Colorado Rubber

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Avalanche add top NCAA prospect Jost, five more players at NHL Draft

 

Tyson Jost dreamed of the moment for 16 years – getting drafted by an NHL team.

The dream turned into reality June 24 at the First Niagara Center in Buffalo, N.Y., when the Colorado Avalanche selected the University of North Dakota-bound forward 10th overall.

“I’m still so excited,” Jost said. “It’s something that you can’t really explain. It’s something that I’ve dreamed about ever since I was two years old, so having that come true, it’s pretty special, and I’m so glad I got to share it with my family, especially my mom.

draft_logo“I’m going to remember it for a long time. My mom is so special to me. She’s a single mom and she raised me all by herself, and to share that moment with her up in the stands there is something I’ll never forget and just giving her a hug, it was pretty special. It was kind of my thanks back to her just for all the hard work and sacrifice she gave me and my sister.”

Jost played the past two seasons with the Penticton Vees of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL). A native of St. Alberta, Alberta, Jost was named Hockey Canada’s Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) National Player of the Year, as well as the CJHL and BCHL MVP, after amassing 42 goals and 104 points in 48 games last season. He led the BCHL in assists (62) and points per game (2.17) and added another six goals and 14 points in 11 playoff games.

Jost also captained Team Canada at the 2016 World Under-18 Hockey Championship in Grand Forks, N.D., where he set a new Canadian scoring record with a tournament-leading 15 points in seven games and was named the Top Forward.

“He’s just a great hockey player,” Avalanche GM Joe Sakic said. “He does everything well. He skates, he’s got great vision, he plays a great 200-foot game. He’s always been a leader. He does everything you can ask for from a hockey player.”

Being on stage with Sakic and Avalanche coach Patrick Roy at the draft proceedings was a surreal experience for Jost.

“It’s such a prestigious program,” said Jost. “One guy that really stands out, Joe Sakic, being able to meet him there, it’s pretty special. They’re such a great program, and it’s a team I always watch, so I’m so happy and excited to get things going.”

Playing in the BCHL was a decision that has obviously paid supreme dividends for Jost.

“I mean, you have so much exposure to schools like North Dakota and Boston University and Denver and Penticton does such a great job at recruiting and getting that exposure, I guess you could say, so I feel like I’m comfortable to make that step next year into college hockey and then after that, the NHL,” Jost said. “The BCHL, I have so much respect for that league. I know everybody kind of looks down on it sometimes, and I don’t think that should be the case at all just because it is a great league, and it’s so good for your development. I have nothing but great things to say about the BCHL.”

On the second day of the draft, Colorado added five more prospects, including Boulder native and former Rocky Mountain RoughRiders defenseman Nate Clurman, who went in the sixth round (161st overall) out of the Culver Military Academy in Indiana.

Also becoming property of the Avalanche were reigning United States Hockey League Rookie of the Year Cameron Morrison (second round, 40th overall), who recorded 34 goals and 60 points with the Youngstown Phantoms last year, Prince George Cougars (Western Hockey League) defenseman Josh Anderson (pictured, third round, 71st overall), Swedish goalie Adam Werner (fifth round, 131st overall) and Ottawa 67’s (Ontario Hockey League) forward Travis Barron (seventh round, 191st overall).

Photo/Aaron Bell/CHL Images

– Matt Mackinder

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