Along with a college career that saw him finish as a Hockey East Third Team All-Star, and rack up 41 goals and 94 points in 131 games from 2019-2023, Ford also represented the USA at the 2020 World Junior Hockey Championship.
Now he's wanting to bring his game to the pro level.
"I bring a lot of energy to the ice. I like to get in on the forecheck," Ford said. "I'm a little bit of a smaller forward, but I play physical, I'd say. I like to get to the net and be a hound on the puck. I'm good in all three zones."
He did all of those things in his American Hockey League debut against the Laval Rocket on Tuesday. There were a lot of new faces to meet in the room - he went to high school with Moose forward Alex Limoges, but he didn't play against Laval - but not only was he able to step in, he contributed.
Ford notched his first pro goal with 7:57 remaining in the third period. At the time, it brought the Moose back within a two-goal deficit at 5-3.
Ultimately, the Moose dropped the game by a score of 6-3. Along with his goal, For also had a high-sticking penalty in the second, and finished plus-one.
Nolan Baumgartner - the Moose assistant coach with 878 games of AHL experience as a player under his belt, along with another 142 NHL games - thought Ford showed well in his debut.
"For us as coaches too, you think back to your first pro game and the nerves you felt going into those games," he said. "He's been off the ice for about 10 days since he ended. He was happy to get into the line-up. It's great to see a guy get his first pro goal in his first pro game too. He was out there. It's a whirlwind when you have to step in and play, you're trying to learn a new system and some things he probably didn't do on his old team. I thought he did a great job."
It's a milestone moment for Ford, who has aspirations of building a career similar to another undrafted Providence forward who began his pro career with the Jets organization.
"Brandon Tanev," he smiled. "I watched him growing up at PC. I've always been attracted to him and him taking a similar path, it's something I want to do in my life and my career."
MCGROARTY TO FROZEN FOUR
Winnipeg's 14th overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, Rutger McGroarty, recorded an assist in Michigan's 2-1 overtime victory over Penn State, putting the Wolverines in the 2023 NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Frozen Four.
McGroarty's assist came in the third period on Adam Fantilli's game-tying goal, which came with 7:52 remaining in the third period.
McGroarty and Michigan will take on Qunnipiac on April 6, with the winner going to the national championship final against the winner of Minnesota and Boston University.
ANOTHER AWARD FOR DIVINCENTIIS
Goaltender Domenic DiVincentiis seems to earn another award every month with the Ontario Hockey League's North Bay Battalion.
DiVincentiis, who the Jets chose in the seventh round of the 2022 NHL Draft, went 6-0-0 in the month of March with a 0.968 save percentage and three shutouts, earning him OHL Goaltender of the Month honours.
The 19-year-old is tied for the league-lead in shutouts with five this season, and his 36 wins are six clear of second place.
DiVincentiis and the Battalion open the OHL Playoffs on Friday against Mississauga.
