San Jose Sharks | CollegeHockeyPlayers

19Oct

Nick Jones (8)

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Undrafted rookie defenseman Nick Jones(8) played a couple of AHL games with Worcester Sharks after four years at Mercyhurt College came to a close.

He didn’t record any points but did come away with a +1 rating and had a fairly high 6 shots on goal.

The 6’2″ 200 lbs. blue liner mostly showed point production increases in each of his campaigns at school and healthy plus/minus marks in his final couple of seasons but was fairly well-known as unafraid to take a shot from the point (or closer).

He signed a one-year two-way minor league deal for his rookie campaign right before the start of 2014/2015.

Invited on a tryout to attend San Jose Sharks‘ training camp, he was among the first cuts sent down.

The 24-year was further reassigned to start his pro career with Indy Fuel but is already making a statement.

In two ECHL games he’s struck for his first goal and added 2 assists while firing 7 shots at the net.

05Oct

Tommy Grant(17) Aalborg Pirates

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4th year undrafted left wing Tommy Grant(17) decided to take his game overseas to Denmark, joining Aalborg Pirates after tearing it up for a season under contract with Idaho Steelheads.

In 64 ECHL games he had 23 goals and 27 assists.

It wasn’t his first time skating in the league either. While under contract with San Jose Sharks he was double reassigned to San Francisco Bulls where he had one tally and four helpers in 5 contests.

The pretty big 6’2″ 194 lbs. forward was initially property of New York Rangers playing exclusively for their minor league affiliate the then Connecticut Whale, once again Hartford Wolf Pack.

He was signed to a 2-year entry level deal after three outstanding seasons of college hockey at University Of Alaska-Anchorage and joined the team at the completion of school for 7 regular season games (3 assists) and 8 Calder Cup Playoff matchups (1-1-2).

He had decent enough campaigns with the team too, scoring 9 goals and 9 assists in 34 AHL games before getting dealt.

When he reported to Worcester Sharks all the air seems to be let out of the tires. Maybe he potentially realized the time on his 2-year entry level was up and he’d be looking for a new place to play for his third year.

He seems to be fitting in kind of nicely in his new surroundings as he’s credited with a pair of goals and 1 assist in 4 games.

21May

Harri Sateri (35)

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San Jose Sharks‘ 6th year Finnish-born goaltender Harri Sateri(35) heading into his second restricted free agency decides it’s time to leave and signs a 1-year deal in the KHL with Vityaz Podolsk for 2014/2015.

It comes after 4 seasons tending net for minor league affiliate Worcester Sharks.

He played a regular season high 45 AHL games last season, winning a career best 18 but also losing a worst 24. His goals against average and save percentages also started slipping on a team that has struggled more often than not.

The 6’1″ 205 lbs. goalie played two seasons pro in his home country’s top league Liiga for Tappara before joining the Sharks‘ prospect system.

He’ll likely be qualified for another year to keep his North American playing rights but it seems likely that the 24-year old won’t be returning to these shores again.

03May

Kent Huskins(29) Utica Comets

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13-year veteran defenseman Kent Huskins(29) signed an AHL contract to join Utica Comets a month into the 2013/2014 season.

Possibly looking for a new NHL suitor after splitting less than 20 games the previous year with Detroit Red Wings then Philadelphia Flyers, it’s possible he saw a possible opening in the parent club to influence his decision to sign a minor league deal.

He appeared in 65 games with the expansion central New York club adding another 10 points to his league totals (473-33-101-134). He also owns a +33 rating.

The big 6’4″ 205 lbs. blue liner has also skated in 318 contests in the show putting up just 13 goals and 55 assists, but his stay-at-home style and strong defense of his own zone gives him a highly accountable +46 plus/minus.

It took him 5 years of trolling with farm teams before he received his first opportunity to play at the highest level but from there he spent six straight seasons on top.

Not bad for a player that was originally a Chicago Blackhawks‘ 6th round pick in the 1998 draft (#156 overall).

The almost 35-year old could either stay put or try his hand elsewhere but is probably happy earning a decent payday playing pro hockey.

He won a Stanley Cup Championship in 2007 as a member of Anaheim Ducks.

14Apr

Coach Roy Sommer Worcester Sharks

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Worcester Sharks‘ coach Roy Sommers stood behind the bench for his now league leading 1,257th AHL game.

He started his journey 16 years ago in 1998 with then San Jose Sharks‘ farm club Kentucky Thoroughblades, then moved with the team to 5 minor league famed seasons at the helm for Cleveland Barons.

Continuing his move with affiliates east, he achieves the record feat in his 8th year in Central Massachusetts.

The 56-year old former played only three NHL games but managed to score his only goal in the show in his debut.

He also won a Calder Cup trophy with Maine Mariners in 1984 and skated in 147 AHL and 195 IHL games.

He hung up his skates after 8 seasons, just after his 30th birthday.

Straight after retirement, he started as an assistant coach for a pair of seasons before moving on to 5 winning campaigns in the ECHL and two more as an assistant in the NHL.

02Apr

Mirco Mueller(41) Worcester Sharks

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San Jose Sharks‘ 1st round pick in the 2013 draft (#18 overall), towering 6’4″ 195 lbs. Swiss0-born defenseman Mirco Mueller(41) skated in his first North American pro game on reassignment with minor league affiliate Worcester Sharks.

In his AHL debut he got his first point, the primary assist, when he launched a shot from the point that was tipped in by a teammate for the game-winning goal.

He signed a 3-year entry level contract before the start of the 2013/2014 season but returned for a second run in the WHL with Everett Silvertips. In his two years with the team he posted almost identical numbers including a pair of 20+ assist campaigns.

As a 17-year old he also skated in 7 games in the NLA with Kloten scoring a goal before he headed across the pond.

Now just 19, he will get his chance to crack the NHL lineup as a teenager.

04Feb

Luke Judson(7) Idaho Steelheads

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Underdrafted rookie right wing Luke Judson(7) first popped up on the radar with an invite to San Jose Sharks‘ 2013 development camp. The team had been scouting him for the last few seasons as he served as captain for OHL Belleville Bulls.

He next appeared in Worcester Sharks‘ training camp before being released.

He joined San Francisco Bulls of the ECHL, the team he signed his first pro contract with over the summer.

The 6′ 200 lbs. forward took a bit of an odd route before inking his deal, deciding to first play a season of college hockey at Lakehead University.

Not the most prolific scorer, he did show an ability to connect with decent frequency through juniors and year at school.

The 23-year old only scored 4 goals through his first 31 games with a struggling SF squad and was probably relieved when they ceased operations.

He recently agreed to terms with Idaho Steelheads and the move will likely help him regain his scoring touch.

06Jan

Eriah Hayes(18) San Jose Sharks

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San Jose Sharks‘ undrafted rookie right wing Eriah Hayes(18) somewhat unexpectedly receives his first recall.

He skated 15 shifts for 7:08 total ice time in his NHL debut with a pair of shots on net, 1 giveaway and went 33% on face-offs.

In 29 AHL games he’s tallied 5 goals and 3 assists with a -6 rating. Signed to an ato at the end of last season he played 7 contests and popped in 3 goals and an assist.

The 6’4″ 210 lbs. power-sized forward was a fairly prolific scorer in four years of college hockey at Minnesota State University.

He’s signed a two-year entry level contract through 2015 and definitely a player that could make an impact once he gets his pro game settled.

16Dec

Troy Grosenick(1) Worcester Sharks

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San Jose Sharks‘ undrafted rookie net minder Troy Grosenick(1) is off to a formidable start to his pro career.

Originally slated to be the back-up goalie with minor league affiliate Worcester Sharks, he’s stepped it up in each appearance to be on somewhat of a rotating start schedule.

In 9 AHL games he has a 5-3 record with a 2.01 GAA and .922 SV%. He also has one shutout and 3 shootout wins.

The 6’1″ 185 lbs. backstop had great success in a pair of seasons at Union College winning ECAC Championships both seasons with a league best GAA and SV% in his first year, along with being voted Goaltender Of The Year and was a Hobey Baker Award Finalist.

He’s initially signed a 1-year entry level deal at the end of 2012/2013 and a few months later that was quickly upped another two seasons with an extension, which will keep him in the system through 2015.

The 24-year old has surprised folks at every level and there’s enough reason to think he’ll continue the pattern.

21Nov

Brad Staubitz(16) Toronto Marlies

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Undrafted 9th year tough guy, right wing Brad Staubitz(16) has a one-way NHL deal for 2013/2014, but has been unable to find his spot on a roster. Signed to a 2-year contract with Anaheim Ducks, he was only played sparingly in the lockout shortened season and landed south with Norfolk Admirals to start the new campaign.

Disgruntled there after 7 AHL games, he was traded in hopes of finding a new start in Toronto Maple Leafs‘ organization but might have the same problem, few openings in the lineup and was reassigned to Toronto Marlies.

Never a player to mark up the score sheet with points, the 6’1″ 207 lbs. forward has never shied away from the rough stuff, amassing more than 100 penalty minutes in virtually every season and is strictly looked at as a fourth line energy source for a team.

It’s maybe a bit doubtful that the rugged winger will find another home in the show unless he reinvents his game some going into camp next season and catches the attention of a team in need of an enforcer.