Leschyshyn signs with Golden Knights
Pats forward says ‘There’s a lot of hard work ahead so I’m looking forward to it’
The Las Vegas Golden Knights are betting on draft pick Jake Leschyshyn by signing him to a three-year entry-level contract.
The 5-11, 190-pound forward — fresh from reaching the Memorial Cup final with the host Regina Pats — was taken in the second round, 62nd overall, by the Knights in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.
“It’s a pretty incredible feeling, something I’ve worked hard to get to this point and allowed me to think of playing in the NHL one day,” Leschyshyn said Friday.
“There’s a lot of hard work ahead so I’m looking forward to it.”
Leschyshyn, who played bantam AA hockey with the Saskatoon Stallions and midget AAA for the Saskatoon Blazers, rebounded from a serious knee injury in 2017 to record 18 goals and 22 assists in 64 games with the Pats during the regular season.
Leschyshyn added three goals and two assists for five points in seven WHL playoff games before chipping in with a goal during the five-game Memorial Cup.
The Pats assistant captain was initially disappointed in coming up one win short in the Memorial Cup.
“It’s disappointing getting that far and coming up short, but, I guess looking back, a week later or so, it’s a good feeling knowing I got to be a part of all that and it’s probably the most fun I’ve had playing hockey, so it’s a memory I’ll cherish for the rest of my life and I’m proud of our team for putting in all that work and getting to that point, for sure.”
Leschyshyn plans on getting some rest before hitting the ice again and working out. He’ll head to Vegas for a development camp on June 24.
“I’ll have the rest of summer for training and whatnot and, before you know it, I’ll be back in Regina (for the 2018-19 WHL season) and back again at Vegas (for NHL training camp),” said Leschyshyn, who is represented by Saskatoon-based Jason Davidson and Thunder Creek Player Management.
He has watched the Vegas Knights defy all odds by reaching the Stanley Cup final. He’s loving every minute of it.
“It’s a pretty incredible story,” hesaid.
“There was a lot of doubt with that team from the start of the year and the guys kept going. There were still doubts all the way until this point. I think they’ve earned it. They show how well they play as a team. It’d be quite the story if they can finish it off.
“I’ll be watching on TV for sure.”
It’s a pretty incredible feeling, something I’ve worked hard to get to this point and allowed me to think of playing in the NHL one day