Now both Jones boys are in the show.
Edmonton Oilers defenseman Caleb Jones.
Defenseman Caleb Jones, the younger brother of Columbus Blue Jackets All-
Star defenseman Seth Jones, made his National Hockey League regular season debut Friday night with the Edmonton Oilers against the Philadelphia Flyers.
The Oilers called Jones up from the Bakersfield Condors, Edmonton’s American Hockey League affiliate. He logged 11:59 minutes of ice time in the Oilers’ 4-1 win.
“When I got the call, I was shocked. It’s an unbelievable feeling, it’s something you work for your whole life,” Jones told reporters before the game. “I thought I was playing well down there and they told me I deserved it. Maybe it was a little sooner than I expected, but you never really expect something like this. I feel ready to play at this level and I am ready to go.”
The Oilers selected Jones, 21, in the fourth round with the 117th overall pick of the 2015 NHL Draft. He’s played the last two season in Barkersfield, California. He’s tallied 2 goals and 10 assists in 21 games for the Condors.
Seth Jones, defense, Columbus Blue Jackets.
“I talked to people both at the American League level and the major junior level and I got a good feel,” Oilers Head Coach Ken Hitchcock said of Jones. “He’s a that’s going to be a player here for a little while and we might as well get his career started, so we want to start it tonight.”
Big Brother Seth, 24, wasn’t able to attend Caleb’s game in Edmonton. The Blue Jackets are in the throes of a home stand and play the Anaheim Ducks Saturday.
Dad Popeye Jones, a former NBA star, was busy, too. He’s an assistant coach for the Indiana Pacers who defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 113-101 in Philly Friday night.
The Edmonton Sun reported that Caleb’s mother and grandmother were in Edmonton to watch his debut.
Welcome to the show, Caleb Jones! #LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/cxDuft51O8
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) December 15, 2018
“My mom was the first person I called,” Caleb told reporters. “She didn’t believe me at first and told me that I better not be lying to her. She was really happy for me and she kept calling me all night wanting to know what was going in and where I was in my travel.”
Friday’s match between the Oilers and Flyers featured four players of color: Jones, defenseman Darnell Nurse and left wing Juhjar Khaira for Edmonton and right wing Wayne Simmonds for the Flyers.
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