Kayden Newton was sitting in class, writing an English exam, when he got the good news.
Originally an 11th round pick of the Guelph Storm in 2023, an excellent start to the season with the Ayr Centennials and the trading of veteran goaltender Brayden Gillespie led to Storm signing the Waterdown native.
Saturday night at the Sleeman Centre Newton made his OHL debut, coming on in relief in a 10-7 loss to the Saginaw Spirit.
"I was in an exam and after I finished that my phone started lighting up from my dad, my agent and (Storm GM) George (Burnett)," Kaden said of the moment he got word the team wanted to sign him.
"Honestly, (getting signed) didn't really cross my mind until the actual words came out. I was just focused on my other team, trying to help them any way I can."
A crazy first period saw Saginaw jump out to a 5-0 lead, with four of the goals coming on the power play and the other goal coming shorthanded.
That led to Newton replacing starter Colin Ellsworth to start the second period.
With his dad watching in the stands, Newton would allow four goals on 15 shots.
"I was just a surreal experience in front of close to 5,000 fans I think it was?" said Newton, used to playing in front of a few hundred most nights in Ayr. "That was just surreal. I honestly couldn't believe it."
Newton played midget hockey in Halton Hills last season before going 17-5 with a 2.94 GAA average this season in the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League with Ayr.
"The one thing George always told us is that it doesn't matter what round you got drafted, it's how you show yourself and how you improve," Newton said.
It was a wild one at the Sleeman Centre in front of 4,600 Saturday.
Down by five, the Storm got back into the game with three goals in a span of one minute, 34 seconds early in the second period, making it 5-3.
It was 7-4 after two periods.
Guelph managed to make it a 7-6 game early in the third period when Justin Bottineau tipped one past Andrew Oke in the Saginaw net, but Igor Chernyshov restored the two-goal lead less than two minutes later and Guelph never got closer.
Jett Luchanko led the Storm attack with two goals and an assist. Charlie Paquette also scored twice, with singles going to Bottineau, Ryan McGuire and Hunter McKenzie.
Chernyshov and Michael Misa each had two goals and three assists to lead Saginaw. Calem Mangone had a hat trick.
Guelph was outshot 37-26.
Guelph plays in Sarnia on Wednesday then hosts Oshawa on Friday.