A pretty ordinary moment of going inside to charge his phone turned into something that Moose Jaw's Reece Newkirk will remember for the rest of his life.

"My mom started screaming and I look at the TV and my name is on there, so it was just awesome," recounted Newkirk on the moment he was selected by the New York Islanders with the 147th overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft on Saturday.

The Portland Winterhawks forward went in the fifth round to the Islanders, accomplishing a lifelong dream of being drafted into the National Hockey League.

Newkirk stayed home instead of attending the draft and was able to share the moment with his family and friends here in Moose Jaw.

"When I got called, I was just super happy to go to a great organization out here in Long Island," said Newkirk.

Newkirk starred with the Notre Dame Hounds Bantam AAA team in 2015-16, scoring 18 goals and 53 points in 37 games before being selected by the Winterhawks in the third round of the 2016 WHL Bantam Draft.

He posted one stellar season with the Moose Jaw Generals in the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League, picking up 17 goals and 40 points in 44 games before making the jump to the WHL.

Coming out of his second season, Newkirk was the 81st ranked North American skater by NHL Central Scouting after he posted 23 goals and 59 points in 68 games with the Winterhawks during the 2018-19 season. Those totals were big jumps from his eight goals and 11 points in 58 games during his 16-year-old season in Portland.

The five-foot-11 centre credits his support system for getting him to this point.

"I couldn't be here without my family, my friends and my coaches and everyone that's helped me along the way and I'm super thankful for it," said Newkirk.

"Portland, just like New York, it's an unreal organization and Mike Johnston, our coach, just trains us to be a pro, he always stresses how important it is to be a pro, act like a pro and it gets us ready for moments like this."

Newkirk is already in New York as he prepares to hit the ice with the Islanders for the first time during their summer development camp.