5. Zachary Emond
Zachary Emond made quite the first impression in his lone assignment of defending between the pipes in the opening day of the Vegas Rookie Faceoff. The 176th overall pick in the 2018 NHL Draft stopped all 33 shots that came his way. Backed up by a comfortable lead early on, Emond carried the Sharks to 4-0 shutout victory over the Coyotes.
Emond was the only goaltender out of all six teams competing in the tournament to record a shutout, which came on the very first game of the inaugural event. Talk about being calm, cool, and collected, the 18-year-old netminder certainly was in front of an inquisitive City National Arena crowd. Despite his 6-foot-3, 165-pound figure, Emond proved that his slender structure was no obstacle in securing San Jose’s first win of the weekend.
From Saint-Cyprien, Quebec, Emond entered the rookie camp after a successful season in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. With the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, Emond compiled a 3.26 goals against average and a .897 save percentage in 24 games played.
Alongside Josef Korenar and Max Paddock as one of three Sharks goaltending prospects at the Vegas Rookie Faceoff, Emond looks to stay with San Jose as the Sharks prepare for the preseason in one week.