First Career NHL Goal scored by Kirby Dach

That’s a puck worth saving on the mantel.

Late in the opening period of Tuesday’s contest versus the Golden Knights, Saskatoon Blades star and budding Chicago Blackhawk Kirby Dach netted his first career NHL goal after he knocked a loose puck into an open cage behind Vegas netminder Marc-Andre Fleury.

Another rook gets his first and this time it's Kirby Dach (@kdach77). Welcome to the Show!

NHL x @MGMResortsIntl pic.twitter.com/LihKuW0aHe

— NHL (@NHL) October 23, 2019

After making his NHL debut Sunday against the Washington Capitals, Tuesday marked Dach’s second-ever appearance, one that he will no doubt remember for a lifetime.

“It was a pretty cool moment,” Dach told reporters in recalling his goal. “You grow up dreaming of playing in the NHL, and two games in you’ve got your first goal, so that’s pretty special.

“It’s been a learning process for me. I’m still a young guy but I’ve got a lot of older guys in here who I can lean on and two good linemates who are super easy to play with, so it’s been an easy transition so far. I think as time goes on I am going to get more confident game by game.”

Hey look Ma I made it 💫#Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/Pggiz45aJB

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) October 23, 2019

The goal punctuates a whirlwind few months for the 18-year-old, beginning in June when he was selected third overall by Chicago in the 2019 NHL Draft. He then impressed at the Blackhawks’ prospect camp before being sidelined to injury. Upon his return, he completed a three-game trial with the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs before getting the call to the big club.

“He’s playing well,” Blackhawks head coach Jeremy Colliton said following Tuesday’s game. “He made a lot of plays again and probably could have had more points and produced more offense for us. He’s going to keep improving.”

A native of Fort Saskatchewan, Alta., Dach finished third in team scoring with Saskatoon last season, notching 73 points counting 25 goals and 48 assists across 62 appearances to help the Blades qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 2013.

Dach is one of just five NHL players who competed in the CHL last season.