He's Coming, Avs Fans

There was a lot of anticipation when the Colorado Avalanche announced at last summer's NHL Entry Draft that they were taking Penticton Vees player Tyson Jost with the tenth pick in the event. A number of people, including TSN's scouting guru Craig Button, talked about how much talent Jost has, and we saw some of that ability at the World Junior Championship in December. For Colorado Avalanche fans, there's excitement brimming on the horizon because it appears Jost is finding his way in the nCAA with the University of North Dakota, and the winning goal he scored in tonight's game against Omaha should have Avs fans rubbing their hands together for what the future holds.

I was sent a link to see the goal a couple of dozen times by a number of people. Honestly, I really wish that there was some way that NCAA hockey would be shown in Canada more often because there is a ton of great hockey being played at the collegiate level in the US by both men and women. My wishes aside, though, Tyson Jost may have just scored one of the goals of the year when he undressed two Mavericks en route to scoring the game-winner. Have a look-see at these hands.

Holy moly, what a goal! As a defenceman, playing against someone who can stick-handle like Jost without your stick is a death sentence. Joel Messner, a Lorette, Manitoba product and former Selkirk Steeler from the MJHL, was the player who lost his stick behind the net. Messner should have pinned Jost to the boards in this case, but he was already a step behind the sniper. Once Jost got himself free, Messner should have simply let Jost skate into him where he could have tackled the freshman Fighting Hawk. Take the penalty to prevent the goal. Instead, Jost dangled him nicely, and was on his way to the slot area untouched.

The second player to fly by Jost as he deked into the slot was Luc Snuggerud. Snuggerud, whose hockey lineage includes dad Bo who is a legend at the University of St. Thomas and uncle Dave who played in the NHL, was drafted by the Blackhawks in the fifth round in 2014, but he looked nothing like an NHL pick with that defensive effort. Jost walked around him like he was barely there, and the two defencemen really left Alex Blankenburg out to dry against one of the best freshmen in the nation.

That's a heckuva goal on a Friday, folks. And it doesn't even appear on SportsCentre.

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!