Wednesday’s Mankato Free Press featured a nice article on the first of the Sabres two 4th round picks, Justin Jokinen. The 6’3, 185-pounder was unable to participate at this week’s Development Camp due to his high school graduation party.
“I talked to a lot of scouts and a lot of people, and some guys told me he could possibly go as early as the second round,” Jokinen’s high school coach, Dave Esse, said. “I was a little disappointed that he went in the fourth round. … But it’s all in the eye of the beholder. There’s someone out there for everybody. It’s like a dating service; you never know what they’ll like.”
The only MSU-affiliated player selected this year, Jokinen ended up being the sixth Minnesota-born player selected and one of 22 future and current Western Collegiate Hockey Association players.
“He’s a great kid,” Esse said. “It’s a perfect fit for him to go down to Mankato.”
Over the last two seasons for the Cloquet-Esko-Carlton high school team, Jokinen scored 93 points. Last year, he was named team captain and Mr. Hockey finalist and led the Lumberjacks to a state-tournament berth.
“I love to have the puck on my stick,” he said. “I like being a playmaker and scoring goals.”
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