Former MSU Hockey Player Makes Pro Debut
Stevenson scores in his first game with San Jose Sharks.
by Dan Myers
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It was a heck of a week for former Minnesota State and current San Jose Sharks forward Grant Stevenson.
Not only did Stevenson become just the second Maverick to score a goal in the National Hockey League, he did it in his first game - a 3-2 Sharks loss to Calgary last Wednesday at the Pengrowth Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta.
But Stevenson's solid first week in the NHL was not over. The rookie tallied a pair of assists the following night against Northwest Division leading Vancouver. In his third game, he chipped in with yet another assist against Detroit, giving the Spruce Grove, Alberta, native four points in his first three career games.
Stevenson is the second Maverick to tally an NHL goal, becoming the first since Tim Jackman tallied his first career goal during the 2003-04 season for the Columbus Blue Jackets. Jackman is now in the minor league system of the Phoenix Coyotes.
Stevenson was a vital offensive cog in the Mavericks 2002-03 season during which Minnesota State finished in a tie for second in the WCHA and made it to the Final Five for just the second time in MSU's history. 2002-03 also marked the first and only occasion when Minnesota State made the NCAA tournament, as Stevenson and fellow former Maverick and current Sharks prospect Shane Joseph were named WCHA First Teamers as well as All-Americans. Stevenson finished second on the team that season in points with 63, tallying 27 goals and 36 assists.
With his four-point output last week, Stevenson has now scored a single NHL point more than Jackman. The two are the only former Mavericks to play in the league.
Dan Myers is a Reporter staff writer