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One-on-one: Physicality, clearing crease is D-man Collins' 'bread and butter'

CRANBERRY, Pa. -- One of Nolan Collins' earliest memories of being at an NHL game came in Pittsburgh.

Collins, a right-handed defenseman who was the Penguins' sixth-round pick Friday in Montreal, grew up in Whitby, Ontario rooting for the Penguins. His fandom was passed down to him from his father Justin, who he says is a "die-hard" Penguins fan.

Collins said he was about seven years old when he and his dad made the trip down to Pittsburgh for a Capitals-Penguins game to see the Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin rivalry in person, each donning No.