At just 17-years-old, Tyson Jost is looking to captain the BCHL’s Penticton Vees to a second-straight BCHL title.
He’s off to a good start.
In his second season with the Vees, the Kelowna-born forward leads the BCHL with 60 points (24 goals, 36 assists) in 30 games as his squad sits first overall in the 17-team league with a scorching record of 26-2-0.
“It’s definitely been a positive experience for the first half of the season,” said Jost, who is representing Canada West at the World Junior A Challenge. “Everything is going really well right now and I’m really pleased with how my season has kicked off and how our team is doing. It’s exciting, for sure.”
Plucked in the first round (seventh overall) of the 2013 WHL Bantam Draft by the Everett Silvertips, Jost elected to stay within the friendly confines of his home province and skate in Junior-A. The decision allowed him to retain eligibility to play in the NCAA.
In August, Jost committed to the University of North Dakota.
So far, it was the right move for the 6-foot, 195-pound center who’s finding the back of the net at a torrid pace. Midway through his sophomore season, Jost has already met his mark of 23 goals scored last year as a rookie.
Not only has he developed a penchant for putting his name on the score sheet, Jost has worn the ‘C’ with pride and is demonstrating maturity beyond his years.
Jost said he tries to lead by example on and off the ice and it has earned him the respect of his older teammates as he attempts to lead the Vees to their third championship in five years. In 2012, the Vees won the BCHL championship and the RBC Cup before taking another league title in 2015.
“I’m a captain a lot of players can come talk to and have a one-on-one conversation,” he explained. “I was a younger captain coming into the year. I had to adjust a few things but it’s something I’ve gelled with really well. It’s exciting when you have that success and you’re one of the leaders on this team.”
Scouts describe Jost as a fleet-footed forward with a nose for the net. He’s an agile and slippery skater who has a low centre of gravity and strong balance, which he uses to protect the puck.
Jost sits 12th overall in Future Considerations’ December ranking for the 2016 NHL Draft.
Vees teammate and fellow 2016 NHL Draft eligible, defenseman Dante Fabbro, agrees with the scouting reports.
“He’s got a killer shot,” Fabbro said. “He can shoot the puck hard. He’s dynamic, kind of side-to-side. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anybody take him off the puck in the corner. He’s good at that sort of stuff. He’s a strong player in the defensive zone, too.”
While Jost has his sights firmly set on his immediate future with the Vees, he’s gotten a sneak peak of what his future alma mater has to offer . He’s excited to dig into a program he feels will shift his development into high gear after he’s is likely plucked in the first round of the upcoming draft.
“Look at their rink and their coaching staff and the facilities they have, it’s a world class program,” Jost said of UND. “I can see myself getting so much better as a person and a player going there. When I visited North Dakota two weeks ago, it just reaffirmed my decision.”
“I got to watch the game and it’s such a surreal experience when you’re playing in front of that many fans and their screaming and rooting for you. It’s like a mini NHL rink. It’s exciting to be committed to such a great college program.”