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Warriors Tender Goaltender Kyle Jones

May 18, 2024 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Oklahoma Warriors News Release


OKLAHOMA CITY - The Oklahoma Warriors have signed goaltender Kyle Jones to a tender agreement for the 2024-25 season.

The 17-year-old from Bakersfield, Calif. brings extensive experience from the AAA level. Jones has played well over 100 games with the Los Angeles Jr. Kings organization in the last three years. In the 2023-24 season, Jones spent the majority of the year as the only goaltender on the roster.

"I played 47 games," Jones said. "It was pretty tiring, but it was really fun. I learned a lot, and it ultimately got me the opportunity to tender with the Warriors."

Jones came highly regarded by Chris Johansen, the Warriors' goaltending coach, and spent a week with the team at Blazers Ice Centre in the winter. The experience led to the mutual interest and, ultimately, the opportunity for a roster spot next year.

"He fit right in with our group of goalies and he worked just as hard as them," Johansen said. "Some of our guys on the ice were talking about how hard he worked, and he kind of pushed them on the ice too. He really liked how our group worked and it seemed like a good fit with the culture of hard work we have."

Johansen notes the first attribute one notices about Jones is his height, an asset to have between the pipes. Jones, listed at 6'2 ‚¬Â³ at only 17 years of age, brings more than just a big frame.

"I am a big goalie, but also very athletic," Jones said. "That allows me to make the easy saves, but also the flashy saves."

Jones looks to fill a vacant goaltender spot on the Warriors' roster next season. With Daniel Duris and Owen Bartoszkiewicz departing for Division I schools in the fall, Billy Stuski is the only goalie eligible to return. With only five games played, Stuski will also be classified as a rookie at the beginning of the season.

"We are going to miss (Duris and Bartoszkiewicz) a ton," Johansen said, "but we think Kyle and Billy are ready to come in, get into that role, and work just as hard as them. They have a ton of talent and we are excited to see them come in and work towards the same things our goalies in the past have achieved."

With the future bright for the Warriors in goal, Jones is looking forward to reporting to training camp in a couple short months.

"I am super excited," Jones said. "I can not wait, really. It is going to be an awesome opportunity to not only show my skills, but help the team win some games."

A tender agreement is a contract which gives a team the rights to a player for the upcoming season. Each team is allotted a finite number of tender slots, and they can be traded between teams. If Jones elects to join the NAHL, he would report to the Warriors.

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