The San Jose Sharks honored Owen Nolan, Jonathan Cheechoo and Scott Thornton ahead of their game against the Winnipeg Jets on Sunday afternoon as part of the final Sharks Alumni Night of the season. The trio opened the door to the Sharks’ locker room as the players took the ice, then participated in the ceremonial puck drop before the game.
Nolan captained the Sharks for five seasons, taking it over in the 1998-99 season and leading the team until the 2002-03 season when he was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Overall, he spent a total of eight seasons in the Bay Area. In 568 games in teal, the power forward scored 206 goals and chipped in 245 assists. He also recorded 934 penalty minutes.
Jonathan Cheechoo is most remembered for his phenomenal performance during the 2005-06 season, when he scored 56 goals and tallied 93 total points alongside the recently acquired Joe Thornton. Cheechoo spent six seasons with the Sharks, playing in a total of 440 games. During that time, he scored 165 goals and had a total of 291 points. Today, Cheechoo’s Bay Area ties are as strong as ever, as he’s currently a coach in the Jr. Sharks organization.
Scott Thornton, the cousin of the aforementioned Joe Thornton, joined the Sharks ahead of the 2000-01 season. He spent five seasons with the team in teal, appearing in a total of 342 games. He scored 77 goals and tallied a total of 147 points while bringing physicality and veteran leadership to the lineup as well.
Throughout the season, the Sharks also honored Jeff Friesen, Kyle McLaren, Mark Smith, Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, and Mike Ricci across their other three Alumni Nights.