In the two-a-day fashion of football, forward Tyson Jost and 23 other Avalanche prospects began the on-ice portion of development camp Wednesday. The Avs had three 45-minute morning skates before a full-group, hour-long afternoon workout session at Family Sports Center.
Despite the lack of a scrimmage, Jost felt giddy to don a practice sweater while briefly forgetting he was given an Avalanche game jersey by general manager and Hockey Hall of Famer Joe Sakic inside the team’s Pepsi Center locker room June 27, three days after being selected No. 10 overall in the NHL draft. Jost said wearing the practice sweater was “amazing” and a lifetime achievement.
“First time I’ve been skating with it,” said Jost, who is committed to play at the University of North Dakota next season. “It’s exciting. I want to improve every little part of my game and there’s so much that you can soak up and learn from here. I think if I take everything that I learn and bring it back to North Dakota … it’s all something that can really help me get to the pros.”
He added: “I’ll bring everything back to North Dakota for a year, or maybe it’s two years, but like I’ve said I want to be in the NHL as soon as I can.”
The Avalanche camp began Monday with introductions and dinner. Tuesday was off-ice training including physicals. The young players will skate through Saturday.
“It’s been a really great two days so far and I’m looking forward to the rest of the week,” Jost said. “The city is unbelievable. I can’t get over how nice it is.”
Jost, who chose North Dakota over the University of Denver, and the other NCAA players such as DU defenseman Will Butcher and St. Cloud State left wing Ben Storm, had to pay their way to the Avs camp, per NCAA rules. A year ago, then-Boston University forward A.J. Greer paid his own way but this year his tab is paid by the Avs. Greer, who was selected by Colorado in the second round (39th) overall in the 2015 draft, left BU in January to play major junior in Quebec. He produced 16 goals in 33 games for Rouyn-Noranda after scoring just once in 18 games for BU.
“We can’t look back when I made that move,” Greer said. “I just tried to make the most of it and I had success — and we also had success as a team. Making that move from a development standpoint, I got in my comfort zone and became the player I wanted to be. I definitely improved and I’m back to the player that I know.”
Greer recently signed his NHL entry-level contract and is pegged to begin the season for San Antonio of the American Hockey League — despite being eligible to return to Rouyn-Noranda as a over-aged player.
“I certainly think I can produce there,” Greer said of the AHL. “I’m a competitor and I have good attributes as a player to play at that level. If they give me a shot, I’m going to take it and run.”
Footnotes. Prized forward Mikko Rantanen, the 10th pick of the 2015 draft, is not participating in the development camp because he no longer is considered a prospect. Rantanen, 19, is expected to make the NHL roster in the fall. … The camp continues Thursday and Friday with morning sessions beginning at 8:30 a.m. and a 4 p.m. full-group skate. Saturday features a full-group session at 8:15 a .m., a 3-on-3 challenge at 10 a.m. and a skills competition at 10:30 a.m. All sessions are free and open to the public.
