The San Jose Sharks announced today that the club has assigned right wing Steve Bernier and defenseman Matt Carle to the Worcester Sharks, the team’s top development affiliate in the American Hockey League.
Carle, 22, currently leads all San Jose Sharks defensemen with 21 points (three goals, 18 assists). Among NHL rookies, he is sixth in points, fourth in assists and tied for third in power play points (12) in 39 games played.
Carle spent the previous three seasons at the University of Denver, winning the Hobey Baker Award as the top U.S. collegiate player in 2006, when he tallied 11 goals and 42 assists for 53 points in just 39 games.
The six-foot, 205-pound native of Anchorage, Alaska, was selected by San Jose in the second round (47th overall) of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.
Bernier, 21, has appeared in 39 games with San Jose this season, posting 25 points (11g, 14a), which is fourth-best on the team. His six power-play goals are fourth on the team and his three game-winning goals are tied for third. He ranks 12th among all NHL forwards in hits (88).
Bernier split his 2005-06 rookie season between San Jose and the AHL’s Cleveland Barons, then the Sharks’ top development affiliate. He tallied 43 points (20g, 23a) in 49 games with Cleveland, and registered 27 points (14g, 13a) in 39 regular-season games for San Jose. He also appeared in 11 Stanley Cup Playoff games and recorded six points (1g, 5a).
The six-foot-two, 235-pound native of Quebec City, Quebec, was selected by San Jose in the first round (16th overall) of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.
