NORTH ANDOVER — For Matt Jones, it's a dream come true.
After two seasons with Merrimack College, the sophomore winger has signed an NHL contract with the San Jose Sharks. An official announcement should come today. He's been assigned to their AHL affiliate in Worcester and could play his first professional game this weekend.
In 34 games with the Warriors this season, Jones netted a team-high 15 goals and added seven assists, while leading the team with 124 shots. He signed a two-way contract, meaning that the Sharks could send him between Worcester and San Jose as they see fit.
According to sources, if he were to play in the NHL, he would earn the league minimum of $450,000 per season. If he plays in Worcester, he'll earn in the vicinity of $195,000 per year, including signing bonuses. Jones has a legitimate shot at making the NHL club out of training camp next season. San Jose has just seven forwards under contract heading into 2008-09.
At 6-foot-4, 220 pounds, Jones has the size of a power forward. But, for a guy that big, he's a tremendous skater who had no trouble keeping up with the smaller, faster forwards in Hockey East.
Jones' departure marks the first player in six seasons to leave the Warriors early for the NHL. Matt Foy (Minnesota Wild) and Anthony Aquino (Dallas Stars) each signed after the 2001-02 season.
"I don't really remember when it all started," said Jones of the signing process. "I knew that some teams were always watching, I mean I knew they were there, but weren't sure they were looking at me. When you play the bigger schools, I knew they were there because they had drafted players on those teams and they go to keep an eye on them. I didn't know that they were looking at me, too."
For the Warriors, it's a double-edged sword. On the one hand, one of their players has signed a deal to play at the highest level of hockey; certainly an example that head coach Mark Dennehy can use in recruiting. On the other hand, they lose one of their best players for next season. The Kentwood, Mich., native, who was named honorable mention All-Hockey East, gives up his final two years of eligibility.
"The guys that we recruit dream about playing in the NHL," said Dennehy. "Matt came in with those same aspirations, and with the opportunity he had here, he really started to showcase his ability. The risk you run as a coach is that the NHL is paying attention when these guys have success. Matt wasn't looking for a place to go, he wasn't looking to leave, this was a case of quite a few NHL teams courting Matt Jones.
"I'm thrilled for him. If he has to leave, I'm glad he's going to San Jose. He had a few good offers, and to be honest, I liked all of the teams that he was dealing with."
Jones practiced with Worcester on Monday, and will again today and Thursday in hopes of playing this weekend. Worcester is at Hartford on Friday, and will travel to the Tsongas Arena to play the Lowell Devils on Saturday night.
"When you play street hockey as a kid, you always pretend that you're Jeremy Roenick or Sergei Fedorov. My whole life, it's been a dream to play in the NHL," Jones said.
"Growing up, you're always told that you need to get a real job and go to college, because you can't depend on hockey for a living. Even when I went to Merrimack, I figured I'd play four years, get a degree, and then go get a job. It's always been a dream, but now to get the opportunity, it's a reality, and I couldn't be more excited."
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Early Exit:
Matt Jones becomes the sixth player in Merrimack history to leave the program early to sign an NHL contract.
Year%Name%Team%Note
1996%Steve McKenna%Los Angeles Kings%Mario Lemieux's linemate (bodyguard) for a season in Pittsburgh
1998%Darrel Scoville%Calgary Flames%Played 16 NHL games with Calgary and Columbus, now plays in Europe
1999%Greg Classen%Nashville Predators%Has played 90 career NHL games, all with the Nashville Predators
2002%Anthony Aquino%Dallas Stars%Never played in the NHL, now plays in Italy
2002%Matt Foy%Minnesota Wild%Has 8 points in 28 games this year with the Wild
2008%Matt Jones%San Jose Sharks%Could make his professional debut this weekend
