It's 'happy cry' for grandfather of Avalanche pick

BUFFALO - Some of the biggest stars of the first round of the 2016 NHL Draft on Friday weren't even players. Instead, the overwhelmed relatives of Tyson Jost, the No. 10 selection, made for a memorable moment.
When the Colorado Avalanche announced the 18-year-old center as their pick, a television camera panned to him in the crowd and caught Jost's grandfather, Jim, wiping away tears. Then Tyson's mother, Laura, would not break her hug with her son as the camera lingered and Avalanche officials waited on the stage.

"The longest hug ever, it was like a five-minute hug," Tyson said, smiling.
What about his grandfather being overcome with emotion?
It was nothing new, Tyson said.
"I embarrassed my kids all to hell," said Jim Jost, who became a social-media darling as the clip of him began trending. "But, it's a happy cry. This is so rewarding.

Nobody in the family was embarrassed by Jim's display at First Niagara Center.
"My dad has always been very emotional," Laura Jost said. "We all tease him. It is just a big part of who my dad is and who this family is. When we give support, it's just 100 thousand percent."
Plus, it seems they are quite used to the tears.
"He could be watching curling and he could be crying his eyes out," Laura said with a laugh as the family gathered in the Avalanche suite at the arena to celebrate.
The family knew there was a good chance that Tyson could go high in the first round. He had 42 goals and 104 points in 48 games as captain of Penticton of the British Columbia Junior Hockey League and was widely praised for his leadership.
It was not Jost's selection by Colorado that stirred their emotions, but the enormity of what it all meant.
"Tyson's hard work, his dedication over the years, his drive and seeing it pay off was unbelievable," Laura said. "This is just one of his goals and for me to be a part of, to watch him grow as a young man and into a good citizen is very, very special. I feel absolutely blessed; so blessed."
Laura did a better job of containing her emotions, using the long hug to perhaps help hide her tears.
And, despite wanting to go down to the stage to meet general manager Joe Sakic and the rest of the welcoming party, Tyson allowed the embrace to continue.
"It was a good moment just because the way I was raised was maybe a little bit differently than other kids; a single mom, my father was out of the picture," Tyson said. "She sacrificed so much for my sister [Kacey] and I to have our childhood dreams.

"It was a special moment because I was just telling her how thankful I am because I wouldn't be standing her if it wasn't for her. It's pretty special that I have a mom that sacrificed so much for me."
The public display by the family was a reminder that this night is as much about the families that support the players as it is about the players themselves. It is the end of one journey and the start of another for each player and each family.
"[Tyson's] still got a lot of work to do," Jim said.
And what about Jim Jost, who will return home to Alberta far more famous than he was when he left for Buffalo?
"I live out in the acreage a mile-and-a-half out of town. I'm just going to stay there for a week," Jim said with big laugh. "They'll all forget I hope."