Whether he's selected first or not, Seth Jones is guaranteed to be the first Western Hockey League player picked during Sunday's NHL Draft in Newark, New Jersey.
The Colorado Avalanche, who hold the first pick, have stated they will bypass Jones in favour of forward Nathan MacKinnon of the Memorial Cup champion Halifax Mooseheads. But, no matter what NHL team calls out the name of the Portland Winterhawks' defenceman, mom Amy Jones' parental skills will be on display when Jones strides to the podium to greet his new team.
"My mom ran a tight ship, and still does," said Jones. "It's not so much very strict, but she expects certain things out of you. She was big on firm handshakes when you're meeting someone, eye contact is a big thing and just your manners that helped me just to be a better person."
Jones said if it weren't for his mom he wouldn't be on the verge of being a top pick in the draft.
"My mom was the one who took me to the early morning practices when I was young," said the 18-year-old. "We tell each other a lot. We talk every night on the phone."
Mom had to drive Jones to the 5 a.m. hockey practices because dad Popeye was often on the road with the NBA's Denver Nuggets.
Jones said he has learned a lot about dealing with the media, which is "fun and exciting," from his famous father, while his drafted teammates on the Winterhawks - Ty Rattie, Brendan Leipsic, Derrick Pouliot, Tyler Wotherspoon - taught him that the work doesn't end after the draft.
"When you get drafted it's not OK to just stop, put the gear down and see what happens," said Jones. "They're working just as hard or even harder then they were when they got drafted. It's a long process but it definitely pays off in the end."
Before joining the Winterhawks last season, Jones skated with the U.S. Development Team, playing in the USHL. In 61 regular season games, Jones had 14 goals and 56 points and added five goals (15 points) in 21 playoff games.
But it's not only Jones skills on the ice that make him an appealing prospect .
"The thing that impresses me about Seth is his maturity level," said Winterhawks interim head coach Travis Green. "He's very levelheaded. He's a great team guy. He's just one of the guys and a real joy to have on our team."
Ty Rattie, Jones' roommate on the road with the Winterhawks this past season, concurred with Green about the WHL's rookie of the year's maturity.
"He's one of those guys that knows he's a really good hockey player, but he doesn't act like it," said Rattie. "He's a confident, but not cocky guy. I'd pick him number one every time."
See Saturday's Citizen for coverage on players from the Cougars and Spruce Kings who could be selected in Sunday's NHL Entry Draft.
