Colton Point has a hard time believing the journey his is on.
The 18-year-old North Bay native has been in a whirlwind hockey adventure.
Going from midget AAA, to Jr. A in the CCHL, to a commitment from Colgate of the ECAC, to making the NHL draft list, to being drafted in the fifth round of the NHL Entry draft this past June.
See that story here: https://www.baytoday.ca/local-news/nhl-draft-coverage-the-colton-point-draft-experience-video-325230
That’s a lot of hockey experience to drink in, in less than a year and a half.
His highlight of course was getting chosen in the fifth round of the NHL Entry Draft by the Dallas Stars and then followed that up with his first ever NHL Development Camp in early July in Texas.
Ironically Point shared his journey to Dallas from Toronto with Rich Peverley, who works for the Stars in Player Development, as they were both on the same flight.
Not only does Peverley have relatives in the North Bay area, he could also can relate to Point as he attended Colgate’s ECAC rival St. Lawrence University.
“It was just really cool to have that insight into the world of the NHL coming first hand from him,” Point explained about interacting with Rich Peverley.
Point was ranked fourth among North American goaltenders by Central Scouting before the June draft which took place in Buffalo. With Carleton Place of the Central Canada Hockey League, he posted a 2.16 goals-against average and .915 save percentage in 33 games.
The netminder posted a 12-4 record, 1.82 goals-against average and .933 save percentage as Carleton Place won the league championship and captured the Fred Page Cup en route to the RBC Cup.
Point joined four other Dallas Stars goaltending prospects at the summer camp. He says that camp was a real eye opener.
“You really get to see what it takes to be a professional and every guy down there that is a professional,” said Point.
“You get to learn where your deficiencies are with certain aspects of your life and your game so if your diet isn’t good enough you see what it takes to get to the next level, your work ethic and your on-ice stuff. You really get to truly see the areas you need to work on.”
Point loved the experience and says his highlight of the week long camp was robbing 2016 Stars first rounder Riley Tufte with a highlight reel windmill glove save.
“I was picked some 100 picks after him but I got the better of him that time,” Point said.
While achieving his dream of being drafted has come true, now Point has to prove to the Dallas Stars that he belongs in the NHL one day.
His next step is jumping to another level of hockey with the Colgate Raiders of the NCAA.
“Obviously it’s a little nerve wracking, these are guys you watch on TV like Frozen Four and stuff like that and making the jump there it’s exciting being able to be at that level,” said Point prior to his departure to his NCAA school located in Hamilton, New York.
Point is one of four goaltenders rostered with the Raiders this season and the only freshman. He joins a pair of juniors, a sophomore and returning senior Charlie Finn who is nursing a hip he had surgery on in the off-season.
“I’m unsure when he is coming back so it’s all dependant on that really so I will get a couple of games at the beginning to prove what I’ve got and you know if I do a good job then hopefully they will let me battle for a spot,” Point admitted.
“Obviously no spot is ever yours right so you’ve got to play your way, play the way you can and really just work harder than the other guy.”
