And, after Saturday's Ontario Hockey League draft, both Lincoln residents now belong to OHL teams.

Forestell was selected to join the Niagara Icedogs in the eighth round, 155th overall. Lane went to the Ottawa 67's two rounds later, 188th overall.

The two 16-year-olds were members of the St. Catharines Falcons minor midget team last season, Forestell leading the offensive charge and Lane manning the point.

Both boys were monitoring the OHL website from their homes Saturday, wondering when their names would appear. As the draft list lengthened, the text messages between the two friends became more frequent.

"We're on dial-up, so we were going on and off," said Forestell.

Then in the middle of the eighth round, the phone rang at the Forestell residence on Nineteenth Street in Jordan.

"It was (IceDogs GM) Dave Brown," said Forestell, a Grade 10 student at Beamsville District Secondary School. "The whole house was quiet while I spoke to him."

When he hung up the phone however, his family exploded.

"He had to peel me off the ceiling," said his mom, Chris.

"My family was behind me all the way," the 6'1, 175 lb. centre said of his dad, Ed, older sister, Stephanie, and younger brother Christopher. "My mom is always the loudest mom in the rink."

Lane's name popped up on the OHL website before he got the official call from a 67's scout. Then it was pure bedlam for the Drake Avenue resident, as the congratulations poured in.

"About 16 MSN messages popped up all at once," he said. "My cell phone was ringing, our home phone was ringing."

The Grade 10 Blessed Trinity Catholic Secondary School student had no idea which team would take him. The Kitchener Rangers and Mississauga St. Michael's Majors had expressed interest in the 6'2, 170 lb. defenceman.

He called the draft result "a dream come true." Lane will join the 67's in June for a rookie camp under hockey legend Brian Kilrea.

"I'm really, really happy," he said. "I'm looking forward to showing them what I can do."

Lane said he tries to mimic the style of Calgary Flames' Dion Phaneuf, one of the NHL's best defencemen, by "trying to do everything well."

Lane had three goals, 10 assists and 158 PIM in 33 games this season, before dislocating his shoulder.

"He's worked hard to get to this spot," said his mother, Kim, who along with dad, Terry, and siblings Adam and Denie are Lane's biggest supporters. "We never would have expected this in all of our wildest dreams."

Lane grew up playing in the Lincoln Blades organization since the age of five. He joined the Falcons' organization five years ago. This year, he was even the MVP of the Niagara District Catholic School Board's all-star game, picking up two points.

The Freeman Herbs' employee said the toughest part about playing in Ottawa would be leaving his friends and family, but also said there's "not a chance" he will ever cheer for the Ottawa Senators over the Buffalo Sabres.

As for Forestell, he's just excited to get a chance to play alongside some of his favourite junior players such as Andrew Agozzino.

Forestell played 56 out of 61 games with the Falcons this season, finishing as the second-leading scorer with 30 goals, 21 assists and 87 PIM.

"I think he has a bright future," said the IceDogs' Brown. "If he continues to work hard at it, there's a chance he can be a pretty effective player in our league. He's a good effective skater and has a good physical part to his game."

As for the chance to don the IceDogs' jersey next season? "I still can't believe it," he said. "It's still a shock."

For now though, he will be focusing on the track and field season at BDSS, where he participates in the 100-metre dash and high jump.

Both Forestell and Lane will be in Guelph this weekend, participating in a regional Under-17 Team Ontario evaluation camp.