Halbgewachs signs with San Jose
With the way Jayden Halbgewachs has played the past two seasons, it seemed like it was only a matter of time.
And on the morning of Dec. 28, hours before he was to take the ice with the Moose Jaw Warriors, Halbgewachs became the newest member of the San Jose Sharks as he signed a standard entry-level contract with the National Hockey League club. “Jayden is the top goal scorer in Canadian major juniors and has been one of the top point producers in the WHL over the last two seasons,” said Sharks general manager Doug Wilson. “His combination of elite speed, high-end skill and ability to pressure both ends of the ice make him a dangerous player who makes others around him better. We’re excited he is joining our organization.”
And to say the least, Halbgewachs is excited to be joining the Sharks. “Obviously it’s pretty surreal and in the moment it’s pretty unbelievable and you’re not thinking about it,” the Tribe 20-year-old said of finally putting ink to paper. “It hasn’t really kicked in yet, but it’s pretty crazy and it’s a big step in making my dream come true... For me it’s a starting point, I have to keep getting better and better and hopefully one day make it to the NHL.”
Halbgewachs was third in WHL scoring, with 40 goals and 71 points as of Jan. 3. That, after a 50 goal, 101 point campaign last season.
“You want to do better and better each year and I think points help show that,” he said. “Our team is having really good success and that leads to me having success. I think a lot of guys on our team are having career years and that just goes to show what our team is overall and what we’ve accomplished so far and what we want to do in the new year.”
Even with his hockey future looking to be in good hands, Halbgewachs has no intention of letting things slide as the Warriors head into the stretch run — there’s still a lot to accomplish in his remaining time with the Tribe.
“Now that I have that contract, it’s not in the back of my head that I have to work for it but you have to be better and prove to San Jose that I was the right pick for them and keep improving myself,” he said.