PITTSBURGH, PA - Brett Kulak grew up just outside of Edmonton, plays his junior hockey in Vancouver and is now a member of the Calgary Flames.

The irony isn’t lost on Calgary’s fourth round pick, the 105th selection in the 2012 NHL Draft.

“I know, I know,” laughed Kulak, who had nine goals and 24 points with the Vancouver Giants this season. “I’ve grown up an Edmonton fan for sure, but I right away converted to a Flames fan right after I was drafted.”

Kulak wasn’t in attendance in Pittsburgh to hear his name called. Instead, he enjoyed seeing his name hit the ticker on the NHL Network’s broadcast of the event.

“Me, my mom, my dad and my Grandma came out and my one brother is sitting there just watching it on TV,” Kulak said. “We saw my name pop up and my agent called me. Me and my dad looked at each other, just happy for each other. He’s helped me along the way a lot and put in a lot of work.”

The Stony Plain product spent more time watching then he would’ve liked, but was ultimately grateful to become a member of the Flames.

“I was pretty dialed in on the TV screen too,” Kulak said. “I had heard the rumors before the draft I might’ve gone a little higher but I’m happy where I went. Now I’m ready to prove some people wrong and make the Calgary Flames proud.”

Playing the underdog isn’t anything new for Kulak, who was selected late by the Vancouver Giants in the 2009 Western Hockey League Bantam Draft. He used that as motivation, something he plans to draw on again.

“In my Bantam Draft I went in the ninth round there, more of an underdog type thing there,” he said. “It’s the same thing here.”

He’ll have to wait to fulfill his claim. Not attending the draft, Kulak will also have to wait to pull on the Flames jersey for the first time.

That’s fine with him.

“I’m not too sure when I get it, whenever it comes, it comes,” Kulak said. “I’ll have a big smile on my face for sure.”

As the newest fan of the Calgary Flames.