Tyson Foerster has a new friend in Gritty.
Only minutes after the Philadelphia Flyers made the Barrie Colts forward the 23rd pick overall in the NHL Entry Draft on Tuesday night, the team's popular mascot went to Twitter and reached out to the newest prospect in a way only Gritty knows how to do.
"Hmu Tyson, wooder ice on me," the tweet said.
Foerster could only laugh when told of his new friend, but the talented young Barrie forward was thrilled to be a Flyer.
"It was really exciting," said Foerster moments after talking with Philadelphia general manager Chuck Fletcher, who congratulated him and let him know they'd be talking more in the coming days. "I just can't wait to get things started now."
Surrounded by his parents Glen and Sheri, brother Dawson and sister Kali at the family home in Alliston, he anxiously awaited as the first round played out on TV.
With plenty of talent still available in a fairly deep draft, Foerster admits feeling a little anxiety waiting to hear his name called as the opening round skated into the later stages.
"The nerves were starting to kick in there, but it was also exciting," the six-foot-two, 194-pound winger told BarrieToday. "I mean it makes it all that much better when you're nervous and you're excited, so it worked out for the best and I'm excited to be a Flyer."
Ranked 21st overall on the NHL Central Scouting's Final Rankings among North American skaters, the Barrie minor hockey graduate wasn't sure what team was going to call his name.
"I talked to a bunch of teams and I talked to Philadelphia a couple of days before the draft," said the 18-year-old, who was Barrie's third-round pick (55th overall) in the 2018 OHL Priority Selection. "I wasn't too sure, but I'm happy they took a chance on me and I'm glad."
The moment @tfoerster8 became a Flyer. pic.twitter.com/ua5upQTs3S
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) October 7, 2020
The Flyers were said to be looking to add some offence and Foerster fits that bill with a big shot that helped him score 36 times in 62 games. A total of 18 of those came on the power play, most off a potent one-timer from the left faceoff circle. He added 44 assists for 80 total points, leading the Colts in every offensive category.
Foerster is a player the Flyers believed might be there with their pick and were more than happy to add a player with his offensive capabilities. While his skating and defensive play continues to be a work in progress, the NHL club believes those areas of his game will improve in time.
"We had a group of players ranked near one another with different skillsets," Philadelphia assistant general manager Brent Flahr told PhiladelphiaFlyers.com. "Tyson is an outstanding shooter, he loves to fire the puck. Good offensive instincts and can set up a play. With the skating, a lot of it is strength. We can work on that with him.
"With the two-way game, it's a 200-foot game up here, and he needs work there as do many young players who like to attack. We've talked to him about that, and he knows that. He put in a lot of work during the pandemic."
Foerster has continued his farm-style workouts with strength and conditioning coach and former NHLer Aaron Downey through the pandemic and his skating has already shown improvement from working with Mariposa School of Skating coach Paul Matheson.
The Colts' leading scorer believes he can be that player the Flyers can depend on in different situations.
"I think I can score some goals for them, but I also can do the little things right for them and play in the (defensive) zone and make plays when it's needed," said Foerster, who also celebrated last night with his cousins who live next door. "So, I don't think I'm just a goal scorer. If that's what they want me for, I guess I can do that too."
For Glen and the rest of the Foerster family, it was a proud moment when Fletcher called out Tyson's name. They could also exhale.
"Watching it there were still a lot of big names left on the board that hadn't been picked, so it got you wondering, right?" the proud father said. "Here we are. It's done and off to Philly."
Enjoy the moment, kid. We can't wait to get things started. pic.twitter.com/64RDNrYXZD
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) October 7, 2020
Glen reminded his son there's still a journey ahead and to recognize that not many people have an opportunity like this.
"I told him not a lot of people get to play a game and do something they love and make money at it," he explained. "Like I told him when he got drafted to the Colts too, this is just the next step. You got this far, but now the even harder work begins to get to the highest level."
Foerster kicked off the day with a good workout with Downey, which helped calm the nerves a little on his big day.
"It took away part of the day," he said. "It was a stressful workout, but I think I got through it and it was all good."
Those thousands of shots Foerster and his brother Dawson took in the basement growing up may have ruined the nets and did some damage down there, but maybe it's not so bad now that he's a Philadelphia Flyer.
"It was all worth it," Glen said, before laughing out loud. "It was all worth it. It's still getting ruined because they're still down there."
DRAFT CHIPS: In a classy move, the Winnipeg Jets let Crystal Hawerchuk, the wife of former Colts head coach Dale Hawerchuk, announce their 10th overall pick. Hawerchuk passed away in mid-August after a year-long battle with stomach cancer. She also took the time to thank the city and the organization, which is where he spent most of his Hall of Fame career. . . Names to watch Wednesday in the remaining six rounds of the NHL draft include Colts forwards Evan Vierling, Ethan Cardwell and Anthony Tabak, while Barrie minor hockey graduates who could hear their name called include Isaak Phillips, James Hardie and Alec Belanger (Ottawa).
