Thomas Heemskerk signs with San Jose (updated)

Published 5:10 pm Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Just got word on this. More in a bit …

—- UPDATE, 4:05 p.m.

Here’s the link on the Silvertips website.

—- UPDATE, 5:10 p.m.

So another undrafted Silvertip earns an NHL contract. Tips goaltender Thomas Heemskerk, by signing with the San Jose Sharks, joins right wing Kellan Tochkin (Vancouver Canucks) as undrafted Everett players who inked NHL deals in the past two months.

Heemskerk was invited to San Jose’s rookie camp and impressed the Sharks from the start. San Jose had three goalies in camp — Heemskerk was the only one of the three not drafted by the Sharks — and each was supposed to start one of San Jose’s three rookie games. However, Heemskerk performed so well in winning the opener he was also given the third game (instead of former Vancouver Giant Tyson Sexsmith), which he also won. He then was held over for a few days of main camp.

The Sharks sent Heemskerk back to Everett, saying they were going to keep an eye on him. Apparently three games was enough to sway the Sharks. San Jose contacted Heemskerk following Saturday’s 4-3 shootout victory over Vancouver, and by Monday Heemskerk had signed.

This is a pretty meteoric turnaround for Heemskerk. When the Tips acquired him last December he was home in Chilliwack, B.C., having left the Kootenay Ice over a playing time dispute. So in the span of nine months he went from being out of the league to having an NHL contract. But he earned it as he was stellar during the playoffs last season, preventing the Tips from being embarrassed by Tri-City, and he’s been strong to start this season.

This does, however, mean there’s a significant chance the Tips won’t have Heemskerk’s services next season as an overager. As a 20-year-old he’ll be eligible to play in the minors, and being signed increases the likelihood of that happening.