California Rubber

California’s and Nevada’s Authoritative Voice of Ice and Inline Hockey

Orange native, Jr. Kings grad McGrew inks NHL deal with Sharks

 

It’s onward and upward for Orange native Jake McGrew.

The former Los Angeles Jr. King signed a standard, entry-level contract with the San Jose Sharks last month.

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McGrew, a 19-year-old forward, spent last season playing for the Spokane Chiefs of the Western Hockey League (WHL). He’ll skate there again for the 2018-19 season after originally being an eighth-round pick (168th overall) of the Chiefs in the 2014 WHL Bantam Draft.

After missing the 2016-17 campaign recovering from knee surgery, McGrew scored his first career WHL goal on his first shift in his first career game. He registered 19 goals and 19 assists for 38 points during the 2017-18 season, ranking second among rookie skaters in goals and seventh in points while also finishing tied for second in power-play goals with five.

“Jake is an exceptional skater who’s a threat to shoot from anywhere on the ice,” Sharks general manager Doug Wilson said. “He always seems to be around the net, ready to outwork his opponent for the puck.”

The 5-foot-10, 190-pound McGrew, who also tallied two goals and four assists in seven postseason contests with the Chiefs, was selected by San Jose in the sixth round (159th overall) of the 2017 NHL Draft, which was staged in Chicago.

“He really took his game to the next level during the WHL playoffs last season and carried that into Team USA’s World Junior Selection Camp this summer before a strong showing in both the rookie tournament in Vegas and our NHL training camp last month,” Wilson added. “He’s continued to exceed expectations, both on and off the ice, and we’ve been very impressed with his development under Spokane head coach Dan Lambert.”

In his final season with the Jr. Kings in 2015-16, McGrew helped the program’s 16U AAA team capture a Pacific District championship.

Photo/San Jose Sharks

— Brian McDonough

(Oct. 29, 2018)

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