Although Avalanche first-round draft choice Tyson Jost considered attending the University of Denver before deciding on North Dakota, the 18-year-old center was seeing the Mile High City for the first time on his whirlwind trip Sunday and Monday. He declined an opportunity to visit DU once he felt committed to North Dakota.

Tyson’s uncle, Ron Jost, who recently moved to the area, and his aunt picked him up at the airport and gave him a quick tour.

If it was typical, of course, it began with: See those mountains? That’s west.

“They showed me the rink, they showed me where the Broncos and the baseball team play,” Tyson said Monday afternoon in the Avalanche locker room at the Pepsi Center. “It’s a special city. I didn’t realize how nice it was. I’m going to be happy to call this home in a few years, or whenever it may be. … I’m blown away. It’s pretty awesome. It’s a pretty special place to play. I’m just so happy to be a Colorado Avalanche.”

After the Avalanche claimed Jost, who is 5-foot-11 and 190 pounds, with the 10th choice of the draft at the First Niagara Center in Buffalo, N.Y., on Friday night, his grandfather, Jim Jost, was shown in tears. The video has been popular on social media. A few years ago, Tyson’s grandparents moved to Kelowna, British Columbia, temporarily so he could play hockey at the School of Excellence there, and it was crucial in his development.

“I thought it was special,” Tyson said of his grandfather’s reaction. “Everybody could see his true colors and how much pride he has in the game of hockey and how much he did for me and my family. He was a little bit embarrassed once we were telling him, ‘Hey, you’re pretty famous on Twitter right now.’ He’s embarrassed, but I’m proud of him. I’m proud of the person he is.”

After the draft proceedings, the Jost family and the family of his Penticton Vees teammate, defenseman Dante Fabbro, went to an Italian restaurant in Buffalo. Fabbro, headed for Boston University, was Nashville’s first-round pick, at 17.

“I just kind of soaked the moment up with my family,” Tyson said.

Then, as the draft continued with the final six rounds Saturday, Tyson and his family were tourists.

“We went to Niagara Falls and enjoyed that,” Tyson said. “It was something to get away from all the media and be with my family and get away from the hockey side of things. It was a special day, and I was already excited about coming here.”

Monday, Jim was back at his farm in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta. And Tyson’s mother, Laura, was at her desk at Bell Canada in Edmonton.

“My mom was back to work today,” Tyson said. “She texted me and said, ‘I guess I’m back to reality now. The movie’s done, the dream’s over.’ But I was like, ‘Aw, it’s not over yet, Mom, we’ll keep working and make another one.’ ”

So now the issue will be how soon Jost becomes an Avalanche player. After his freshman year? Sophomore? As in basketball especially, elite NCAA hockey programs accept and even use as a recruiting tool playing a short-term role in getting elite players to the NHL.

“Whenever I’m ready,” Jost said. “Whenever I feel ready. Whenever the management staff here feels I can make an impact. That’s what I want to do. I want to come in and make an impact in this program and be an impact player and make the players around me better. I don’t want to come in and be hiding in the shadows.I want to help this team pursue a Stanley Cup.”