When his father Jason was in the midst of a 40-goal season with the New York Islanders back in 2006-07, Jackson Blake was barely out of diapers.
“He never really came to the practices while I was playing, but he came to a lot of games and while I would play and he would play knee hockey with the kids of the other players,” said Blake’s father, who last played pro hockey for the Anaheim Ducks during the 2011-2012 season.
“When I played for Anaheim, guys would ask him who his favorite player was thinking it’d be me. Nope. The answer he always gave was Bobby Ryan, all day long,” the retired Blake said with a laugh.
A former NHL All-Star in his own right, and a member of the league’s 200-goal club, Jason Blake described his son’s 2020-21 hockey season as “a storybook year,” which included clinching Minnesota’s state championship for Eden Prairie High School by scoring a thrilling goal in double overtime versus Lakeville South.
In conjunction with his success at Eden Prairie, Jackson Blake also got his feet wet at the junior level with the Chicago Steel during the 2020-2021 season. Just a month and a half after helping his high school team win a state title, Blake contributed to a stacked Steel team that won the USHL‘s Clark Cup.
And as if one tournament clinching goal wasn’t enough in his NHL draft year, Blake scored the Steel’s game winner in their series clinching game against the Fargo Force en route to his second championship in as many months.
On July 24th, Blake was selected in the fourth round (109th overall) by the Carolina Hurricanes in the NHL’s annual Entry Draft as a 17-year old.
He only celebrated his 18th birthday on August 3rd and has decided to forgo his senior year of high school in order to get a full season of reps at the junior ranks with the Chicago Steel.
While there isn’t a hockey scout alive who could miss Jackson Blake’s obvious world class talent and competitive drive, his coaches and teammates at Eden Prairie and Chicago already got a glimpse of it up close last season. And they’re excited to see what Blake will be able to accomplish during the 2021-2022 season with an expanded role on the Steel.
“He’s a really smart player. He thinks the game quickly and well. He knows how to make plays. He’s got the skills to do it, so I think his potential is through the roof. I’m really excited to see the year he’s going to have next year. I think he’s going to have a huge year and I’m excited to watch,” said Blake’s former Steel teammate and roommate Matthew Coronato, who was drafted in the first round (13th overall) by the Calgary Flames.
During Blake’s time in 2020-2021 with the Steel, he also became close friends with Josh Doan, who was drafted by the Arizona Coyotes in the second round (37th overall).
“He’s a game changer. I think that’s the biggest thing I would say about Jackson. When he grows and matures into his body, he’s going to be impossible to get the puck from,” said Doan, who will play for the ASU Sun Devils this upcoming season.
“Every day I got to work with him in practice and got to see his skill level, which is arguably the best I’ve ever played with or against in the world. So getting him in the fourth round was definitely a steal, and a pick you’re going to look back on in the future and kind of wonder why he went so late,” continued Doan, who may have learned a thing or two from his own father, Shane Doan.
“He’s a player I’m so interested in. I’m going to watch every Chicago Steel game that I can this year on Hockey TV and I’m more excited to watch him than anyone else. He’s going to dominate the league,” Doan said of his now former teammate Jackson Blake.
But despite all the individually talented players on display for the Steel during the 2020-2021 season, the club’s coaching staff led by Brock Sheahan successfully promoted a team first identity which ultimately led to the group’s collective success.
“I think we just had really talented players, but more importantly kids that are good people, who want to get better, and who simply love the game of hockey. It makes our job a lot of fun and I do think that players get a lot better because they’re willing to put the work in and they love the game,” said Chicago Steel head coach Brock Sheahan about the players that he’s been able to work with, eight of which became NHL draft picks in 2021 .
“Jackson’s ability to make plays with the puck, his vision, his awareness, his competitiveness. When you watch this kid in practice, it’s amazing to see how badly he wants to win and score goals and make plays,” said coach Sheahan.
At 5’10 and 158 pounds, young Jackson Blake still has plenty of room to fill out and improve from a strength standpoint. And once nature eventually takes its course, and he matures physically, many believe Blake will have the capacity to dominate as a professional.
“I think Carolina got unbelievable value for where they got Jackson in the draft. I believe the only reason he didn’t get drafted even higher, is because of where he’s at physically in his development,” said coach Sheahan.
“The only reason he was drafted in the fourth round is because of where he’s at physically. So for me, there is tons of room for growth there, and that will happen over time. He’s not done growing, he’s going to fill out at some point. He’s going to become a man at some point, and when he does, he’ll be a steal,” predicted coach Sheahan.
“From a talent standpoint, he might be the most talented offensive player we’ve had here and that is saying a lot when you consider some of the players who’ve come through our program,” the Steel bench boss added.
Although he’s still a ways away from playing in the NHL, the Carolina Hurricanes are confident in their selection of Jackson Blake and believe he’s got the chance to be an impact player for their organization.
“We were fortunate that we were able to get someone who can have a high impact, and we feel that if he’s able to grow into his body and mature physically, that it will translate to more ice time at the college level and beyond,” said Darren Yorke, the Hurricanes assistant general manager.
While his father Jason played three seasons at the University of North Dakota and won a national championship there in 1997, he swears he never forced his son to commit to the UND just to follow in dad’s footsteps.
“I told him that if he ever has the opportunity, you still need to make your own path. I told him that if he wanted to do something different than what his dad did that I’m still going to support him either way,” said Jason Blake.
“Like I said to Jackson when we started getting phone calls that he can do something different if he wants to, as long as he didn’t go to the University of Minnesota,” added the elder Blake with a chuckle.
And while Jason Blake never actually played for the Hurricanes during his 15-year professional career, he admitted he always had the utmost respect for the organization that drafted his son into the NHL.
“I will say one thing: when I was playing, that was one of the organizations I always respected. Carolina. Ownership, management, and now with the coach they have now. Rod Brind’Amour. He’d be on my top five list of opponents I respected during my career. Because he played so hard and he played so tough. He was a great player but also a great person,” revealed the elder Blake.
“I know Jackson’s extremely excited about being selected by Carolina,” Jason Blake said with pride.
“And I get giddy about it because I’m a proud dad, and I was fortunate enough to play in the league for a long time, and so some cool things. I got to play in some cool events, but now my time has passed and his time has come,” the 47-year old Blake said about his son, who’s now been diaper free for at least a decade and a half.
“Hopefully he’s going to keep progressing down this path, and keep improving, keep getting stronger and keep getting faster. And hopefully it’s all going to work out for him.”
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