OHL North Bay Battalion

San Jose Signs Coe

Published on December 6, 2021 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
North Bay Battalion News Release


NORTH BAY, Ont. - Brandon Coe of the North Bay Battalion has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the San Jose Sharks, the National Hockey League club announced Monday.

Right winger Coe leads the Ontario Hockey League scoring race with 14 goals and a league-high 32 assists for 46 points, helping power the Battalion to first place in the Central Division and Eastern Conference.

San Jose selected Coe, who turned 20 last Wednesday, in the fourth round of the 2020 NHL Draft, making him the 97th pick. Most sources, including the NHL, wrongly list him as the 98th choice, but that doesn't account for the forfeiture of the Arizona Coyotes' second-round pick for scouting violations.

With the 2020-21 OHL season lost to the coronavirus pandemic, Coe instead played 15 games with the San Jose Barracuda, the Sharks' American Hockey League affiliate, scoring one goal and adding two assists for three points. He then attended the NHL club's main camp in September.

"It feels great to sign my first contract," said Coe, a smooth skater and slick puck-handler who stands six-foot-five and weighs 203 pounds.

"There have been a lot of hours put in to get me to this point, and it feels great for my childhood dream to come true.

"I think having a good development camp and main camp this summer helped get my name out there more with the Sharks, and having a good start to my season back here in North Bay."

He said he's grateful for the support of his parents in advancing his career.

"Of course, my parents, the amount of time and money they put into my love for this game - I can't thank them enough for it."

General manager Adam Dennis said Coe, an alternate captain, has provided leadership on and off the ice.

"It's a very proud day for our organization with Brandon earning this contract," said Dennis.

"We've all watched him grow into the player and person he is today and we couldn't be happier for him. He's been a dominant force on the ice this season and an even better influence on our young players in the dressing room.

"We're looking forward to watching Brandon suit up for the Sharks in the near future."

Doug Wilson Jr., San Jose's director of scouting, was quoted as saying: "Brandon is a developing power forward with great skating ability. Last year he gained valuable experience playing in the AHL, and we're proud of how he has taken his offence to the next level this season. He's leading the OHL in scoring and is a key player on a first-place North Bay team."

Coe, tied for second in the OHL in power-play assists with 13, is on a career-high 13-game points streak during which he has scored eight goals and earned 22 assists for 30 points. His 13-game assists streak is the league's longest. Coe is tied with linemate Matvey Petrov for fifth in the league in plus-minus rating at plus-17.

He was named the OHL's Player of the Week for the period ended Nov. 21.

The Battalion chose the Ajax, Ont., resident third overall in the 2017 OHL Priority Selection from the Toronto Nationals minor midgets. The youngest player in the league in his rookie season of 2017-18, he scored 10 goals and added 13 assists for 23 points in 63 games.

In 212 games over four seasons, Coe has 66 goals and 97 assists for 163 points, ranking 14th among all-time franchise scorers. In eight playoff games over two years, he has one goal.

Coe is the second member of the current Battalion roster to have signed an NHL contract, after left winger Petrov, a sixth-round choice of the Edmonton Oilers this year.

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from December 6, 2021


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