San Jose Sharks | CollegeHockeyPlayers

22Oct

Freddie Hamilton(12) San Jose Sharks

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San Jose Sharks‘ 5th round pick in the 2010 draft (#129 overall), center Freddie Hamilton(12) was one cut or two away from being on the team’s 2013/2014 opening night roster to start his sophomore season but was returned to minor league affiliate Worcester Sharks.

He played in all 76 AHL regular season games in his rookie campaign scoring a nifty 13 goals and 13 assists, while never looking out of place.

The sort of small-ish looking 6’1″ 195 lbs. forward always battles hard and looks to become a full-time fixture in the show as he continues to mature and excel.

After a couple of games with the baby Sharks and his first goal of the new season, he received his first game recall, helping the parent club keep their perfect record intact in a 1-0 shootout win.

In his NHL debut he skated 19 shifts for 12:54 minutes of total ice time. There’s every reason to believe the 21-year old will skate more games with the parent club this year.

In four seasons of junior hockey with Niagara IceDogs he was a point per game player.

He’s also the slightly older brother of Boston Bruins’ Dougie Hamilton.

21Oct

Rob Davison(3) Worcester Sharks

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13th year defenseman Rob Davison(3) comes full circle in his pro career signing a one-year, two-way deal with San Jose Sharks, the team that picked him in the 4th round of the 1998 draft (#98 overall).

He spent the last couple of seasons overseas playing mostly for EC Red Bull Salzburg in the Austrian Hockey League.

The rock solid 6’3″ 215 lbs. blue liner has skated in 219 NHL games with the Sharks, New York Islanders, Vancouver Canucks and New Jersey Devils.

His tour of the AHL has been a bit more well-traveled with stops that include games for Kentucky Thoroughblades, Cleveland Barons, Lowell and Albany Devils and this year he’s team captain of Worcester Sharks.

The 33-year old has never been the biggest point getter but guards his own zone with gusto and has topped the 200 penalty minute mark twice in his first pair of seasons and then put up over 100 pims before leaving North American hockey.

He’s a true leader that will likely find himself behind the bench in a coaching role once he decides he’s had enough ice time.

17Aug

Thomas Heemskerk(33) Quad City Mallards

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3rd year undrafted goalie Thomas Heemskerk(33) was left unqualified by San Jose Sharks and became an unrestricted free agent after his three-year entry level contract was up.

He spent two years in their prospect system skating mostly for their ECHL affiliates Stockton Thunder and San Francisco Bulls with some sprinkles of ice time with Worcester Sharks. In 6 AHL games he posted a 1.97 GAA and .926 SV%.

The 6’1″ 190 lbs. net minder also received one recall to the NHL to serve as a back-up and practice with the team.

Although only appearing in a fraction of the games, his SV% was better than his junior hockey league best in 2009/2010 with Everett Silvertips. had a 91-58-19 record in four years of WHL with a 2.81 GAA and .910 SV%.

His marks in the ECHL were less good. In 63 contests his GAA was 3.19 and had a .899 SV%.

For 2013/2014, he almost surprisingly signs a one-year deal with Quad City Mallards of Central Hockey League.

The still very young 23-year old goaltender should score a recall or two in the upcoming season that might elevate him back up into a higher level of pro hockey.

15Aug

Nick Schaus(28) Stavanger Oilers

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4th year undrafted defenseman Nick Schaus(28) leaves North American pro hockey for Stavanger Oilers of GET-ligaen in Norway.

Initially signed to a one-year entry level deal by San Jose Sharks he played in 92 regular and postseason games with their farm team, Worcester Sharks (4 goals, 21 assists).

He was left unqualified for his sophomore campaign but quickly picked up an AHL deal with Syracuse Crunch, where he also spent some time in the ECHL with affiliate Elmira Jackals.

The small-ish 5’11” 200 lbs. blue liner continued with Anaheim Ducks‘ minor league squads for 2012/2013 signing a one-year contract with new affiliate Norfolk Admirals but found less space on the roster in a lockout shortened NHL season and spent more slightly more time with Fort Wayne Komets putting up some impressive numbers (5 goals, 17 assists in 26 games).

All’s well though as the 27-year will likely excel overseas.

24Jul

Marek Viedensky(25) San Jose Sharks

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San Jose Sharks‘ 7th round pick in the 2009 draft (#189 overall), 3rd year Slovakian-born center Marek Viedensky(25) signs his qualifying offer to stick with the team’s prospect system for another season, despite going through some rough stretches of injury and healthy scratches in last year’s overpopulated AHL talent pool.

Even reassignment to ECHL affiliate San Francisco Bulls on a couple of occasions, where he was a point per game player (8 goals, 12 assists), and only appearing in a quarter of the games he did in his rookie campaign, the 6’3″ 195 lbs. emerging power forward was still able to put up 4 goals and a pair of assists in 14 contests while maintaining a +4 rating.

Those totals were not far off what he achieved in his first season.

He will soon turn 23-years old prior to the start of 2013/2014 and should be able to have a breakout campaign with Worcester Sharks, like he did in his final run in juniors with Saskatoon Blades.

He struck for 36 goals and 52 assists in 63 games in 2010/2011, which was also the start of his 3-year entry level deal.

When given the green light and 100% on his game he really seems to be an emerging prospect who could become an NHL regular in years to come.

07Jul

Jason Demers(5) San Jose Sharks

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Heading into his 6th pro year, San Jose Sharks‘ defenseman Jason Demers(5) signs a 1-year extension to play another season for the only team he’s ever suited up for.

He was originally a 7th round pick in 2008 (#186 overall), but played only one full campaign with their AHL affiliate Worcester Sharks before being recalled to the parent club on a more permanent basis during his sophomore season.

The 6’1″ 195 lbs. blue liner had career lows in a lockout shortened 2013 run that was riddled with injuries for the 25-year old.

They are likely thinking he has what it takes to bounce back. He’s never been the most prolific point getter but is mostly steady in his own zone and dishes out enough punishment to attackers that the suits took notice.

He has skated in 205 NHL games scoring 11 goals and 50 assists, while going a +12 plus/minus.

This pic was taken on December 1, 2009.

22Jun

Brodie Reid (51)

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Undrafted, third year right wing Brodie Reid(51) signs to a one-year contract extension with San Jose Sharks for 2013/2014.

He was scheduled to become a restricted free agent after initially playing under a two-year entry level deal.

Despite being sidelined for half of last season with injuries, he still scored 10 goals and 11 assists in 34 AHL games with affiliate Worcester Sharks.

That amount almost eclipsed his rookie year totals of 25 points (10 goals, 15 assists) in 66 contests.

At 6’2 195 lbs. he doesn’t exactly have huge power forward size but always plays that style of a game and gives it 110% on the ice.

If he can stay healthy there’s no reason to believe the 23-year old can’t put up 20/20 numbers.

With those kind of numbers, he’d be a shoe in for his first NHL recall.

See related: 11/6-11

04May

Dylan Demelo(15) Worcester Sharks

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San Jose Sharks‘ 6th round pick in the 2011 draft (#179 overall) defenseman Dylan Demelo(15) has been summoned to join the team as one of the “black aces” practice squad as they continue to prepare for Western Conference Quarterfinals‘ games. It will be second postseason workout with the big club.

He was reassigned to minor league affiliate Worcester Sharks upon finishing up his fourth year of junior hockey with Mississauga Steelheads, where he had highs in goals (15) and points (50).

The 6′ 195 lbs. blue liner skated in 10 AHL games recording 4 assists. He appeared in 4 games with Worcester the previous season and recorded his first pro point, a helper.

He signed a three-year entry level deal at the end of the 2012 regular season and is set to be in the prospect system through 2015.

At just 20 years old, he still looks to be developing his game but is right in the thick of things at a young age, so hopefully will turn into a gem of a deep draft selection.

01Apr

Thomas Greiss(1) San Jose Sharks

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San Jose Sharks‘ 2004 3rd round pick in the 2004 draft (#94 overall) goaltender Thomas Greiss(1) was reassigned to minor league affiliate Worcester Sharks for conditioning.

After starting the lockout shortened season with a shutout win, he’s been shaky in his last three starts, all losses before going down to what is reported as being a neck injury.

In 42 NHL games the 6’1″ 215 lbs. German-born net minder owns a 17-15 record with a 2.55 GAA and a .910 SV%. His stats in the AHL are similar, although more games played at 141 with Worcester going 74-60 with 2.70 GAA and .904 SV%.

The 27-year old is in the final year of his 2-year extension (one-way deal for 2012/2013) and set to become an unrestricted free agent.

It seems highly improbable that they will keep him around. He’ll see little playing time as the season heads down the stretch to prove any uncertainty the organization might have after 7 years in the prospect system.

28Mar

Brian Boucher(1) Adirondack Phantoms

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Philadelphia Flyers‘ 16-year veteran goalie and former 1st round pick in the 1995 draft (#22 overall), Brian Boucher(1) has circled back to tend net for the team three times since leaving the fold after his fifth season in the organization.

He’s only suited up for 4 games in the current campaign and has been shuffled to AHL affiliate Adirondack Phantoms on a few occasions. In 10 starts he owns a 2.50 GAA and .906 SV%. His numbers with the big club in 4 contests are similar.

His most recent venture back to Philly came as the lockout ended and Carolina Hurricanes was already set with their goaltending situation.

The 6’2″ 200 lbs. backstop has worn the pads for seven different NHL squads, amassing an absolute eye-popping 371 regular and postseason games.

The 36-year old is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season but we’re betting he still has something left in the tank and wants to continue his playing career.

Where he will go is an absolute mystery though.