By Brian Haenchen | Aug 23, 2010

Born Timothy Oshie Jr., TJ Oshie is developing into a big time playmaker for the Saint Louis Blues.

Drafted 24th overall by the Blues in 2005, Oshie played his high school hockey in Warroad, Minnesota. During his senior season at Warroad High School, the 23-year-old forward lead his team to an undefeated season and a Class A state title. That season Oshie put up 37 goals and 62 assists, en route to earning the title of state scoring champion and a spot on the AP All-State first team.

After high school, Oshie spent a short time in the USHL with the Sioux Falls Stampede before enrolling in the University of North Dakota.

Prior to his first year of college, Oshie was selected in the 1st round, 24th overall in the 2005 NHL Draft by the Blues. That ’05 draft was loaded with big name NHL players including Sidney Crosby, Bobby Ryan, Jack Johnson, and Jonathan Quick.

Despite being drafted into the NHL, Oshie decided to stay in school and went on to score 24 goals, the most of any first year player in the entire NCAA. That same year he was also selected to Team USA for the World Junior Championships (that team lost to Finland in the Bronze medal game).

The then-Blues prospect went on to play two more seasons at North Dakota putting up 52 points his second season and a team-high 45 points in his third and final season. During his final year with the Fighting Sioux, Oshie was a Top 10 Hobey Baker Award finalist and earned all-tournament honors at the WCHA Final Five and NCAA Midwest Region Championship. He was also selected to the American Hockey Coaches Association first team West All-American and the All-Western Collegiate Hockey Association first team.

Oshie played a pivotal role in the Blues’ 2008-09 playoff run putting up 39 points (14 goals, 25 assists). His goal against the Vancouver Canucks on March 25 earned him the NHL’s 2008-09 Goal of the Year honors and his hits against Rick Nash late in the season energized both his teammates and fans and earned him a spot in Urban Dictionary.

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Blues forward T.J. Oshie was selected by The Hockey News as one of five “Players to Watch” during the upcoming 2010-11 season.

Rory Boylen of The Hockey News said: “Oshie had a four-goal, nine-point increase (over his rookie 2008-09 season) – although he did play more games in 2009-10 – but because so much was expected from the 24th overall pick in 2005 after such a strong rookie campaign it wasn’t considered up to snuff. You can bet the Blues won’t be taking any more steps back. And you can bet Oshie will be taking many more steps forward.”

Other “Players to Watch” included Valtteri Filppula (Detroit Red Wings), Kyle Okposo (New York Islanders), Erik Karlsson (Ottawa Senators) and Jordan Staal (Pittsburgh Penguins).

Last season, Oshie played 76 games and recorded 18 goals and 30 assists (48 points).

He was originally drafted by the Blues in the first round (24th overall) in 2005.

Click here to read the full article from The Hockey News.

Top 10 list: top centers

By Aaron Musick | HockeyBuzz.com

Earlier this week the wonderful Adrian Dater posted a story about his Top 10 Centers and I got to thinking, who are the top 10 Centers who are really new to the league, the ones with two years or less experience under the belt.

So here goes my list of the top 10 centers who are still developing:

1. Steven Stamkos- After a rough rookie season Stamkos burst onto the scene last year and was one of the best centers in the game not just counting rookies and sophomores.

2. T.J. Oshie- There are few centers who have his combination of speed and intelligence. Oshie might not have the numbers of the others but he has shown all the talent in the world and should really get a chance to light the lamp as he will probably get more playing time with Tkachuk, Kariya and everyone else leaving in the offseason. If people will disagree, I’m sure Oshie will be the biggest flaw they find with this list.

Click here to view the complete list

FOR IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE:

Grand Forks, ND: On Wednesday, July 28th and Thursday, July 29th, 2010, the Oshie Sports Foundation will proudly be hosting the 2010 – 4th Annual T.J. Oshie Charity Golf Tournament.  Attached you’ll find the 2010 Registration / Sponsorship Packet along with some pictures from the 2009 event here in Grand Forks.  We invite you to look it over and contact me via e-mail or cell phone at (360) 722-1784.

On Wednesday, July 28, 2010, “A Meet The Celebrities Autograph Session” will take place from 5:00 – 6:30 p.m. at the Rydell – GM Auto Center Cadillac Showroom in Grand Forks, ND.  This special event is open to the general public and will give the fans a chance to meet the guys up front and personal in a very special setting inside the Rydell-GM Auto Center Cadillac Showroom in Grand Forks.

Each person will receive a commemorative 2010 T.J. Oshie Celebrity Golf placard for autograph purposes as our compliments.  If the general public wants special items signed such as jerseys, pucks, pictures, or other memorablia, there is a $20.00 charge per jersey and $10.00 charge for all other sports memorabilia upon entry.  This special event will directly benefit the three charities: Oshie Sports Foundation / NHL Diversity “Hockey Is For Everyone” Charter , the East Grand Forks & Grand Forks Youth Hockey Blue Line Clubs under the T.J. Oshie Scholarship Fund.

Later that evening on July 28, 2010, Oshie Sports Foundation proudly hosts the 2010 – T.J. Oshie Charity Golf Tournament Auction – Celebration / Benefit at the Playmaker’s Lounge in the beautiful Canad Inns Destination Center in Grand Forks, ND.

Events Planned Include:

Meet The 2010 – 4th Annual T.J. Oshie Celebrity Golf Tournament “Celebrity Field”
Hors D’ouvres Served To Guests ($20.00 Donation To Event)
Chance To Bid On Scores of LIVE / Silent Auction Items
Scores Of Hockey Jersey’s Signed (In Person) By Celebrities During LIVE Auction
A Special Night Celebrating Our Esteemed Guests
The following day, we proudly present the 2010 – 4th Annual T.J. Oshie Celebrity Golf Tournament on Thursday, July 29th, at the magnificent links-style King’s Walk Golf Course.  This Arnold Palmer designed golf course is one of the best courses in North Dakota.

The cost per foursome will remain $500.00 and your team will receive:

-  One team of 4 golfers (plus celebrity for 9 holes) for golf / cart at King’s Walk Golf Course on Thursday, July 29th, 2010
-  Complimentary gift for each golfer
-  Company or players names recognized in program
-  Complimentary appetizers at completion of the tournament
-  Team prize packages
-  Live Auction @ Post Awards Ceremony
-  A 12:15 P.M. Pre-Tourney Meeting With PGA Professional Dan Tannahill .. Then 12:30 P.M Shotgun Start

If you have any questions regarding this event, please contact Timothy Oshie at (360) 722-1784 or simply e-mail to oshiesports@gmail.com.

Teams / Individual registrations plus Hole Sponsorships are still being accepted for this years event.  Hope you are having a great Summer of 2010 !!

Kindest Regards,

Timothy Oshie
Oshie Sports / Marketing / Media Group

As a young player approaches and enters his draft year, describe the process of being scouted and/or recruited (since T.J. was both scouted by the Blues and recruited by North Dakota) and how it affects the family, as well as what it does to the young athlete’s daily schedule, training regimen, etc. .. Brian

As a father, I didn’t really recognize the whole process.  Cary Eades, T.J.’s head coach at Warroad High School. then Assistant Coach at North Dakota, was a guiding light for both of us.  He protected T.J. both at Warroad and North Dakota to make sure his focus was purely on hockey.

Looking back, I wouldn’t do it any different.  As the letters and packages came rolling in from a majority of Division 1 college programs, I read them then bundled the packages up until hockey was over for the season.  Didn’t want any distractions for him.  Task at hand was Warroad Warriors hockey and nothing else.  T.J. led Warroad to three consecutive Minnesota State High School Tournaments from 2003-05, winning titles his sophomore and senior seasons.  I stressed to him to only concentrate on our next opponent (as I was Warroad’s assistant hockey coach).  Being in the system of the coaching fraternity was a huge benefit for me during the whole process.

As a parent, the experience was surreal.  Talk of the 2005 NHL Draft was never in our conversations.  T.J. let his hockey abilities and successes earn his recognition of being a NHL draft prospect.  But, obviously, he was training intensely to enhance his body to play for the University of North Dakota.  The day after his graduation in June of 2005, he flew east from Winnipeg (130 miles from Warroad) to Toronto to participate in the NHL Combine Camp.  It was there I realized his stock was gaining as they invite the Top 100-120 prospects in the world.

I received many calls that month of July from NHL scouts and front office personnel.  Once again, didn’t tell T.J. as he was training at the Minnesota Hockey Camp in Nisswa, MN.  The most important thing was to be humble and have humility that summer of 2005.  On Saturday, July 30, 2005, I really didn’t know what to think.  I was living alone in Warroad teaching and coaching at Warroad Schools in the Indian Education Department.  Never in my mind did I think Osh would get picked in the first round.  It was an impromptu draft so they only invited the top 20-25 prospects to attend the event in Ottawa, Canada.  No pomp and circumstance at a NHL venue, just a hotel ballroom with the teams front office and print and broadcast media personnel.

I had received a call from a close friend telling me there could be a surprise on Draft Day on July 29.  Not really understanding the significance of it all, I decided to listen on the Internet via NHL.com.  Most of the teams of whom I had spoken with, drafted other young prospects.  So obviously, I figured T.J. was a 2nd or 3rd round pick as he was listed as #49 for North American skaters and #111 in the International Scouting Service (ISS) charts.

So when Jarmo Kekalainen announced the St. Louis Blues picks from Warroad High School, T.J. Oshie, our families world was turned upside down.

I would tell young hockey prospects and parents to only focus on playing hockey, your academics and playing other sports.  Don’t worry about all the gentlemen with black coats on in the arena’s concourse (the scouts).  Don’t be looking around the rink during warm-ups and games for the them.  The focal point is to play the game you love the very best you can.  If you do that, the phone calls and letters start coming.

To the parents, simply enjoy the process.

Coach Oshie