Dorothy, a Colorado Springs resident; his older brother, Lee, who captained CC as a senior last season; and several relatives.

Sweatt waited more than three hours Friday night during the first round and about half an hour Saturday.

“I was anxious,” he said. “I wanted to know, not just sit there every pick. It finally happened with the Blackhawks, and it couldn’t be better.”

Sweatt said he hasn’t talked to Blackhawks general manager Dale Tallon about his future in the organization. He said he will return to CC for his sophomore season.

“I don’t see there’s any chance that I’m not coming back,” said Sweatt, CC’s most productive left wing last season with nine goals and 17 assists in 30 games. “I want to come back, and I want to have another year at CC. I love playing with all the guys, and I’ll hopefully do some damage out there.”

Down the road, Sweatt could do some damage for the Blackhawks alongside some familiar faces.

Sweatt and Kane played together in the U.S. National Team Development Program. Last season, Sweatt played against North Dakota forward Jonathan Toews and Wisconsin forward Jack Skille, both of whom signed three-year contracts with the Blackhawks in the spring.

The Blackhawks hold the draft rights to CC left wing Scott McCulloch, who said Saturday he’ll be back for his senior season. McCulloch is the Blackhawks’ third-best left wing prospect, according to Hockey’s Future.

“To have a kid (Sweatt) who is two or three years away is a very ideal situation,” CC assistant coach Norm Bazin said of the Blackhawks. “I anticipate that their plan is to keep this young man in college until they feel he can make the step to be a contributor to the club. They’re a team that is on the upswing and looking toward a bright future.”

Said McCulloch: “They’ve been setting themselves up for the next three or four years. If those players reach their potential, they can have a very good team down the road. Bill is a great addition to those guys.”

Sweatt said he plans to thank Kane for his friendly advice when they’re Blackhawks teammates.

“Everybody wants to go in the first round, and there were a lot of rumors of me going in the first round,” Sweatt said. “When I didn’t go, he believed in me. He has played with me, and he knows what type of player I am.”

CONTACT THE WRITER: 636-0256 or brian.gomez@gazette.com