SAN JOSE – Goalie Devin Cooley will make some history on Saturday when the San Jose Sharks host the Ottawa Senators at SAP Center.
Cooley, a Los Gatos native and a former Jr. Shark, is believed to be the first player from Santa Clara County to be on the Sharks’ active roster.
Cooley will back up Magnus Chrona as the Sharks look to snap a nine-game losing streak. They’re playing the last game of a three-game homestand, and begin a five-game road trip on Tuesday in Philadelphia.
Only three individuals from Santa Clara County have played a game in the NHL: Gilroy’s Dustin Wolf, and San Jose’s Hunter McKown and John Emmons. Wolf and McKown are in the Calgary Flames and Columbus Blue Jackets organizations, respectively, while Emmons’ last NHL game came in 2001. He played for the Senators, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Boston Bruins over a three-year NHL career.
The Sharks acquired Cooley from the Buffalo Sabres on Friday for a 2025 seventh-round draft pick, which the Washington Capitals originally owned.
The Sharks have been in existence since 1991.
“I’m headed home! Couldn’t be more excited to be a San Jose Shark,” Cooley wrote on his Instagram account, along with a picture of himself, as a young kid, having his head playfully swallowed by team mascot SJ Sharkie. “A dream I’ve had since I put on skates for the very first time came true today and I can’t wait to get things started.
“I also want to say thank you to the entire Buffalo Sabres and Rochester Americans organization. Filled with truly amazing people from top to bottom and I wish them nothing but the best!”
For comparison’s sake pic.twitter.com/Yb47Jmsdac
— Curtis Pashelka (@CurtisPashelka) March 9, 2024
The 26-year-old Cooley, who attended Los Gatos High School, posted a 6-6-2 record with a 3.77 goals-against average and .891 save percentage in 14 games this season with Rochester of the AHL.
Cooley has appeared in 66 career AHL games split between Rochester, the Milwaukee Admirals, and Chicago Wolves, and owns a record of 32-24-6 with a 3.16 GAA and .900 SV%.
It’s unclear how long Cooley might be with the Sharks. No. 1 goalie Mackenzie Blackwood is working his way back from a groin injury and does not have a timeline for a return. He is expected to join the Sharks on their road trip, coach David Quinn said.