Jooris scores a goal in NHL debut (with video)

by Ryan Fay

It took former Union forward Josh Jooris all of one game into his NHL career to score his first goal.

He accomplished the feat in the Calgary Flames' 3-2 road loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday.

With the Flames trailing 3-1, Jooris received a 125-foot pass from defenseman Mark Giardino. He skated up the ice, moved in on Blue Jackets goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, and roofed a shot into the upper right corner of the net at 11:43 of the third period for his first NHL tally.

“I was just thinking ‘put this in’,” Jooris told reporters after the game. “I don’t know actually what I was thinking at the time. It happened so quick. It was just a great play by [Giordano] there. He let me know what to do right before hand. That’s what happened. He told me to bust through the middle and he was going to hit me and he did. I’m just happy it went in.

Jooris in action during his NHL debut
on Friday.
Photo: Calgary Flames

“I kind of blacked out there when I scored. I think when I sit back and see it again it’ll be nice.”

With the goal, Jooris became only the second former Union player to score an NHL goal. The other was Jeremy Welsh, who potted one last season with the Vancouver Canucks. Ironically, Welsh's goal also came against Columbus and Bobrovsky.

Jooris, who gave up his senior year at Union when he signed with the Flames in July 2013, played right wing on a line with center Sean Monahan and left winger Jiri Hudler. Jooris finished with the goal, a blocked shot and a plus-1 rating in 15:29 of ice time.

Jooris was recalled from the AHL's Adirondack Flames on Wednesday after Calgary placed winger David Jones on injured reserve with a lower-body injury. Jooris' promotion came on the heels of an impressive training camp with Calgary. He had a goal and two assists in six preseason games and was one of the final cuts made before the season.

“I was very impressed of Josh during training camp and we saw the same young man [on Friday],” Calgary Flames head coach Bob Hartley said. “He’s on the puck, he has speed. This game is about speed. You need to skate if you want to contribute in today’s game. He’s a good young man. He wants to learn. He brings a lot.

“He’s responsible defensively and he gave us a big goal, his first goal in the NHL. I’m very proud of him.”

Jooris had plenty of support in the stands. His parents, JoAnn and Mark, and sister Alexa were on hand for the debut. While Jooris is expected to remain with the Flames when they travel to Winnipeg on Sunday, the puck from his first goal is going back home with family to Burlington, Ontario.

“I’m going to give it to my parents for sure to take home,” Jooris said. “It’s going to be nice to keep. It’s going to be a good keepsake.”

In addition to Jooris and Welsh, four other former Union players have appeared in an NHL game. The others are goalie Steve Baker (New York Rangers, 1979-83), forward Mario Gaiallonardo (Colorado Rockies, 1979-81), defenseman Duane Joyce (Dallas Stars, 1993-94) and goalie Keith Kinkaid (New Jersey Devils, 2012-13).

See the goal:


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