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 Steven Zalewski, whose season was highlighted by a two-goal effort at Portland during the last weekend of the season!

Last Week:

Week 9: Derek Joslin

This Week: Steven Zalewski

Meet Steven Zalewski:

Number: 41

Position: Defense

Date of Birth (Age): August 20, 1986

Hometown: New Hartford, NY

Height: 5’11”

Weight: 195 Lb.

Drafted: San Jose Sharks 5^th Round (153^rd overall) in 2004 Draft

Season Highlight: Single-handedly gave Sharks a 3-2 overtime win at Portland on Apr. 11: scored game-tying goal midway through the third period and game-winner in overtime. Followed it up with points in the next two games to finish the season with a three-game point streak.

Did you know?: Zalewski was named a Hobey Baker watch list candidate during his senior season, an award given to the best player in college hockey.

2007-08 in a Nutshell: Zalewski signed with the Sharks after his Clarkson Golden Knights were ousted from the NCAA Tournament. Despite only playing in seven games, he showed flashes of brilliance by finishing with six points in those contests. He is looking to convert a strong finish to 2007-08 into a solid first full professional season in 2008-09.

Career Statistics:

Click HERE to check out Zalewski’s career stats.

2007-08 Highs & Lows:

Season Highs:

Goals = 2 (4/11 at Portland )

Assists = 2 (4/12 vs. Lowell )

Points = 2 (4/12 vs. Lowell, 4/11 at Portland )

Penalty Minutes =

Most Consecutive Games With:

A Goal =

An Assist =

A Point = 3 (4/11-4/13)

Complete Bio:

2007-08 with Worcester: Final Stats – 7 games played, 6 points (2 goals, 4 assists),  0 penalty minutes, -3 rating … Extended point streak to three games with an assist on 4/13 vs. Springfield … Recorded fourth point within a two game stretch with a pair of assists vs. Lowell (4/12) … Had two goals on 4/11 at Portland . His first professional goal tied the game at two while his second won it in overtime … Recorded first professional point (an assist) on 4/5 at Manchester … Signed to an ATO on 4/4 … Made professional debut the same night vs. Portland .

JUNIOR YEAR (2006-07)—A top performer who was fourth on the team in scoring with 34 points (16-18) in 39 games … Scored the biggest goal in his three-year career with the winning tally with 41 seconds remaining to lift Clarkson to a 5-4 victory over Dartmouth in ECACHL semifinals (3/16) ... Had six power-play goals and a team-high four game-winners ... Recorded nine multiple-point games, including three, two-goal efforts … Netted game-winner in 2-1 victory at Colgate (2/3) ... Chipped in a power-play marker and one assist in 5-3 win vs. Brown (2/9) ... Equaled a career-high for points with two goals and two assists in 7-1 win over Lake Superior (10/21) … Named ECACHL Player of the Week three times (10/9, 10/23, 11/6) … Posted a +12 plus/minus rating.

SOPHOMORE YEAR (2005-06)— Centered one of Clarkson’s top lines … One of nine Knights with 20-or-more points (9-13) … Tallied 11 points (5-6) over the last 15 games after missing three games in late December and early January while recovering from a concussion … Scored a team-high eight goals on the power play ... One of the Knights’ top faceoff specialists, winning 55% of his draws … Selected to ECACHL Honor Roll once (2/27).

FRESHMAN YEAR (2004-05)—Clarkson’s top rookie scorer in a very talented freshman class and tied for third overall with 19 points … Second on team in goals with 12 … Also added seven assists … Tallied four power-play goals, one shorthanded marker and one game-winner … Scored a season-high four points with two goals and two assists in 8-1 win over Yale (1/1) in consolation game of the Badger Showdown in Wisconsin … First collegiate point was a goal in 6-4 loss at UMass (10/9) … One of the Knights’ top faceoff specialists having won close to 50% of his draws ... Named to ECACHL weekly Honor Roll three times (11/29, 1/3, 1/24) ... Clarkson’s Richmond UnSung Hero Award recipient.

BEFORE CLARKSON—Was the leading scorer and team captain for Northwood Prep, coached by Tom Flemming, in 2003-04 ... Tallied 32 goals and 34 assists for 66 points through 38 games in the Eastern Junior Hockey League (EJHL) ... Played on the 2003 Gold Medal US-Under 17 Team .... Was 2003 NYS Division II High School Player of the Year at New Hartford H.S.

PERSONAL—Son of Elizabeth and James Zalewski … Born August 20, 1986 … Shoots left … Business major ... Selected in the fifth round of the 2004 National Hockey League Draft by the San Jose Sharks with the153rd pick ... Participated in the 2005 U.S. National Junior Evaluation Camp in Lake Placid, recording three assists in games against teams from Sweden and Finland ... Has an older brother, Richard who plays hockey for Division III National Champion Oswego State, a younger brother, Michael, and two younger sisters, Erin and Annie ... Likes to fish ... Lists Steve Yzerman as his favorite athlete ... Also recruited by Northeastern, Yale and St. Lawrence.

Photo Gallery: