SHARKS SIGN GOALTENDER JOSEF KORENAR TO ENTRY-LEVEL CONTRACT
Jul 14, 2017SAN JOSE, CA - San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) General Manager Doug Wilson announced today that the club has signed goaltender Josef Korenar (YOH-sehf KOHR-eh-nawsh) to a standard, entry-level contract. Per club policy, the terms of the deal were not disclosed.
"Josef is a goaltender that has been on our radar for a while now, following his success with HC Dukla Jihlava in the Czech league and with Lincoln of the United States Hockey League last season, and he really cemented his status at our development camp this summer," said Sharks Assistant General Manager Joe Will. "We like his hockey IQ, as well as his athleticism, and strongly considered selecting him in the 2017 NHL Draft, but are happy we were able to add him to our incoming group of prospects this summer. We would like to thank Lincoln General Manager John Hull for his help throughout the process."
Korenar appeared in 32 games with Lincoln of the USHL in 2016-17, posting a 14-11-4 record along with a 2.22 goals-against average and a .925 save percentage with two shutouts. He finished ranked tied for 2nd in the league in save percentage and tied for 3rd in goals-against average. NHL Central Scouting ranked him 17th amongst all draft-eligible North American goaltenders in their end of season rankings.
The 19-year-old netminder split time between HC Dukla Jihlava's U-18 and U-20 team in the Czech leagues from 2014-16, and represented the Czech Republic at both the U-18 World Jr. Championships (named a Top-3 Player on the Team) and the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament in 2015. In addition, Korenar helped the Czech Republic earn a silver medal at the 2014-15 European Youth Olympic Winter Festival.
The six-foot-one, 175-pound native of Humpolec, Czech Republic was also ranked as the fourth-best European goaltending prospect by NHL Central Scouting ahead of the 2016 NHL Draft. He attended the Sharks 2017 Summer Development Camp this July.