Worcester Sharks general manager Wayne Thomas announced today that the team has signed forward Jonathan Cheechoo to a player try-out agreement (PTO).
Cheechoo, 30, attended the Dallas Stars’ training camp before signing with Worcester. The six-foot, 200-pound native of Moose Factory, Ont., has played in 501 regular season games in the NHL compiling 170 goals and 135 assists for a total of 305 points. He played 440 games with the San Jose Sharks recording 291 points (166-126-291) from 2002 through 2009. Cheechoo led the NHL in goals scored (56) during the 2005-06 season, winning the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy.
Last season, Cheechoo recorded 14 points (5-9-14) in 61 games for the NHL’s Ottawa Senators (5-9-14) and 14 points (8-6-14) in 25 games with the Binghamton Senators in the AHL.
Cheechoo began his professional career with current Sharks head coach Roy Sommer in Kentucky (AHL) and Cleveland (AHL), and he was an AHL All-Star and All-Rookie Team member in 2000-01.
Cheechoo was originally drafted by the San Jose Sharks in the 2nd round (29th overall) in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft. He is expected to join the Worcester Sharks on Thursday and wear number 14.
