MINNEAPOLIS — At 6-foot-3 and 190 pounds, Gopher-commit Javon Moore's nickname certainly fits the bill.
"Our coach was giving us all nicknames, and so we lined up and he gave me the nickname 'Diesel,' like a freight train kind of thing; kind of the diesel gas, the power," said Moore told KARE 11.
Diesel's combination of size, skill and speed have him poised to be one of the first Minnesotans picked at this weekend's NHL Draft in Vegas.
"Tall, power-forward who has great skating ability, who can shoot and pass as well, and that hard-nosed forward that can forecheck and backcheck and play a 200-feet game," said Moore.
The Mr. Hockey finalist scored 53 points (26 goals, 27 assists) as a senior for Minnetonka this season. He'll spend this next season playing with Sioux Falls in the United States Hockey League and then will play for Bob Motzko and the Gophers in the 2025-'26 season. Moore says his dream scenario would be to hear his name called by a team he's quite familiar with.
"I'd say (my dream) is the Minnesota Wild. Growing up in Minnesota, and then my family has tickets all season there," said Moore.
Regardless of who ultimately selects Moore, a dream for every boy growing up in the State of Hockey is about to become a reality for Diesel.
"Yeah, it's an honor," he said. "Working since you were a little kid, it's every guy's dream. For it to come true for me, it's an honor, there's so many good hockey players out there."
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