MONTREAL — Brian Dumoulin was never what you’d call a Carolina “Caniac.”

But he’s a big one now.

So, too, are his parents, Pete and Deb.

And maybe soon enough, half of York County.

Dumoulin, Biddeford born and bred, hand dipped in Orange and Black, was made the second round pick by the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2009 National Hockey League Entry Draft, Saturday, at the Bell Centre.

Dumoulin, a gifted 6-foot, 3-inch, 200-pound, puck-moving defenseman, heard his name called by Hurricanes’ General Manager Jim Rutherford, setting off a celebration by the dozen or so friends and family who made the trip for the occasion.

“I’m just happy,” said Dumoulin, who will play at least a season or two for Boston College before turning professional. “I watched the (Stanley Cup playoff) series between them and the Boston Bruins. It was an awesome series to watch. Carolina won it, so now I’m one of the biggest Carolina fans there is. I’m happy to be a part of the Carolina organization.”

Pre-draft projections had Dumoulin being selected somewhere before the middle of the third round.

However, after drafting center Phillippe Paradis during Friday’s first round, Rutherford was delighted that Dumoulin was there for the taking soon after the draft resumed Saturday morning.

“We’re real happy,” said Rutherford. “We’re happy he’s going to B.C. It’s a good program, a good place for him to develop. He’s a good-sized defenseman, he can move the puck. He’s going to get bigger. Our staff really, really likes him. The way the new game is played, you”˜ve got to be able to move the puck, and you”˜ve got to be able to skate. Those are two of his biggest assets. As time goes a long, he”˜ll just get better and better.”

Besides Dumoulin’s hockey skills, Rutherford said that he and his staff were thoroughly impressed by his intangibles.

“We know he’s a real good person,” Rutherford said. “He’s got a good background, good character.”

That character has been shaped largely by his mother and father, both of whom were thrilled at their son’s selection.

In fact, in doing his own pre-draft tea-leaf reading, Pete Dumoulin had Brian going exactly where he ended up.

“When it got to 50, I was predicting 51,” said Pete. “When it was 49, I was guessing 50. We knew they really liked Brian. You remember those kinds of things. They”˜re going to give him every chance to succeed.”

Said Deb, “It’s awesome. We were hoping for this. Just the way the draft was going, we weren’t sure how it would all play out. But it’s so exciting.”

Brian Dumoulin said that both his time with Biddeford High, and this year in the junior ranks with the New Hampshire Junior Monarchs, were pivotal in making his game enticing to NHL scouts.

“It was my defensive play,” he said. “To be able to play defense, but pick my chances as to jumping into the offense. Just to know when the right time to play offense was.”

Next on the agenda is a trip to Carolina in two weeks for the the Hurricanes’ development camp. As an NCAA player, Dumoulin must pay all of his own expenses.

However, on this day, that was the least of his concerns.

His head was still somewhere in the clouds. The ones whipped up by Hurricanes.

— Contact Dan Hickling at  282-1535 ext. 318 or dhickling@journaltribune.com.