EVERETT — While the Everett Silvertips continue to wait on a decision by prized prospect Auston Matthews, it seems another top talent has slipped through their fingers.
The British Columbia Hockey League’s Penticton Vees announced Monday that Tyson Jost, Everett’s first-round pick in the 2013 bantam draft, will return to Penticton next season.
Jost, a high-scoring center who resides in Kelowna, B.C., was picked seventh overall by Everett in 2013. He spurned the Silvertips to play in the BCHL last season, and as a 16-year-old rookie he finished with 23 goals and 22 assists in 46 games with the Vees. He led Penticton in points per game and helped the Vees reach the championship game of the RBC Cup, the junior A Canadian national championship tournament.
Staying with Pentiction means Jost, who is a possible top-10 pick in the 2016 NHL draft, retains his NCAA eligibility.
Jost and Matthews are two of three elite offensive talents whose Western Hockey League rights are owned by Everett, with 2013 second-round bantam pick Patrick Khodorenko being the third. Matthews, who just finished a record-setting two-year stint with the U.S. National Team Development Program (NTDP), is projected as the first-overall pick in the 2016 NHL draft. The Tips originally were believed to have the inside track in securing Matthews’ services for next season. Speculation suggested Matthews’ decision could affect whether Jost or Khodorenko would come to Everett next season.
However, three weeks ago it was revealed Matthews was considering the unprecedented move of playing his NHL draft season in one of the European professional leagues. Matthews still has yet to announce his intentions for next season.
Everett, which is coming off winning its first U.S. Division championship since 2007, was hoping for an infusion of offensive firepower for 2015-16. Jost is now committed to returning to Penticton, Matthews appears questionable at best, and Khodorenko still has one year left with his commitment to the U.S. NTDP.
Everett’s other avenue for adding offensive talent is the Canadian Hockey League import draft, which takes place June 30. The Tips traded Russian winger Ivan Nikolishin to Red Deer in early May, and Russian winger Nikita Scherbak is exempt from Everett’s protected list as he’s heading into his overage season. Therefore, the Tips will be able to make two selections in the import draft.
Check out Nick Patterson’s Silvertips blog at http://www.heraldnet.com/silvertipsblog, and follow him on Twitter at @NickHPatterson.
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