Roslovic gets first shot at home

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This article was published 06/04/2017 (3397 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — As a kid, Jack Roslovic dreamed of playing for the Columbus Blue Jackets at the downtown arena just five minutes from his neighbourhood.

But the nature of dreams is that they shift and change.

Roslovic will, indeed, skate onto the ice at Nationwide Arena for his first NHL game today, but he’ll do it as member of the Winnipeg Jets, the team that drafted him nearly two years ago.

The 20-year-old centre, a product of Brexley, Ohio — which is to Columbus what West St. Paul is to Winnipeg — was called up from the Manitoba Moose of the AHL on Monday and will make his debut in front of likely dozens of family and friends when the Blue Jackets host the Jets.

“Really excited, and being home makes that even better. Obviously, my NHL debut, it’s gonna be fun,” said Roslovic, a 2015 first-round pick (25th overall) of the Jets, who signed an entry-level deal with Winnipeg after just one year at Miami University (Ohio).

It was expected that Roslovic — promoted along with Kyle Connor — would play his first NHL contest in his own backyard. But he received the official word from Jets head coach Paul Maurice during Wednesday’s afternoon practice.

“Paul just said, ‘You’re in.’ From there, it was just kind of a great feeling,” he said. “It’s pretty awesome. The stars kind of aligned, I guess. It’s gonna be fun.”

Roslovic, who has had a stellar rookie season with the Moose, scoring 13 goals and adding 32 assists in 61 games, grew up a Blue Jackets fan. The family has had season tickets since the club’s inaugural season in 2000-01.

“I went to a couple games and saw some players and I found a love for it,” Roslovic said after Wednesday’s practice.

He did line drills with several wingers, including Connor and Marko Dano.

Growing up, his favourite Blue Jackets players were forwards Rick Nash and David Vyborny, although he rarely got to mimic their moves because, as the youngest of the gang, he was usually stuck being the goalie during neighbourhood ball hockey games.

“I played about five minutes from here down on Broad Street. My neighbours had a nice big pavement driveway, shaped like a hockey rink. I started off playing road hockey (and) learned the ins and outs of the game,” he said.

Roslovic came up through the Columbus minor hockey ranks and then joined the U.S. development squads, playing internationally at the IIHF under-17 and under-18 tournaments before committing to Miami University.

Roslovic was asked what areas of his game have seen the most improvement since he turned pro.

“I think speed and trying to just make my best part of my game even better. Also, in the defensive zone, it’s been a good job,” he said. “Playing the pro game’s a lot different than playing the college game, so I’d say defence and speed.”

Goalie Eric Comrie, who played the season in the AHL with Roslovic and will also play his first NHL game tonight, said the hometown kid has been sensational.

“He’s been a great player for the Moose all year. I think he’s going to be an excellent player in the NHL,” Comrie said.

“He’s been one of our MVPs this year. He’s been unbelievable. He’s an unbelievable playmaker with the puck. He reads the ice so well and he can pass better than anyone I’ve seen in a long time in the AHL.”

jason.bell@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @WFPJasonBell