By chance, Ronald “Popeye” Jones bumped into Joe Sakic in the weight room of the arena in Denver way back when.

It shouldn't have been a big deal. After all, Jones' Denver Nuggets and Sakic's Colorado Avalanche shared the Pepsi Center. Jones, a 6-foot-8 power forward, had more than casual conversation in mind for their first meeting almost 13 years ago, though. He told Sakic, a two-time Stanley Cup winner, that he had two young boys who wanted to play hockey and no clue how to help them.

“He looked at me all the way up and into my eyes,” Jones said. “He saw how big I was. He said, ‘He's going to be huge. Make sure he knows how to skate.'”

So Jones signed up his boys, including youngest, Seth, for skating lessons. Sakic's small piece of advice turned around one boy's direction.

Now, it's Seth's turn to return the favor for an organization.

Jones, 18, has grown into one of the top prospects in hockey and is the consensus No. 1 pick in the NHL draft later this month.

That pick belongs to the Avalanche, led by Sakic, the team's former captain who was recently promoted to executive vice president of hockey operations.

“All the goals he's set as a hockey player,” Popeye said, “he's been able to accomplish.”

How's that for a proud pop?

Popeye, Seth's mother and other friends and relatives will attend the June 30 draft at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. Popeye worked last season as an assistant coach with the Brooklyn Nets and lives about 20 minutes from the draft site.

Dad was a second-round pick, 41st overall. Seth could be the first black player ever taken No. 1 in the NHL draft.

“I'm trying to embrace it,” Seth said. “It's going to be fun in New Jersey, for sure. I can't wait to share those experiences with my family.”

It may be a pretty big family reunion in Denver. Jones' older brother, Justin, also played hockey and they all got along with Patrick Roy's family as they grew up.

By Dan Gelston – Associated Press