Amazing how much can change in less than a year.
At this point in 2016, Tyson Jost was just mulling over the end of the Penticton Vees season, the upcoming U18 World Championships in North Dakota, the NHL Draft and his freshman season at the University of North Dakota.
Today, he’s on the cusp of his NHL debut.
Jost signed an entry-level contract Wednesday with the Colorado Avalanche, the team that drafted him 10th overall at last June’s NHL Entry Draft.
“Tyson is an all-around player. He competes, plays the game hard and is reliable at both ends of the ice,” said Avalanche executive vice president and general manager Joe Sakic, speaking to NHL.com. “He just finished a strong year at North Dakota and we’re looking forward to seeing him in an Avalanche sweater.”
It’s expected Jost will make his debut Friday at home against the St. Louis Blues. He will wear sweater No. 27.
The native of St. Albert, Alta. posted 16 goals and 19 assists for 35 points in 33 games as a freshman at North Dakota. The 5-foot-11, 195-pound playmaker mostly centered the top line for the Fighting Sioux, usually with fellow NHL prospects Shane Gersich and Brock Boeser on his wings.
Despite missing time due to injury and being away from the team while earning a silver medal with Canada at the World Junior Championships, Jost finished second for North Dakota in goals and points this past season.
In two seasons with Penticton, Jost accumulated 65 goals and 84 assists for 149 points in 97 games. He captained Team Canada West to a gold medal at last year’s World Junior A Challenge and was also named the Vern Dye Memorial Trophy winner as BCHL MVP. He later led Canada’s entry in scoring at the World U18 tournament and added the CJHL Player of the Year trophy to his resume as well.
