The Curious Case of Josh Jooris
9 years ago
Josh Jooris and hockey have gone hand-in-hand, like
spaghetti and meatballs, since Jooris was just a little tyke. While Mark
Jooris, father of Josh, grinded it out in leagues across Europe, his son – and
understudy – was quickly learning the ropes of the game he was growing into,
and developing a feverish passion for.
spaghetti and meatballs, since Jooris was just a little tyke. While Mark
Jooris, father of Josh, grinded it out in leagues across Europe, his son – and
understudy – was quickly learning the ropes of the game he was growing into,
and developing a feverish passion for.
And as it turns out, he happened to have a knack for
it.
it.
While all the other kids were just learning to pass the
puck, most throwing the disk where their target was rather than where they’d
be, 5 year old Josh Jooris was already dishing tape to tape feeds, his father
noted.
puck, most throwing the disk where their target was rather than where they’d
be, 5 year old Josh Jooris was already dishing tape to tape feeds, his father
noted.
“I’ve seen this since he
was a little guy on the ice,” Mark Jooris told timesunion.com. “He
had great vision and anticipated and made great passes, as just a little guy he
was trying to do things that I’m like, ‘Wow, you just don’t teach that.’
“
was a little guy on the ice,” Mark Jooris told timesunion.com. “He
had great vision and anticipated and made great passes, as just a little guy he
was trying to do things that I’m like, ‘Wow, you just don’t teach that.’
“
Well, you know what they say,
the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, and Josh Jooris has certainly inherited
his father’s hockey ability. According to his old man, he’s not only inherited
it, but cultivated said talent into something far beyond what he ever managed
to.
the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, and Josh Jooris has certainly inherited
his father’s hockey ability. According to his old man, he’s not only inherited
it, but cultivated said talent into something far beyond what he ever managed
to.
“He’s a way, way more a complete
player,” Jooris senior raved. “He hits and blocks shots and does all
that stuff. He’s a better skater than I ever was, too.”
player,” Jooris senior raved. “He hits and blocks shots and does all
that stuff. He’s a better skater than I ever was, too.”
All the attributes described by Jooris’ father have been well
on display these past few weeks, as Josh adds his name to the group of
relative unknowns who have made names for themselves at recent Flames camps –
namely Roman Horak, and TJ Brodie in recent memory.
on display these past few weeks, as Josh adds his name to the group of
relative unknowns who have made names for themselves at recent Flames camps –
namely Roman Horak, and TJ Brodie in recent memory.
And like his predecessors, Jooris is making decisions real
difficult for the coaching staff, forcing his way into discussions for the opening
day roster. Having already survived multiple rounds of cuts, Jooris is inching
ever closer to that NHL roster spot he craves, a step his father was never able
to make.
difficult for the coaching staff, forcing his way into discussions for the opening
day roster. Having already survived multiple rounds of cuts, Jooris is inching
ever closer to that NHL roster spot he craves, a step his father was never able
to make.
But where did Josh Jooris, the man literally born into the
sport, come from? The majority of Flames fans hadn’t even heard of #86 until
now, how can a guy like this just lurk in the woodwork, without getting
noticed?
sport, come from? The majority of Flames fans hadn’t even heard of #86 until
now, how can a guy like this just lurk in the woodwork, without getting
noticed?
Well, Josh Jooris has never been the household name, but has
made something of a portfolio out of showing up at hockey camps and making a
statement.
made something of a portfolio out of showing up at hockey camps and making a
statement.
Fresh off a 116 point season in the OJHL as a 19 year old, Jooris
followed in his fathers footsteps of playing college hockey, and agreed to
attend Union College. Funny enough, Mark Jooris laced up for bitter rival RPI –
skating alongside Adam Oates – and the junior Jooris embraced plenty of the
rivalry throughout his college stay.
followed in his fathers footsteps of playing college hockey, and agreed to
attend Union College. Funny enough, Mark Jooris laced up for bitter rival RPI –
skating alongside Adam Oates – and the junior Jooris embraced plenty of the
rivalry throughout his college stay.
Flashing back to his first October in college, coming off of
his first collegiate hockey camp, Jooris not only made the team as a rookie,
but was a big contributor too. He put up 9 goals and 32 points in 40 games – an
impressive feat for a freshman, albeit an older one. He would remain a key cog
to Union’s gameplan, on both sides off the puck, for the entirety of his NCAA
career.
his first collegiate hockey camp, Jooris not only made the team as a rookie,
but was a big contributor too. He put up 9 goals and 32 points in 40 games – an
impressive feat for a freshman, albeit an older one. He would remain a key cog
to Union’s gameplan, on both sides off the puck, for the entirety of his NCAA
career.
However, he never blew the doors down in any way, so when
his ambitions focused on turning pro, the line of suitors was rather short.
Jooris had attended Vancouver Canucks rookie development camp prior to what would be his final
season at Union College, but nothing materialized from the stint. A calendar
year later, he was lacing up the bladed boots at WinSport for the beginning of
Calgary Flames development camp, his second crack at a pro gig. And this time,
Jooris had no intention to let it slip.
his ambitions focused on turning pro, the line of suitors was rather short.
Jooris had attended Vancouver Canucks rookie development camp prior to what would be his final
season at Union College, but nothing materialized from the stint. A calendar
year later, he was lacing up the bladed boots at WinSport for the beginning of
Calgary Flames development camp, his second crack at a pro gig. And this time,
Jooris had no intention to let it slip.
Although he had the option of returning for his senior year
at Union, the then 23 year old was dead set on playing pro hockey, a point
translated on the ice. Jooris’ name went from being in the “Who’s Invited to
Dev Camp” articles to the “Who’s Impressing at Dev Camp” real quick, the Flames
brass among the ones impressed. Calgary’s increased attention on collegiate
hockey had already built them an outsiders knowledge of what Jooris was about,
but their first hand look at the kid’s stuff convinced them he had a future in
the organization.
at Union, the then 23 year old was dead set on playing pro hockey, a point
translated on the ice. Jooris’ name went from being in the “Who’s Invited to
Dev Camp” articles to the “Who’s Impressing at Dev Camp” real quick, the Flames
brass among the ones impressed. Calgary’s increased attention on collegiate
hockey had already built them an outsiders knowledge of what Jooris was about,
but their first hand look at the kid’s stuff convinced them he had a future in
the organization.
Jay Feaster extended the eager six-foot-one, 190 pounder an
entry level deal, at which he jumped at. Jackpot. His foot was finally in the
door.
entry level deal, at which he jumped at. Jackpot. His foot was finally in the
door.
Jooris would be assigned to Abbotsford relatively early into
his first NHL training camp last year, routine for a player most viewed as an
AHL depth signing. But an AHL depth player was not what Jooris had in mind for
himself. He would settle into life in Abby quite well, both on and off the ice,
establishing his worth right away. On the pond, he would play up and down the
lineup, contributing wherever he was needed. His superficial stats read 11
goals and 27 points in 73 games, but his value extended far beyond that for
what was a powerful Heat team. Many a time coach Tory Ward would credit Jooris
with making key plays, at key times in hockey games. He wasn’t the most
talented player on the ice, but to the best of his ability Josh Jooris
contributed each and every shift.
his first NHL training camp last year, routine for a player most viewed as an
AHL depth signing. But an AHL depth player was not what Jooris had in mind for
himself. He would settle into life in Abby quite well, both on and off the ice,
establishing his worth right away. On the pond, he would play up and down the
lineup, contributing wherever he was needed. His superficial stats read 11
goals and 27 points in 73 games, but his value extended far beyond that for
what was a powerful Heat team. Many a time coach Tory Ward would credit Jooris
with making key plays, at key times in hockey games. He wasn’t the most
talented player on the ice, but to the best of his ability Josh Jooris
contributed each and every shift.
Off the ice, Jooris shared a house with fellow
rookies-out-of-college, Ben Hanowski and Corban Knight, which they all agreed
was a total blast. AbbyNews.com’s Dan Kinvig wrote a fun piece on the threeroomies and their adventures as first year pros, I really recommend it.
rookies-out-of-college, Ben Hanowski and Corban Knight, which they all agreed
was a total blast. AbbyNews.com’s Dan Kinvig wrote a fun piece on the threeroomies and their adventures as first year pros, I really recommend it.
As rookie camp and the lot trickled by, Jooris entered his
second NHL camp in a much similar position – at least in the minds of the media
and fans – to the one he was in last year. He’d be just a filler for the split
squad games and would be promptly returned to the AHL thereafter, as he was
after all, “just an AHLer.” In the wise words of Borat: NOT.
second NHL camp in a much similar position – at least in the minds of the media
and fans – to the one he was in last year. He’d be just a filler for the split
squad games and would be promptly returned to the AHL thereafter, as he was
after all, “just an AHLer.” In the wise words of Borat: NOT.
Early on, Jooris impressed with his classic Bob Hartley work
ethic and relentlessness on the puck. Whatever skill and talent he had, it was
bundled in with his blue-collar attitude and made for a pretty impressive
hockey player.
ethic and relentlessness on the puck. Whatever skill and talent he had, it was
bundled in with his blue-collar attitude and made for a pretty impressive
hockey player.
Still though, coming into his date with the Winnipeg Jets,
Jooris’ counting stats lagged behind those he was battling for spots with – the
Johnny Gaudreaus and Michael Ferlands of the world, among others. So naturally,
he goes out and scores two massive goals. How do you send him back, now? The
statement has now been made in just every way in can be: Josh Jooris deserves a
shot with the Calgary Flames. Is he an NHL regular? That’s to be determined,
but he deserves at least a shot to prove it.
Jooris’ counting stats lagged behind those he was battling for spots with – the
Johnny Gaudreaus and Michael Ferlands of the world, among others. So naturally,
he goes out and scores two massive goals. How do you send him back, now? The
statement has now been made in just every way in can be: Josh Jooris deserves a
shot with the Calgary Flames. Is he an NHL regular? That’s to be determined,
but he deserves at least a shot to prove it.
Josh Jooris has been attached to hockey at the hip since
before he could walk, and motivated by his father, has worked his way into the
biggest spotlight of all. His story is unorthodox, and has Cinderella-like
elements sprinkled throughout it
before he could walk, and motivated by his father, has worked his way into the
biggest spotlight of all. His story is unorthodox, and has Cinderella-like
elements sprinkled throughout it
This coming Tuesday, he will learn if he’s finally
attained his mountainous dream, or if it’ll need to be put on hold for a little
while longer. Having said that, if the Flames’ supposed motto “always earned,
never given” isn’t just a cute phrase giving off the illusion of
accountability, October 8 will be a very proud, and
especially memorable day, in the Jooris household.
attained his mountainous dream, or if it’ll need to be put on hold for a little
while longer. Having said that, if the Flames’ supposed motto “always earned,
never given” isn’t just a cute phrase giving off the illusion of
accountability, October 8 will be a very proud, and
especially memorable day, in the Jooris household.
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