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Cheechoo at 50.....and Counting! by A.J Bellegarde Before the 2003 – 04 season, San Jose Sharks winger Jonathon Cheechoo set a goal for himself; to reach the 20 goal mark. He surpassed his target, ending the year with 28. It was a breakout season for the forward from Moose Factory, Ontario, considering he was only in his second NHL season. That’s why coming into the 2005 – 06 post lockout, many people have anticipated Cheechoo having another great year. So far, the 25 year old is surpassing everyone’s expectations. He has hit the 50 goal mark for the first time in his NHL career, breaking a Sharks record for most goals in a season, surpassing the 44 Owen Nolan tallied in 1999 – 00. That makes him the first player in Sharks history to hit the 50 goal plateau, and one of only few NHLers to hit that mark in recent years. So, what’s the reason for almost doubling his goal total from last season? Many would say that it’s Cheechoo’s linemate, Joe Thornton. In early December, the Sharks made the first big trade of the NHL season, sending forwards Marco Sturm and Wayne Primeau along with defensemen Brad Stuart to Boston for star centre Joe Thornton. Cheechoo was immediately placed on Thornton’s wing and the two clicked from their first game together, when Cheechoo scored 2 goals. Since the Thornton trade, Cheech has surpassed goals he scored last season, and he’s scored 4 hat tricks, breaking a Sharks record for most hat tricks in a season. Cheechoo is quick to credit Thornton for his success. “He’s definitely brought my game up. I think that’s what good players do. I’ve watched Joe play in Boston and even some games in the Soo (Greyhounds of OHL), and he’s always been one of those players that makes other players better. I’ve just benefited a little bit from that.” Thornton is amazed at Cheechoo, for different reasons; his Canadian fans, especially First Nations supporters. Thornton says, “It really is remarkable. I think maybe he should run for Prime Minister after this is all said and done because he just has so many fans. Everybody just loves him.” The San Jose Sharks organization also like what they’ve seen in Cheechoo. Scheduled to become a restricted free agent at the end of this year, Sharks management signed Cheech to a five year contract extension in early February. Meanwhile, Cheechoo's big scoring efforts have helped the Sharks battle back in recent weeks from being almost left out of the playoffs to a team that is starting to pique at the right time. Stay tuned…the best is yet to come.
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