BUFFALO, N.Y. – Incoming University of North Dakota freshman Tyson Jost was selected by the Colorado Avalanche in the first round (10th overall) of the 2016 National Hockey League Entry Draft on Friday night.
Jost (rhymes with 'post') will join the Fighting Hawks in 2016-17 after spending the past two seasons with the British Columbia Hockey League's (BCHL) Penticton Vees, where he was a teammate of fellow incoming freshmen Dixon Bowen and Colton Poolman.
A native of St. Alberta, Alberta, Jost was named Hockey Canada's Canadian Junior Hockey League 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, 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. He does everything well,” said Colorado Executive Vice President/General Manager Joe Sakic. “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.”
Jost was the 169th NHL draft pick in the history of UND's men's hockey program and the 18th to be selected in the first round. He became the highest-drafted UND player since Jonathan Toews went third overall to the Chicago Blackhawks in 2006. Jost and Toews are the only two UND forwards ever to be selected in the top 10 of the NHL Entry Draft.
UND's First-Round NHL Draft Picks
1968: John Marks (D), Chicago, 9th
1981: James Patrick (D), New York Rangers, 9th
1986: George Pelawa (F), Calgary, 16th
1989: Jason Herter (D), Vancouver, 8th
1993: Landon Wilson (F), Toronto, 19th
2000: David Hale (D), New Jersey, 22nd
2003: Zach Parise (F), New Jersey, 17th
2004: Drew Stafford (F), Buffalo, 13th
2004: Travis Zajac (F), New Jersey, 20th
2005: Brian Lee (D), Ottawa, 9th
2005: T.J. Oshie (F), St. Louis, 24th
2005: Joe Finley (D), Washington, 27th
2006: Jonathan Toews (F), Chicago, 3rd
2010: Derek Forbort (D), Los Angeles, 15th
2010: Brock Nelson (F), New York Islanders, 30th
2012: Jordan Schmaltz (D), St. Louis Blues, 25th
2014: Nick Schmaltz (F), Chicago Blackhawks, 20th
2015: Brock Boeser (F), Vancouver Canucks, 23rd
2016: Tyson Jost (F), Colorado Avalanche, 10th