Defense has been a major point of contention for Sharks fans for a while now, and the uneasiness lingered as the off-season progressed. However, the organization has an incoming hidden gem who could help be the start of turning the defensive woes around. 22-year-old, right-handed defenseman, Eric Pohlkamp has always been a beacon of self confidence and driven by a raging fire under him. Â
In fact, Pohlkamp’s self-assuredness and boldness is what started his career in the USHL. Drafted 78th overall by the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders in the 2020 USHL Futures Draft at 16-years-old, Pohlkamp was confident he was going to make the roster. However, after paying to attend main camp two hours from his hometown of Brainerd, Minnesota, Pohlkamp found himself left off the all-star roster. This infuriated him, and he made it known in his exit interviews with Head Coach, and future winningest coach in USHL history, Mark Carlsson. Carlsson intently listened as Pohlkamp leaned into him, telling the coach he thought he played well and deserved a spot on the roster. Carlsson let Pohlkamp leave, but later called him back to inform him a spot was made on the team just for him. Clearly leaving an impression on the RoughRiders with his fearlessness, Pohlkamp’s agent later received a call from Carlsson expressing his fondness of the defenseman. Â
Entering the USHL in the 2021-2022 season, Eric Pohlkamp had a relatively unremarkable year. In 61 games played, he put up 18 points (7G, 11A). However, his defining season would come the next year: his draft year. Pohlkamp entered his second season in the USHL on a mission to prove himself, and prove himself he did. In 59 games played, he netted an incredible 51 points (16G, 35A). He was also invited to represent Team USA in the World Junior A Challenge that December, where he won gold. In his gold medal campaign, Pohlkamp registered 7 points (5G, 2A) in four games, with his 5 goals being the most in the tournament and his 7 points being the most points by a defenseman, earning him a spot on the all-star team. Well known throughout the USHL for using every ounce of his size to be a human wrecking ball, he even struck a bit of fear into the heart of the Chicago Steel’s Macklin Celebrini, who would become Pohlkamp’s personal punching bag in every matchup. Â
Throughout the season, he won USHL Defenseman of the Week several times, so it was unsurprising when he was awarded USHL Defenseman of the Year and named to the USHL 1st All-Star Team. With such a successful season, Pohlkamp caught the eye of the scouts at the San Jose Sharks. Well known for finding their hidden gems, like Eric Pohlkamp, the Sharks drafted him 132nd overall in the 2023 draft.
Pohlkamp entered his college freshman year in his home state of Minnesota at Bemidji State University, where he would win a regular season championship, confident and recently drafted. In his freshman run, he scored 24 points (11G, 13A) in 32 games and earned a spot on the CCHA 1st All-Star and All Rookie Teams. Ramping up his physicality and strength to a new level, he was hilariously banned from ripping one-timers during practice at Bemidji because of his teammates’ unfortunate tendency to get hurt while trying to block the shot. Â
However, Bemidji wasn’t the right fit for Eric Pohlkamp, and he decided to transfer to the program that is the standard of college hockey: University of Denver. Known for their discipline as well as their defenseman being instrumental to their offensive play, Pohlkamp found a perfect home with the Pioneers. He really found his footing in his first season with them, recording 35 points (11G, 24A) and +31 in 44 games. This run earned him a spot on the NCHC 3rd All-Star Team and increased his poise even more.
This past season couldn’t have gone better for Pohlkamp. Before the season started, he made two goals for himself: win a national championship and sign a contract with the Sharks. By mid-April, he would achieve both. Pohlkamp led the Pioneers to a Frozen Four victory with an amazing 39 points (18G, 21A) and +24 in 43 games played. His 18 goals was incredibly more goals than some recognizable power-fowrads in the NCAA. This performance landed him in the top three finalists for the Hobey Baker Award, given to the best player in college hockey. Although Max Plante of University of Minnesota Duluth won the award, Pohlkamp was seriously tough competition and did not make the voting easy. However, he was named to the All-Tournament Team, NCHC 1st All-Star Team, NCAA West 1st All-American Team, and crowned NCHC Best Offensive Defenseman.
While the veteran presence on the Sharks’ defense is…not great, there are plenty of talented young defensemen in the organization to look forward to. A true hidden gem, Eric Pohlkamp is ready to sneak up on the rest of the league with his incredible two-way ability and bone-crushing physicality. Back in his USHL days Macklin Celebrini might’ve disliked playing Pohlkamp, but now he’s almost certainly grateful to wear the same logo on their chests.
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