Draft Day with Charlie Paddywagon

[DMaximus 1,046]

We had the privilege of getting invited to a small draft day gathering at the Las Vegas condominium of VHL draftee Charlie Paddywagon. Originally this day was planned to be a huge celebration at a Las Vegas casino with food, drinks, and hundreds of friends and family. Because of the recent allegations of match fixing and pre-draft projections for Charlie continuing to fall, the draft day plans changed from a large party to a small gathering at home with his closest family members. His nervous yet optimistic mother Dolores Paddywagon told us “when times get tough for our family we all get strength from each other. But today is about letting Charlie celebrate his greatest accomplishment with his immediate loved ones.”

 

The scene should be familiar to anyone who has watched draft coverage in the past, the player centered on the couch, cell phone on the table in front of him. Mom is to his left. His brothers, Finn and Joseph, are to his right. A few in-laws and cousins are seated behind. Noticeably absent is Charlie’s father, Donnie, who is completing his sentence for manslaughter in a New York state prison. His name is not mentioned during the day, not out of hate or spite, but more that the family has the shared understanding that they wish their father would have been able to be there to share this moment with them.

 

Everyone seemed to be prepared for the worst which might have seen Charlie not get drafted to the 3^rd round. The room was absolutely stunned when Charlie’s phone rang during the 1^st round at pick number 6. It was Davos’ GM, @ShawnGlade. “Yes sir. Thank you sir. You won’t regret this.” That was the entirety of the conversation from Charlie’s end.

 

As he hung up the phone, the family simultaneously leapt in the air together in a burst of positive energy. They clutched each other in celebration and shared emotional tears of joy. For a family that has experienced many setbacks in life and a player that was expecting the worst today, @ShawnGlade was able to create a moment of pure joy for the Paddywagon clan.