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Andong Song: the first Chinese national drafted to the NHL loves Lidstrom and the pressure of being a pioneer

Six round NHL draft pick Andong Song will have an entire country watching his progress.

Sixth round NHL draft picks don't often have television crews following their every move. Andong Song isn't a just any sixth round draft pick.

The 18-year-old Song is the first player born in China to be drafted into the NHL, taken by the New York Islanders at 172nd overall. At the encouraging of his mother, who wanted her often sick son to pick up a sport, he started playing in his native country, where rinks were scarce.

"There were only two rinks in Beijing.