It was a very interesting move when the Chicago Blackhawks decided to select Edina High School and Fargo Force center Mason West with the 29th overalls pick in the draft, a pick they traded up for, purely for one reason. After he was drafted it was also brought to the attention of the hockey world that West was a five-star high school quarterback heading into college, and had already received a number of Division I offers from many colleges across the country.
It is becoming more and more frequent that we see dual sport athletes, notably the likes of Kyler Murray and Russell Wilson of the NFL being highly touted baseball prospects as well and quarterbacks, however nobody has quite the repertoire as Mason West.
Despite being a very highly rated QB, with colleges across the nation poaching him, it was decided that West would go on and play his senior year of high school football in which he recently won the Minnesota state football championship. Not only has West become yet another very highly rated Minnesota native to be selected in the first round of the NHL draft, but he is now a hometown hero with a story that no fan will ever forget.
West has since confirmed he will be attending Michigan State University joining the likes of Cayden Lindstrom and Porter Martone in the hockey program next year, and despite receiving very attractive football offers, West will honour his true talent for hockey, and join one of the best NCAA programs in order to develop.
There has already been some chatter about whether West will be involved with some of the footballing schemes next season at MSU, however his hockey-first mentality is sure to put many Blackhawks fans at ease.
For such a great quarterback, and with what he has already achieved, it was sure to be a tough decision, but with his name already off the board as a first round draft pick in the NHL, it is obvious that there is more than enough faith in his hockey ability over his football ability, but nevertheless, West will go down as an Edina high legend, a Minnesota football legend, and is still a very exciting player for the NHL to look forward to.