The most he ever got paid as a teenager working at a sporting goods store and then at an auto detailing shop was $10 an hour. It wasn't bad money for a kid in high school, but hardly put him on the fast track to the country club or Bill Gates' Christmas card list.

So, as he prepared to put his autograph on a contract with the Calgary Flames the other day, he admits his eyes lingered on the figures in front of him for a few extra seconds. Next to salary it said $832,500.

"When you actually see those numbers on paper, it's a weird feeling," Josh Jooris says. "It's a little surreal."

Thing is, while the money certainly doesn't hurt, it's hardly the only reason the 23-year-old from Burlington signed on with the Flames last week. His hockey story — and his father's — made this the easiest hard decision ever.

Jooris's dad, Mark, would have loved to have played in the NHL. He probably could have, too, had he not come along at a time when the league was infatuated with size above all else. Offensively gifted as he was, he was on the small side. So he was never drafted. Instead he went over to Europe and made a nice living scoring a million or so points.

The lesson he learned was how rare NHL opportunities are.

Things have been equally challenging for his son. Like his dad, Josh was an offensive force with big dreams but a small body. At 5-foot-6, no Ontario Hockey League team drafted him. Then, after brilliant seasons with the Ontario Junior Hockey League's Burlington Cougars and then Union College in Schenectady, N.Y., no NHL team called his name.

Two years ago — having grown to an NHL-friendly 6-foot-1 — he was invited to the Boston Bruins' summer development camp, which is essentially a tryout for young players who may have slipped through the cracks. Nothing came of it. Last year, he did the same with the Vancouver Canucks. Again, nothing. So when he was invited to Calgary's camp this summer, he must have been thinking the clock was ticking on his chances.

"To be honest, no," he says. "I was definitely a late bloomer. But my mom always said it's a marathon, not a sprint."

This time, everything clicked. Jooris played exceptionally well. He was strong all over the ice. He scored, he took care of his own end, and he made few mistakes.

On the final day, he was the last guy called into an exit interview with general manager Jay Feaster. All he was really expecting was some feedback on his play and maybe a compliment or two. Instead, a minute or so into the conversation, Feaster said he was going to offer him a contract. Jooris was stunned.

"Whoa," he laughs. "Reality struck. Did he just say that?"

Which brings us back to the family history. Jooris had every intention of returning to Union this season. He loved it there and was eager to get back.

Dad would have been OK with that. Back in the early '80s, he had played four years at an American school. But, remembering how difficult it had been for him to kick down the door to the big time, he at least wanted his boy to really understand the gift he had in his hand right now.

"I never said one time, 'You have to take it,' " Mark says. "I did say: 'I don't think you'll ever get a better opportunity to chase your dream.' "

The Flames are rebuilding. They're very young. They have just three veteran centres under contract — former Toronto Maple Leaf Matt Stajan and two guys with a combined 16 career NHL points to their credit — meaning there are plenty of roster spots up for grabs. The younger Jooris would have a legitimate shot to make this team in the fall. Heck, the older Jooris might be able to make this club.

So Josh signed. It had taken more than 30 years, but a Jooris finally had his name on an NHL contract.

As for all those eye-bulging dollars, they come only if he makes the team next month. That said, he did get a nice signing bonus that he'll be using to buy a car this week. Something sensible, he insists. Meaning you shouldn't expect to see him driving around town in a pimped-out, look-at-me-I'm-a-pro-athlete Escalade anytime soon.

"No," he laughs, "I don't plan on that."

He's more worried about making a hockey team.