Sharks Sign Forward Joachim Blichfeld

SAN JOSE, CA - San Jose Sharks (
@SanJoseSharks
) General Manager Doug Wilson announced today that the club has signed forward Joachim (YO-kim) Blichfeld (BLIK-feld) (
@joachimblich
) to a standard, entry-level contract.
"Joachim is a natural goal scorer and can change a game with his shooting ability and hockey sense," said Wilson. "He has proven to be one of the top goal scorers in the Western Hockey League and his puck possession game fits well with the way we want to play. We're excited to see Joachim continue to evolve as a player."
Blichfeld, 19, has posted 30 points (13 goals, 17 assists), 24 penalty minutes, 111 shots on goal and a plus-8 rating in 26 games with Portland of the Western Hockey League (WHL). He currently ranks fourth on the Winterhawks in goals, fifth in both assists and points and is tied for the team lead in game-winning goals (3).

The forward is also currently representing his native Denmark at the 2018 World Jr. Championship in Buffalo, NY, where he led his team in shots on goal (4) in Denmark's first tournament game against the United States on Dec. 26.
Blichfeld has recorded 88 points (41 goals, 47 assists) and a plus-9 rating in 89 career WHL games, all with Portland. He added another five goals and five assists in 10 playoff games with the Winterhawks in 2016-17, leading the team in both goals and points.
Prior to joining Portland, the winger played for Malmo's junior squads in the Swedish junior divisions, winning a bronze medal in the Under-18 division in 2015-16.
In addition to his time with Denmark in this year's World Jr. Championship, Blichfeld has represented his native Denmark in several international tournaments, including the World Jr. Championship (2018, 2017), the U-18 World Jr. Championship (2016), and the D1A U-18 World Jr. Championship (2015 - Gold Medal).
The six-foot-two, 186-pound forward is a native of Frederikshavn, Denmark, and was originally drafted by San Jose in the seventh round (210th overall) of the 2016 NHL Draft.