With their fourth round selection in this year’s Entry Draft, the Nashville Predators chose defenseman Garrett Noonan.

While Nashville’s depth level on the back end might make a draft pick worried about one day getting their shot, Noonan is excited. “It is unbelievable. They have so many great defensemen. I’m proud to be a Predator draft pick,” he said.

“When they called me I was pretty excited. It was a good feeling. I’m excited to be a Predator,” the 20-year old said about being selected 112th overall. But Noonan wasn’t in Minnesota for the draft. He wasn’t even watching tv when his name was called.

“I actually turned it off for a little bit,” he admitted, adding, “When I heard I got drafted I turned it back on. I watched it, rewound it a few times.”

Noonan describes himself as a two-way defenseman, and so does Hockey’s Future, calling him a “classic” two way defenseman. The prospect site says of Noonan, “the best compliment you can likely pay Noonan is that you didn’t really notice him. He takes care of business smartly and effectively in his own end, and while he has the ability to contribute from time to time offensively–whether with a crisp breakout pass or from the offensive blueline–he plays an understate but effective game.”

Noonan agrees, saying that in college he plays both the power play and penalty kill, can contribute offensively but really sees himself being the go to defensive defenseman on the team that shuts down the opponents top lines.

The 6’0, 205 pound Norfolk, Massachusetts native is entering his sophomore year at Boston University. Noonan says that he didn’t play junior because he needed to get stronger. “I think that’s what college does to you. Obviously, Junior is great too, you play a lot of games there.”

But Noonan says he made the right choice. “Where i grew up, college is where you go.”

“It was a dream come true,” Noonan said about going to Boston University, just 12 miles away from Norfolk County. “They gave me a scholarship to go there so I was happy to take it.”

For the 2011-12 season, Noonan has team and individual goals. “For my team, it is to get back to the national tournament. Indivisually, I want to keep getting better and stronger and do the things off the ice to get farther in hockey,” he said.

Boston University last won the Frozen Four tournament in 2009.

Noonan was playing shinny hockey with Predators forward Colin Wilson on draft day and Noonan got some advice.

“Get ready for development camp, be in shape,” Noonan said Wilson told him. “I didn’t have that much time to get ready. I think he mentally prepared me for it. He’s awesome. He told me how great of a city it was and everything like that. It’s been awesome talking to him.”

*** HUGE thanks to the great Buddy Oakes of Preds on the glass for conducting the interview on my behalf while I’m off in the great white north for the summer.

Photo credit: Terrier Hockey