Del Bel Belluz ponders possibility of getting drafted by hometown Leafs

SPORTSCENTRE Reporter

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Luca Del Bel Belluz is a proud product of Leafs Nation. 

"The Toronto Maple Leafs have a crazy fan base," the Woodbridge, Ont. native said. "It's awesome. I've been to a lot of games growing up, including playoff games. It gets extra loud in there. They have a cool fan base."

Sometimes people lose their cool. 

"I almost saw a fight in the stands," a smiling Del Bel Belluz recalled while considering his most memorable moments as a kid. "A fan of the opponent was giving it to one of the Leaf fans and he didn't like it."

Del Bel Belluz has grown from a star-struck spectator into a top National Hockey League prospect. TSN director of scouting Craig Button ranked the Mississauga Steelheads centre at No. 23 on his final list of prospects eligible for the upcoming draft. The Leafs own the No. 25 pick.

So, maybe Del Bel Belluz will get a chance to go from the stands to the home dressing room inside Scotiabank Arena.  

"I thought about it a little bit," he acknowledged. "You never know what's going to happen on draft day but, definitely, there's a possibility. It would be really cool to be drafted by your hometown and the team that you grew up cheering for."

Del Bel Belluz felt his interview with the Leafs went well at the NHL Scouting Combine. During a conversation with TSN, he shared details about that experience and also explained how playing soccer helped his hockey career. The following is an edited transcript of the interview.

TSN: What was it like to interview with the Leafs? 

Del Bel Belluz: "That was one I was nervous to go in for, obviously, growing up as a Leafs fan. It was super awesome. Good guys in there." 

TSN: What stood out the most?

Del Bel Belluz: "Meeting Kyle Dubas was