Photo credit: USA NTDP

Hudson Fasching, a prospect projected to be selected in the second round of the NHL draft, has a remarkable family. His two younger siblings, Cooper and Mallory, have a rare genetic condition called  mitochondrial disorder; their brains and muscles don’t receive the energy they need to operate properly.

“I just am very grateful for what I have,” Fasching told NHL.com in April. “I feel like I’m very lucky. It was a statistical thing, a one-in-four chance that they would contract the disease or the genes ended up the way they have. I’m just really lucky that I have all the gifts I’ve been given as a person, and I work that much harder every day to work for them because they can’t do that.”

Fasching, a 6’2” 214-pound native of Burnsville, Minnesota, plays with the USA National Team Development Program, which has given the Caps lots of prospects over the last few years, including Connor Carrick, Thomas DiPauli, and Riley Barber. Scouts tout his pro-level size, his strength and strong skating. Though his stock has fell somewhat over the course of the season, Fasching, who committed to the University of Minnesota, is present on most credible rankings: The Hockey News placed him 56th, International Scouting Services had him as high as 44th on their list, and Central Scouting put him at 70th in their rankings.

Most importantly, Fasching is a blue-eyed blonde, likely to make him a fan favorite if he lands in DC, which is quite possible. And as you can see from this photo, Fasching’s dad Rick wouldn’t mind it one bit. Nor would we.

Photo credit: The Hockey News

P.S. Make sure to pick up The Hockey News Draft Preview issue that includes Ken Campbell’s feature on Fasching’s family.