Whenever he laces up the skates and hits the ice, Dylan Olsen feels like he is in his natural element.

A passion for hockey became infused in Olsen's blood in his childhood years as he traveled from one city to another throughout the United States and Europe with his father, Darryl, while Darryl pursued a minor league hockey career that included a stint with the Salt Lake Golden Eagles.

"We moved around the world a lot, and he took me everywhere he went — took me to his practices, his games and everything," Olsen said. "So he's definitely a big influence in my life. Taught me everything I know about the game."

These days, Olsen is embarking on the same path his father once took by trying to make a career out of the sport he loves most.

His ice dreams received a considerable boost last month when the Salt Lake City-born defenseman was selected 28th overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.

Olsen had initially expected to be selected in the middle of first round and felt a bit nervous when he didn't hear his name called right away. Once it came Chicago's turn to make its selection, he was thrilled to be drafted by the Blackhawks.

The thrill of being selected by the 'Hawks didn't just come from the fact that they had reached the NHL Western Conference finals this past season. It also stemmed from his background as a Chicago fan.

Olsen always favored the 'Hawks even growing up in Calgary and living in the shadow of the hometown Flames — the NHL team that, ironically, drafted his father in the 9th round of the 1985 NHL Entry Draft. When he visualized playing in the NHL, it was a Chicago uniform — not one from Calgary — that he pictured.

"They're an Original Six team," Olsen said. "That's something you look forward to as a young kid growing up. You want to get drafted by an Original Six team. When their pick rolled around and they called my name, it was an incredible feeling."

Olsen first generated interest from the Blackhawks organization while exhibiting solid skills during his stint with Camrose in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. At 6 feet 2 inches and 206 pounds, he possesses the blend of size and toughness that Chicago is looking for.

An impressive 2008-09 stat line for Camrose — 10 goals and 19 assists — convinced Hawks general manger Dale Tallon that Olsen has a promising set of all-around skills.

"He's a complete defenseman because he's very good at both ends," Tallon said. "He's very good on the point in the power play, and he's very good in his own end defensively — which is rare for a kid his age."