Avalanche re-sign forward Tyson Jost to a one-year contract

DENVER – The Colorado Avalanche Hockey Club announced today that the team has re-signed forward Tyson Jost to a one-year contract for the 2020-21 season. Additionally, goaltender Hunter Miska has been re-signed to a two-year extension through the 2021-22 campaign.

Jost, 22, collected 23 points (8g/15a) in 67 games for the Avalanche this past season, equaling his career best in assists set during the 2018-19 campaign. He skated in his 200th career NHL contest on Feb. 26 against Buffalo and has produced 72 points (32g/40a) in 208 career games. The St. Albert, Alberta, native has six points (4g/2a) in 30 career Stanley Cup Playoff appearances.

Colorado’s first-round selection (10th overall) in the 2016 NHL Draft, Jost tallied his first career hat trick on Oct. 19, 2019 at Tampa Bay and recorded a three-game point streak from Feb. 26-29, matching his career long.

Prior to turning pro, Jost played one season for the University of North Dakota, tallying 35 points (16g/19a) in 33 games. He finished second on the team and third among all National Collegiate Hockey Conference freshmen in points, earning a spot on the NCHC All-Rookie Team.

Before enrolling at North Dakota, Jost was named the winner of the 2015-16 Vern Dye Memorial Trophy as the British Columbia Hockey League’s Most Valuable Player after tallying 104 points (42 goals, 62 assists) in 48 games for the Penticton Vees.  His 62 assists led the BCHL, while his 104 points ranked third.  Jost’s 2.17 points-per-game average was the highest in the league.

Internationally, Jost has represented his country at the last two IIHF World Championships in 2018 and 2019 and helped Canada capture the silver medal at the 2019 tournament in Slovakia. The 5-foot-11, 187-pound center helped Canada to a silver medal at the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship in Montreal/Toronto and captained Team Canada at the 2016 IIHF Under-18 World Championship in Grand Forks, North Dakota, where he led the entire tournament in scoring with 15 points (6g/9a) in seven games. His 15 points established a Canadian record at that event, surpassing the previous mark set by Connor McDavid (14) in 2013.  Jost was selected as the tournament’s “Best Forward” and was named to the All-Star Team.

“Heading into the offseason we made it a priority to sign our restricted free agents in Andre (Burakovsky), Valeri (Nichushkin), Ryan (Graves) and now Tyson,” said Colorado Avalanche Executive Vice President / General Manager Joe Sakic. “Tyson is a strong two-way player who has NHL experience at a young age and continues to grow his game.  Hunter provides depth and upside at the goaltending position and we look forward to having him under contract for two more years as he continues to develop.”

Miska, 25, appeared in 26 games for the American Hockey League’s Colorado Eagles this past season, posting a 16-6-3 record with a 2.48 goals-against average  and .924 save percentage. The North Branch, Minnesota, native also played three games for the Utah Grizzlies of the ECHL, going 2-1-0 with a 1.62 goals-against average and .947 save percentage. During the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Miska was recalled by the Avalanche on Aug. 24 and served as the backup goaltender for the last three games of Colorado’s second-round series against the Dallas Stars.

Miska has a 48-23-7 record in 87 career AHL contests with the Tucson Roadrunners and the Eagles and has recorded a 2.70 goals-against average, a .907 save percentage and three shutouts. He’s played in one NHL contest, making his league debut with the Arizona Coyotes on Nov. 13, 2018 at Detroit.

Prior to turning pro, Miska played two seasons with the U.S. National Team Development Program from 2011-13. From 2013-15, the 6-foot-1, 175-pound netminder suited up for the Penticton Vees of the British Columbia Hockey League. He recorded a 1.88 goals-against average and .931 save percentage in 46 regular-season contests and a 2.29 goals-against average and .923 save percentage in 21 postseason outings to help Penticton capture the Fred Page Cup as league champions during the 2014-15 campaign.

Miska played one season with the United States Hockey League’s Dubuque Fighting Saints (2015-16) and one campaign with the University of Minnesota-Duluth (2016-17), where he went 27-5-4 to lead the Bulldogs to the National Collegiate Hockey Conference championship and to the NCAA National Championship game.

– AVS –