''The Day of the Jacka'' 'Kings sign Formal Jackals Captain James Sheehan
October 2, 2002 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Lubbock Cotton Kings News Release
LUBBOCK, TX: October 2, 2002 â The Lubbock Cotton Kings of the Central Hockey League are pleased to announce the signing of defenseman James Sheehan for the 2002/2003 season.
"He is a good fix for our mix," said Cotton Kings head coach/director of hockey operations, Bill McDonald. "With Derek Holland and Gatis Tspelis adding some offense to our blueline, it is good to have Sheehan adding some tough stay-at-home defense to complete the package. Sheehan is very tough and he knows how to clear the net, while also displaying great leadership."
Sheehan, a 29 year-old native of Sudbury, Ontario, joins the âKings after spending the past two seasons with the United Hockey League's (UHL) Elmira Jackals, where he combined for 7 goals and 30 assists for 37 points and 209 penalty minutes in 136 games. The Jackals serve as an affiliate of the NHL's Columbus Blue Jackets and the American Hockey League's (AHL) Syracuse Crunch. Last season, Sheehan contributed with 11 points (1g,10a) in 63 games and performed well in the postseason, as the Jackals were the Eastern Conference Champions of the UHL. In 14 postseason games, Sheehan tallied 6 assists to rank tied for fourth in UHL scoring amongst defensemen, tied for second amongst UHL defensemen in assists and fifth overall in UHL postseason plus/minus with a +16.
The 6'0", 210-pound defenseman played three seasons of major juniors in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with the Detroit Compuware Ambassadors (90/91 - 91/92), Belleville Bulls (91/92) and the North Bay Centennials (91/92 - 92/93), where he combined for 21 goals and 41 assists for 62 points in 168 games. Sheehan also played college hockey in Canada with St. Mary's University (Halifax, NS) during the 98/99 season, recording 2 goals and 10 assists for 12 points in 26 games.
The fourth year pro turned professional with the El Paso Buzzards of the WPHL in 99/00, where he tallied 8 goals and 21 assists for 29 points in 60 games. Sheehan co-led Buzzards defensemen in goals (8) and plus/minus (12). Sheehan's rookie season impressed former Buzzards head coach Todd Broast enough for him to name Sheehan Elmira's inaugural captain when Broast accepted the head coaching position with the Jackals. In his pro career, Sheehan has 15 goals and 51 assists for 66 points in 196 games with 312 penalty minutes. Sheehan has served as an opposition of the âKings in 11 games and has 2 goals and 3 assists for 5 points and 45 penalty minutes in those contests. He collected his career single-game high in penalty minutes against Lubbock on 11/26/99 with 21 penalty minutes in the game. Sheehan recorded 5 of his 7 major penalties during the 99/00 season against Lubbock.
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- ''The Day of the Jacka'' 'Kings sign Formal Jackals Captain James Sheehan - Lubbock Cotton Kings
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