Steenn Pasichnuk signs deal with San Jose Sharks organization

Steenn Pasichnuk signs a contract with the San Jose Barracuda last weekend. Image credit: Steenn Pasichnuk. 

Steenn Pasichnuk is officially a pro hockey player.

After his four-year collegiate career abruptly came to an end this spring at Arizona State, the Bonnyville-native signed a one-year contract with the San Jose Barracuda, the AHL affiliate to the San Jose Sharks.

“It’s a pretty special feeling. That’s for sure. You put a lifetime of work into this to get where we are. It’s definitely a huge accomplishment for myself and for my family as well,” said Pasichnuk.

Steenn joins his brother Brinson in the Sharks organization, the team they showed off for at last summer’s development camp.

Interest started growing in the 6’4″, 210lbs grinder as the season progressed before he officially signed last weekend.

“We’re all excited to see Steenn play at the next level,” said ASU head coach Greg Powers in a release.

“He’s one of our players that we’ve always felt projects to be a better pro because of how he wants to play using his physicality. He did a great job buying into his role here and doing what he needed to for our team to be successful…that will translate for him at the next level.”

Those attributes are the same ones the Sharks organization is looking for next season.

“Basically, they want me to win faceoffs. Win as many face offs as I can. They want me to play physical, and they want me to kill penalties for them. They said it doesn’t really matter to us how many points you score every year, we have guys for that. They said, We don’t have a guy like you, who’s going to be big, who’s going to be uncomfortable to play against other players. He’s going to get another players faces and kill penalties.

“Don’t worry about the points just focus on playing your game and it’ll work out perfectly for you. And that’s what I did. And they stayed true to their word and I’m so grateful.”

Steenn and Brinson could be the next set of brothers to play in the show together after years sharing the ice at home, in minor hockey, with the Bonnyville Pontiacs,and ASU Sun Devils.

It begs the question: are the Pasichnuk’s a package deal?

“No, no, it’s not like that. That’s what it was like when for juniors and for when we came to ASU, we declared ourselves a package deal but when you get to the pro ranks, you got to do what’s best for yourself. You got to go where you’re going to have the best position to have success and fortunately for Brinson it was in San Jose. And fortunately for me, it was San Jose as well.

“I don’t think we could have gotten more lucky with how everything’s turned out in our hockey career. I mean, I think God has a plan out there for us on what he wants us to do and just to be able to spend literally my whole life with my little brother, who’s also my best friend, and now we get to go and play pro hockey together. It’s one of the biggest blessings ever and I know my parents are over the moon about it as well.”

However, when next season will begin is a dangling question.

There is no date for the start of training camp and the NHL is still trying to complete the 2019-20 season after shutting down to COVID-19.