Ready to go pro, but where?

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Ryan Constant is fairly confident he'll be playing professional hockey somewhere this season, but as of late September, the 21-year-old defenceman just wasn't sure in which league he'd begin his pro career.

Constant originally thought he'd be playing at Boston's Northeastern University this season after accepting an athletic scholarship offer from the American school. Due to some botched up paperwork, however, Constant was told he wouldn't be allowed to start at the school until the following semester in January.

As it turned out, that news turned out to be a blessing in disguise. That's because Northeastern's coach contacted the National Hockey League's New York Rangers who decided to invite Constant, a free agent, to their training camp.

Attending an NHL training camp is quite a step up for Constant, a member of Manitoba's Opaskwayak Cree Nation. For the past four years he has toiled for the OCN Blizzard in The Pas, Man. in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL).

Constant didn't even play in the highest level of junior hockey in Canada. The MJHL, part of the Canadian Junior A Hockey League, is viewed as a step below the Canadian Hockey League, which includes the Western Hockey League.

"Every kid dreams of playing in the NHL," Constant said. "But I didn't think this opportunity would come so early for me.

Constant's first taste of life as a pro began in Traverse City, Mich. That's where the Rangers participated in a seven-day, eight-team NHL rookie tournament in early September.

Constant appeared in three out of the Rangers' four games in the tournament. And he earned a pair of assists in his appearances.

From there, Constant reported to the Rangers' main training camp in New York City.

He stayed in the Big Apple for about a week, where he trained on the same ice as NHL superstars Jaromir Jagr and Brendan Shanahan.

So what was it like skating alongside such big-name NHLers?

"It was something else, I guess," said Constant, adding he didn't really have any opportunities to talk to the NHL stars. "I was really excited about it. But for some reason I was pretty relaxed out there on the ice. I don't know why."

Constant stayed in New York City for about a week before he was cut and told to report to Hartford, Conn. That's where he could try and earn a roster spot with the Rangers' American Hockey League affiliate ? the Hartford Wolf Pack.

Constant was a bit surprised he did not receive any feedback from the Rangers' coaching staff before or after he was released. He discovered he was being dispatched to Hartford from a list posted in the dressing room.

"Actually I was expecting the coaches to call me in and give me an insight to what's going on," he said. "But that never happened. They didn't say anything at all to me."

Constant added he was in limbo as he didn't know what was in store for his immediate hockey future. He was expecting to get into some exhibition matches with Hartford.

"I'm trying to prove myself here and hopefully get a spot on the team," he said. "They haven't told me much so I'm kind of hanging around for now until I hear something."

Ryan Constant is confident he does have what it takes to play in the AHL this season.

"I think I could play here," he said. "I wouldn't be a top-end player. But I could be a regular guy."

If the Wolf Pack does not sign him to a contract, Constant could be sent to the Charlotte Checkers, in the East Coast Hockey League. Like the Wolf Pack, the Checkers are also a Rangers' affiliate.

And if neither the Wolf Pack or Checkers is interested in having Constant in their lineup this season, he said he will head to the even lower calibre. The Central Hockey League has informed him a roster spot will be available if he is interested.