Meet The Sharks Newest EBUG: Former SJSU Goalie Nick Checklenis
The San Jose Sharks have a new emergency backup goalie directly connected to the city.
Dean Tait - Sport Shots - Meet The Sharks Newest EBUG: Former SJSU Goalie Nick ChecklenisThe San Jose Sharks have a new emergency backup goalie directly connected to the city.
Nick Checklenis is entering his first year as one of the Sharks' emergency backups (EBUG). Checklenis attended San Jose State University and played for the club ice hockey team.
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The netminder has recently appeared with the Sharks during practice times where he faces shots from Macklin Celebrini and crew.
Due to ACHA rules, Checklenis could not officially be the Sharks' EBUG. However, Checklenis has been officially with the team since graduating earlier this year. But how did he get to be the EBUG?
"When they were going through all those injuries last year, I was still at SJSU, and they were pretty desperate for a goalie in practice, and [Thomas Speer] came and found me," Checklenis said. "Speer is the goalie coach. I got in with Speer because I worked with him during summers—Charlie Townsend is actually the one who runs the EBUGs."
The former SJSU goalie said he has worked with Speer during his PCG goalie camps in San Jose for the past two summers.
Checklenis told THN that former Sharks center Tomas Hertl was the most challenging shot to stop that he ever faced. Now, he claims Danil Gushchin has the best shot on the team.
"Gushchin, he's sick. His shot is insane, aside from Tomas Hertl," Checklenis said.
The netminder also compared Macklin Celebrini's shot to Connor Bedard's "toe-drag release." He said Celebirni and Will Smith's shot is super effective because of their release.
"Will and Macklin are release guys. They don't have extremely hard or fast shots," Checklenis explained. "They're like they have just the softest, smoothest, most luxurious hands. [Celebrini] has the Connor Bedard style. If you watch him skate, their mannerisms are so similar."
Checklenis said he was able to skate with Celebrini and his brother Aiden, who is a Vancouver Canucks prospect, in Livermore before the Sharks drafted Macklin.
"[Through mutual connections] I was able to skate with Mac and his brother Aiden before the draft," Checklenis explained. "[Macklin is] super cool. He'll say, what's up [to me in the mornings I skate]. He'll tap on my pads. He's super nice."
Checklenis said he feels his game is improving due to all the skates with the NHL club. He admits he won't get to the NHL level, but the experience is fun.
"I'm still behind, [and] I'll never be at that speed, but definitely, just being around it is totally pushing me to get faster and be quicker," Checklenis said.
Checklenis will split time with another goalie as the Sharks EBUG.
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