Graphic from nhl.com

Tristen Robins joined a unique list of names this week as a British-born player selected at an NHL Entry Draft.

The 18-year-old forward was picked in the second round of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, 56th overall, by San Jose Sharks.

It meant for the second time in three years a British-born player has been selected in NHL Draft following Liam Kirk’s selection by Arizona Coyotes in 2018.

Tristen is the son of former Nottingham Panthers and London Knights goalie Trevor Robins, who was part of the Sharks organisation in the 1990s.

Although Trevor never iced for San Jose, he played for Kansas City Blades of the IHL while they were the Sharks’ primary affiliate.

Trevor played in Nottingham between 1996 and 1999, winning the B&H Cup twice, before a three-season stint in London where he won the playoffs in 1999-2000.

Tristen was born in London in November 2001 during Trevor’s time in the ISL with the Knights.

The teenager had all of his hockey development in Canada and has been with Saskatoon Blades in the WHL since the 2017-18 season.

He amassed 25 points in 2018-19 before scoring 33 goals and contributing 40 assists for 73 points last season.

Robins also played one game for Regina Pats in the 2017-18 season, where he was coached by David Struch.

Struch is also a former Nottingham Panthers player and was a team-mate of Trevor’s in London in 2001-02.

Elite Prospects describe Tristen as: “A gifted puck-handler, capable of blending pass receptions into detailed manoeuvres and freezing his opponents with deceptive elements.

“He evades defenders with ease using a variety of around and triangle dekes. The way that Robins can shoot the puck, handle the puck, and support the puck in the offensive zone is pretty rare for a first-time draft-eligible skater.”