SAN JOSE — Joel Ward’s route to becoming an everyday NHL player was an unconventional one at best.
Ward played four years of Canadian university hockey, was in the American League for basically three full years and was nearly 28 years old before everyone realized that he truly belonged.
Now 36, Ward finds himself in a familiar position, hoping to show that he can still make a difference in a league that’s getting faster and on a Sharks team that’s getting younger.
“I feel like I’m always just trying to prove myself,” Ward said. “You’re always just trying to get better and learn and pick up things along the way.