Jeff Jones, a past star of Revelstoke Minor Hockey, is going to be off to Pittsburgh next year to play hockey at Robert Morris University in a decision that was equal parts hockey and education.
“They have a top-10 business program and that also helped my decision,” the 19-year-old said, adding, “Two of their four centres are seniors so I’ll have more of an opportunity to play next year.”
Jones said he was courted by eight schools before receiving an offer Robert Morris
The 5’9”, 175-pound Jones was born and raised in Revelstoke and developed his play on Revelstoke’s minor hockey rep teams.
He played one season with the Revelstoke Grizzlies before moving up to the Junior A Merritt Centennials of the BCHL for the 2009-10 season.
With the Grizzlies, Jones led the team in scoring with 37 points as a 17-year-old. In his first season with Merritt he was second on the team in scoring with 27 goals and 25 assists in 60 games and won the team’s rookie of the year honours as a result.
This year, as of Sunday night, he is the Centennials leading scorer with 18 goals and 26 assists points in 43 games. He is also an assistant captain with the team, giving him more of a leadership role this year.
Jones said growing up playing hockey in Revelstoke helped with his development even though his teams played at a lower level because it meant he could try different moves that might not work against stronger competition.
“Because we always played single A, I was one of the better players so it helped with my confidence,” he said. “It was fun playing hockey with all your friends because you’ve grown up with them,” he said. “The practices and road trips were really fun because you knew everyone really well.”
Jones credits his coaches throughout minor hockey and Brad Fox with the Grizzlies for getting him to where he is today. “Each coach has helped me out, they’ve each added different stuff to my game.”
His prowess has earned him a display cabinet on the wall of the Revelstoke Forum as part of the history of Revelstoke hockey exhibit.
Dennis Berarducci, the dean of Revelstoke Minor Hockey who put together the exhibit recalled Jones as a skilled stickhandler and playmaker and hard worker.
Jones is one of several Revelstoke products to go on to play university hockey in recent years, most notably Aaron Volpatti, who went from the BCHL to university to the AHL and is now suiting up for the Vancouver Canucks in the NHL. Volpatti’s success is a source of inspiration for Jones.
“Just to know that it’s possible that someone after four years of university can play in the NHL. It gives re-assurance that it can be done and that’s its possible.”
Right now, he is focusing on his final season with Merritt before he heads off to Pittsburgh. His ultimate goal is to play professional hockey.
“I hope after the four years, if not earlier, get a pro contract somewhere – AHL, NHL, somewhere in Europe,” he said.
“I would just love to play pro hockey somewhere.”