Boston-area native Duran had a wholesome reaction to B's drafting him

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If you grew up in the Boston area watching the Bruins on a nightly basis, you're just like Riley Duran.

The difference between you and Duran? He's now a member of his favorite team.

The Bruins used their final pick in the 2020 NHL Draft (No. 182 overall) to select Duran, an 18-year-old forward from Woburn, Mass., who played at Lawrence Academy in Groton, Mass., and is committed to Providence College in 2021.

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Duran said Wednesday he's been a Bruins fan "from the day I was born." Needless to say, he's pretty fired up about getting his NHL chance in Boston.

"My brain is still twisting right now," Duran told reporters in a video conference Wednesday. "It’s really just a dream come true. I never really thought I’d be at this point and all the hard work paid off the past couple years.

"It’s really, it’s just awesome. It’s just a dream come true. I’m speechless."

The Bruins already have three local players on their roster: East Weymouth native Charlie Coyle, Walpole's Chris Wagner and Charlestown product Matt Grzelcyk.

Duran admitted Coyle was one of his favorite players to watch growing up -- after he recovered from learning he'd be the latest homegrown talent to join the B's.

"I think when my name came up (in the draft), I legit just blacked out," Duran said. "I had no idea what was going on. I saw my mom, she was bobbling her phone when she went up to take a picture and stuff."

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Duran will play for the Youngstown Phantoms of the USHL this winter and head to Providence the following year, so it will be a bit before he joins the Bruins. It sounds like he's already counting down the days.

"It's just a dream come true," Duran said. "The town of Woburn is always a close town and everyone knows each other, it’ll just be awesome when I’m back home."

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