As part of a new Player Spotlight series, sharksahl.com is giving fans a chance to read (and see!) more about their favorite Worcester Sharks! This week, we continue with Patrick Traverse, whose NHL experience has proved invaluable for his younger teammates!

 

Week 1: Brennan Evans

Week 2: T.J. Fox

This Week: Patrick Traverse

 

Number: 2

Position: Defense

Date of Birth (Age): March 14, 1974 (34)

Hometown: Montreal, PQ

Height: 6’4”

Weight: 198 Lb.

Drafted: Ottawa Senators 3^rd Round (50^th overall) in 1992 Draft

Season Highlight: Traverse had one of the prettiest goals of the AHL season on Jan. 26 at Springfield. Starting in the defensive zone, he carried the puck through the whole Falcons’ defense before releasing a shot that beat netminder Jeff Deslauriers high to finish off a highlight-reel sequence.

Did you know?: Teammate Jamie McGinn was only four years old when Traverse was drafted by the Ottawa Senators.

2007-08 in a Nutshell: Traverse’s importance was proved when he missed 11 games from Mar. 5 through Mar. 22 with an injury. The team only won three games in that span, but won five of six with Traverse down the stretch in April. He proved he could contribute on both ends of the ice, with solid defensive play and an offensive presence of 25 points (6g, 19a).

 

Click HERE to check out Traverse’s career stats.

 

Season Highs:

Goals = 1 (several times)

                        Assists = 2 (2/10 at Hershey, 2/6 at Lowell & 12/15 vs. Houston)

                        Points = 2 (2/6 at Lowell, 12/22 at Portland, & 12/15 vs. Houston)

                        Penalty Minutes = 15 (2/15 at Norfolk)

 

                        A Goal = 2 (1/25-1/26 & 12/1-12/7)

                        An Assist = 3 (2/3-2/10)

                        A Point = 3 (2/3-2/10 & 11/30-12/7)

                       

2007-08 with Worcester: Final Stats – 65 games played, 25 points (6 goals, 19 assists),  52 penalty minutes, -6 rating … Tallied first point (an assist) since return from injury on 3/30 at Providence … Returned from injury on 3/28 at Hartford … Was out with an injury from 3/5-3/28 … Credited with an assist vs. Springfield (2/24) … Picked up an assist at Norfolk (2/16) … Had second fighting major of season, a spirited bought against Fletcher in  third period brawl at Norfolk (2/15) … Tied a season-high in assists in two consecutive games: Picked up two assists at Hershey (2/10) and at Lowell (2/6) … Picked up an assist on Josh Prudden’s first goal of the game at Providence (2/3) … Scored goals in consecutive games at Springfield (1/26) and Hartford (1/25) … Picked up an assist on Riley Armstrong’s tally at Springfield on 1/21 … After making a save in front of his own goal, the puck went to Armstrong who carried it up ice and scored … Had an assist in consecutive games, both on goals by Lukas Kaspar, at Hartford (1/16) and at Albany (1/12) … Assisted Mike Iggulden’s 15^th goal of the season vs. Lowell (12/30) … Recorded a goal and an assist at Portland (12/22) … Had a two game goal streak (2g) from 12/1-12/7 … Recorded his first fighting major penalty 11/24 vs. Providence …. Scored a power play goal 11/2 at Hartford.

2006-07 Hamilton (AHL) & Worcester:  Signed by San Jose as free agent in summer of 2006 … Attended training camp with San Jose … Claimed on waivers by Montreal 10/3 and assigned to Hamilton … Skated in 26 games with the Bulldogs registering 5 points (1g, 4a) and 10 penalty minutes … Acquired by San Jose from Montreal in exchange for Mathieu Biron on 12/14 … Earned an assist in his Sharks debut on 12/15 at Hartford in a 5-4 overtime win … Scored his first goal (game-winner) with the Sharks on a power play 1/3 vs. Springfield … Scored a short-handed/game-winning goal on 1/26 vs. Binghamton … Recorded three assists and was a +5 (establishing a franchise record along with defensive partner Brennan Evans) on 4/11 vs. Lowell … All five goals scored with Sharks were game-winning goals (tied-second among AHL Defensemen in GWG) … Played in all 80 games during the regular season (26 with Hamilton; 54 games played with Worcester) … Calder Cup Playoffs (Worcester): Earned an assist in Atlantic Division Semifinals Game 1 on 4/18 at Manchester.

 

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