Blue Jackets Sign Sherwood, Landmark Moment

Today the Columbus Blue Jackets signed Kole Sherwood to an entry level contract.  (You can read Aaron Portzline’s excellent reporting of the news here.)  

An interesting tidbit from the article is that Blue Jackets General Manager Jarmo Kekalainen tried to trade back into the seventh round of the draft a few weeks ago to draft Sherwood.  He is set to play for the London Knights this year after going to Traverse City and playing in the Prospects tournament that the Columbus Blue Jackets participate in with a handful of other NHL teams.  From Portzline’s article Jarmo described Sherwood:

“The skill is there. The size is there, he’s 6-2 and 190 pounds. But his attitude was great, he was very eager to learn and show us he belongs at that camp. He stuck out and looked great. The (end-of-camp) scrimmage on Thursday was the same way, not shy at all. He was looking to make a difference, and those are the ingredients you look for in a professional.”

Add this news with the first Columbus born player, Jack Roslovic, being taken in the first round of the NHL Entry draft and it is a banner year for youth hockey in the Central Ohio area.  These are the types of achievements that could only be dreamed of when Chiller’s were first built in Columbus in the mid-90’s.  Part of becoming a “hockey town” is that NHL level talent will come from Columbus and that is a corner that this market, with the help of the Blue Jackets, has turned in the last few weeks.

Congratulations to all of the coaches, volunteers, kids, and parents in youth hockey around Columbus.  These are accomplishments that all of you can celebrate.