February 7 is Joe Pavelski Day

Jan 20, 2014; San Jose, CA, USA; San Jose Sharks center

Joe Pavelski

(8) looks to pass the puck against the Calgary Flames during the third period at SAP Center at San Jose. The San Jose Sharks defeated the Calgary Flames 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports

After signing a 5 year, $30 million dollar contract extension in the offseason Joe Pavelski has been playing his A game. In his best year as a hockey player, Pavelski is leading the San Jose Sharks in goals and is currently tied for 2nd place in the entire league. He is only behind the great Alexander Ovechkin which really says a lot about the level of hockey that he is playing this year. To put the cherry on top of an amazing year, Team USA named him to their olympic team for the Sochi Games that are approaching us quickly. Naturally, Pavelski’s hometown of Plover, Wisconsin took so much pride in his successful hockey career that they named February 7th “Joe Pavelski Day.”

The City of Plover, Wisconsin will honor San Jose Sharks forward Joe Pavelski by decreeing that Fri., Feb. 7, 2014 is “Joe Pavelski Day” in recognition of his achievements both on and off the ice.Pavelski, a native of Plover, Wisconsin, played high school and college hockey in the state of Wisconsin, winning a State Championship with Stevens Point Area High School in 2002 and a NCAA Division 1 National Championship with the University of Wisconsin in 2006. Off the ice, Pavelski is active in giving back to the Portage County community, organizing and running youth hockey camps in the area as well as donating and participating in various community fundraisers.

On the same day that Plover released this news, Pavelski was named third star of the NHL for the month of January. He scored 12 goals in 15 games for the Sharks and climbed the ranks of top goal scorers with unimaginable speed. His January also included his first NHL  hat-trick against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Pavelski has accomplished all these things even though he entered the NHL as a seventh round pick. Excellent drafting San Jose!

Can we get off of work for this holiday?

***

Follow Michael on Twitter.

www.sjsharksnews.com