In his one and only season of major midget hockey in Kelowna, it was clear to many that Tyson Jost was well on his way to stardom.
Three years later, the former Okanagan Rockets' forward is a first-round NHL draft pick.
Friday night in Buffalo, Jost, the captain of the BCHL's Penticton Vees last season, was chosen 10th overall by the Colorado Avalanche.
"I want to play here someday and I want to help this team win a Stanley Cup, and I'm going to do whatever it takes," Jost told NHL.com. "I looked at the logo, I looked around at all these names. There's such a great tradition, and I hope to be sitting next to these guys one day."
The 5-foot-11, 190-pound St. Albert, AB native will attend the University of North Dakota next season.
Colorado vice president and GM Joe Sakic looks forward to the day Jost dons Avalanche colours.
"Everywhere he's gone he's been a leader," Sakic said of Jost on NHL.com. "Just by listening to him talk, he commands a lot of respect. He's just a natural leader. He's captain material."
Vees director of player development David Michaud has spent the last three years watching Jost's progress—first as GM of the Okanagan Rockets and the last two in Penticton.
"I've been involved with Tyson for three years and we accomplished some special things together with the Okanagan Rockets," said Michaud who was in Buffalo for the draft. "Tyson had an outstanding season with the Vees and internationally, it was great to see him rewarded with his top 10 position.
"It was a special, and emotional time for him and his family, I wouldn't have missed being there for the world."