Jonathan Cheechoo facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jonathan Cheechoo
Cheechoo with the San Jose Sharks in 2009
Born	(1980-07-15) July 15, 1980 (age 45) Moose Factory, Ontario, Canada
Height	6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight	220 lb (100 kg; 15 st 10 lb)
Position	Right wing
Shot	Right
Played for	San Jose Sharks HV71 Ottawa Senators Medveščak Zagreb Dinamo Minsk Slovan Bratislava
NHL Draft	29th overall, 1998 San Jose Sharks
Playing career	2002–2017

Jonathan Cheechoo (born July 15, 1980) is a Canadian former ice hockey player. He played as a right winger in the National Hockey League (NHL).

One of his biggest achievements was during the 2005–06 season. He scored the most goals in the NHL that year, with 56 goals. For this amazing feat, he won the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy. He was the first player from the San Jose Sharks team to ever win this special award.

Jonathan Cheechoo's Hockey Journey

Jonathan Cheechoo started his journey in junior hockey. He was picked by the Belleville Bulls in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) in 1997. In his first year, he scored 31 goals and had 45 assists, showing he was a strong player.

In the 1998 NHL Entry Draft, the San Jose Sharks chose Cheechoo as the 29th overall pick. Many people thought he would be picked later. But the Sharks saw something special in him.

Playing in Junior Leagues

Cheechoo continued to play for the Belleville Bulls. In the 1998–99 season, he scored 35 goals and 47 assists. He was especially good in the playoffs, scoring 30 points in 21 games. He even scored five goals in one game during the OHL Final, helping his team win their first OHL Championship.

The Sharks decided to let him keep playing in the OHL to get even better. In his final junior season, he had his best year. He scored 45 goals and 46 assists. After his time in junior hockey, Cheechoo moved on to play in the American Hockey League (AHL). This was a step closer to the NHL.

Time with the San Jose Sharks

Cheechoo played well in the AHL, scoring 66 points in his first season. He was called up to the San Jose Sharks in the 2002–03 season. He played 66 games and scored 16 points.

In the 2003–04 season, Cheechoo continued to improve. He scored 47 points in 81 games. He learned a lot about playing defense from his teammates. During the NHL lockout, he played in Sweden for a team called HV71.

His biggest season was the 2005–06 season. Cheechoo scored an amazing 56 goals and had 93 points. This was a record for the Sharks team! A big reason for his success was when superstar player Joe Thornton joined the Sharks. They became linemates, meaning they played on the same attacking line. After Thornton joined, Cheechoo's scoring exploded. He became the first Sharks player to win the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy. He was also the second Indigenous player to score more than 50 goals in an NHL season.

After this great season, Cheechoo signed a five-year contract with the Sharks. In the 2006–07 season, he scored 37 goals and 69 points. He had surgery in 2007 for injuries he got during the playoffs. His scoring numbers dropped in the next two seasons.

Cheechoo during the 2005–06 season. He scored a Sharks team record 56 goals that season.

Moving to the Ottawa Senators

On September 12, 2009, Cheechoo was traded to the Ottawa Senators. He played 61 games for the Senators, scoring 5 goals. In February 2010, he was sent to the Binghamton Senators, which was Ottawa's AHL team. He played one game in the playoffs for Ottawa.

In June 2010, the Senators decided to end his contract early. This made him a free agent, meaning he could sign with any team.

Later Career and Retirement

After leaving the Senators, Cheechoo tried out for the Dallas Stars but didn't make the team. He then returned to the Sharks organization, playing for their AHL team, the Worcester Sharks.

In 2011, he signed with the St. Louis Blues and played for their AHL team, the Peoria Rivermen. He reached 500 career professional points while playing there.

In 2013, Cheechoo moved to Europe. He signed a contract with Medveščak Zagreb in Croatia, which plays in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). He continued to play in the KHL for other teams like Dinamo Minsk and Slovan Bratislava. He was even chosen to play in the KHL All-Star game in 2017.

On March 6, 2018, Jonathan Cheechoo officially announced his retirement from hockey. He was honored at the SAP Center in San Jose, where the Sharks play.

Jonathan Cheechoo's Personal Life

Jonathan Cheechoo is a member of the Cree First Nations tribe. He grew up in a small community called Moose Factory, Ontario. When he was young, he didn't think he would play in the NHL. He thought he would follow his grandfather and become a trapper and hunter.

However, he became a very good hockey player. At age 14, he left his home to improve his hockey skills. He moved to Timmins, Ontario, which was about 300 kilometers away. It was hard for him to be away from his family at such a young age. But he had a lot of support from his family and community. Many people from Moose Factory traveled to support him when he was drafted into the NHL.

Cheechoo loved growing up in a small town. He enjoyed hunting and fishing with his grandfather, George Cheechoo.

He was also involved in the Little Native Hockey League. This is a tournament for Indigenous youth to play hockey. Cheechoo was the captain of a team that won the tournament when he was young. He sees his involvement with this league as a very positive part of his hockey journey. He is a role model for young Indigenous hockey players. He often takes time to talk to kids who look up to him.

Jonathan Cheechoo's Records

• Most goals in a season for the San Jose Sharks (56) – 2005–06
• Most power-play goals in a season for the San Jose Sharks (24) – 2005–06
• Most hat-tricks (scoring three goals in one game) in a season for the San Jose Sharks (5) – 2005–06
• Most hat-tricks in a career for the San Jose Sharks (9)

Career Statistics

Awards and Honours