Joel Ward took a long and difficult route to the NHL. He played college hockey at the University of Prince Edward Island before eventually breaking in, albeit briefly, with the Minnesota Wild. From there he went on to Nashville, Washington and now to the Sharks.
On Friday, Ward saw his No. 22 raised to the rafters at UPEI as he took part in the second annual hockey hot stove at the Canadian school. You can see some great pictures of the banner, and Ward, below.
In his first season with the Sharks, Ward scored 21 goals and 43 points, both of which are the second-best marks of his career.