Jason Bast will be playing hooky on the first day of classes a university freshman.
He will be busy playing hockey.
When classes begin at St. Francis Xavier University on Sept. 9, the former Moose Jaw Warriors captain will be flying to New York for an National Hockey League tryout. Bast will spend a day fitness testing with the New York Rangers before heading to the annual NHL prospects tournament in Traverse City, Mich.
“I thought I would have this figured out a little bit earlier,” said Bast.
After completing his final season of WHL eligibility in the spring, Bast played two pro games in the ECHL with the Victoria Salmon Kings.
When his time in Victoria failed to open any doors, his NHL aspirations looked like they were going to be on hold earlier this summer. So Bast enrolled at St. FX in Antigonish, N.S. to further his education and play CIS hockey.
“It was at the point where I was starting to lose hope,” Bast said of his NHL dreams.
While he was ready for the next chapter in his career, he said his agent didn’t stop working to see if he could secure him an NHL tryout.
Bast was at St. FX helping run some hockey camps and meeting his new teammates when he got a call from his agent that the Rangers were going to give him a look.
“When I actually got the call I was pretty happy about it,” said Bast.
“(They called) about a week ago and asked if I was interested in going to camp with them. Obviously I was.”
Which leaves Bast in a sort of hockey limbo as he tries to earn a spot at the Rangers main camp.
“It’s a little bit nerve wracking not knowing what I’m getting into here,” said Bast. “I’m confident in my abilities and I keep telling myself that if I go there and play the way I can then I’ll fit in and get the opportunity.”
For more please see Friday's Times-Herald.
