Not everyone’s draft dreams came true over the weekend.

In one of the biggest surprises of the 2016 NHL Draft, Moose Jaw Warriors netminder Zach Sawchenko wasn’t one of the 18 goaltenders selected over the seven rounds as he slipped through the entire draft.

“It was tough just watching teams pick and pick and rounds go by and not hearing your name was pretty tough, but with every tough story comes a new beginning,” said Sawchenko on Monday.

After starring for the Warriors over the past three seasons, Sawchenko was projected to go off the board during Rounds 3-4 of the NHL Draft, but those rounds came and went with a number of goalies being selected, but none being the Calgary product.

Already a motivated individual, Sawchenko said that all being snubbed does for him is make him want to prove everyone wrong for passing him over.

“There’s now 211 fires under me, just to prove all those people wrong,” said Sawchenko.

“It was a real tough feeling and I never want to experience that again.  When it comes down to it, the draft is just a number, it doesn’t matter if you’re un-drafted, a seventh round pick or a first rounder, you all go to the same camp and now it’s just making the most of your opportunity.”

Sawchenko falling through the draft left many observers shocked on Saturday.  Many goalies with less of a high-end pedigree were selected ahead of the Warriors’ 18-year-old.

In 126 games at the WHL level, Sawchenko has posted a 58-51-6-3 record with a 3.26 goals against average and a .903 save percentage.  He set career-highs across the board during the 2015-16 campaign, going 28-16-4-2 with a 3.04 GAA and a .916 save percentage, while helping the Warriors back into the playoffs for the first time in three seasons.

“I sat there watching guys that I thought that I was just as good as, if not better than, keep getting picked and it was tough seeing all that go by and one thing that kind of popped into my head is that maybe I’m too short, but as Marcus Stroman says, ‘Height doesn’t measure heart,’” said Sawchenko.

“There’s a huge difference between a six-foot-four goalie and a six-foot-one goalie, but when it comes down to it, you’re going to want the goalie that stops the puck.”

Sawchenko has done just that throughout his career, including on the big stage as he’s won a medal at every level with Hockey Canada and will be attending the World Junior Summer Development Camp next month with a strong chance to be in goal for Canada at the end of the year.

Two other goalies that were passed over last year are serving as inspiration for Sawchenko as he points to Medicine Hat’s Nick Schneider and Michael McNiven out of the OHL as examples that this isn’t the end of the road going un-drafted.

“Those are guys that had the option to pack it in or work just as hard to prove everyone wrong and that’s what they did,” said Sawchenko.  “Michael and Nick were the first two goalies signed out of that draft class as un-drafted guys, so that’s something that’s pretty special.”

Sawchenko is currently in Nashville attending the Predators’ development camp after receiving an invite over the weekend.  The Predators have a strong history of developing goalies with Pekka Rinne, Thomas Vokoun and Chris Mason all coming up through their system.

“Me and my agent sat down after the draft and went over our possibilities and we thought that Nashville was a good fit for me,” said Sawchenko.  “I’m very blessed that they gave me that opportunity and believed in me to send over that invite and now it’s just up to me to make the most of this opportunity.”