Perhaps the reason Framingham, Mass., native Jimmy Sharrow has had so much success is that he is decisive. At least, that is certainly the way it seems.
His love for hockey enticed him to spend two years at Cardigan Mountain School. That choice, coupled with his stellar play, got him an invite from the U.S. National Team Development Program in Michigan (although, to be fair, that choice seems like a no-brainer).
Again, his on-ice performance drew attention. This time it was from Nova Scotia. The Halifax Mooseheads of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League picked Sharrow first in the second round of the 2002 draft, and Sharrow, tempted by the professional-style schedule of the league, agreed to take his game further north.
"I played hockey in Canada at a young age, for select teams in the summer, and even in Quebec where sometimes the team was (mostly) French players, so the move to Halifax, an English-speaking province of the Quebec league, was easy," Sharrow noted, as if moving to a different country as a teenager was no big deal. "It’s a lot similar to Boston, to be honest, or Mass., I should say."
Maybe that similarity allowed him to find comfort in the rink as well. His two-way play earned him a spot on the All-Rookie team and helped Halifax to the QMJHL finals. Halifax could not close out the Hull Olympiques and ended up losing in the seventh game. However, Sharrow would continue to hone his game, improving his point totals and playing a large role as the team would return to the finals two years later. This time, the Mooseheads had the misfortune of drawing some kid named Sid Crosby in the finals, and they were easily disposed of.
Despite the disappointment of two near titles, with his Quebec career closed, Sharrow was looking forward to beginning his professional one. "When I was drafted to Atlanta (2003, fourth round), I for sure thought if I developed the way I should and got a shot, I felt confident I would get some games or make it."
With a few injuries impeding his five minor-league seasons, it was harder for Sharrow to make strides as he had hoped. Yet, when in the lineup, he was a productive contributor. However, as those hurdles moved him further behind the pack, Sharrow had to begin to consider a career path that didn’t end in the NHL.
He almost took that step a season sooner. "I was asked to go to Europe the year I went to Victoria (in the ECHL), but I didn’t commit in time. So, I ended up in Victoria, which was one of the best opportunities I’ve been given in my career. When that season ended, I got an offer right away, and I knew it was time to head over. I was kind of tired of the moving all over the place, the ‘called up, sent down’ type stuff. I didn’t have a steady minor career, and many don’t. After sitting around not having a contract that summer, I went to Victoria, I kind of couldn’t wait around again and miss a great opportunity."
That opportunity was in Berlin.
Sharrow made an immediate impression. In the early season European Trophy tournament (precursor to the present Champions Hockey League), Sharrow put on a show. He tied all defensemen with eight points in the round-robin session, then tied for the defensive goals lead with two in the playoffs, including the championship game-winner. He was named the best defenseman of the tournament. At season’s end, Sharrow and Eisbären would also win the German championship. Sharrow, for his part, admitted he walked into a great situation: "What made the team successful that season is just (the) group of guys we had. The locker-room chemistry is a very important place in sports, and we had one of the best group of guys I’ve ever been a part of, not just that year, but the five years I was there."
It is easy to understand why Sharrow esteemed that group and those five years in Berlin. Eisbären would win the German title in each of his first three seasons.
While that core group was so essential to the success in his first year, he soon found himself becoming a vital member of it.
"I became a lot more defensive my first year there," he said. "We had a lot of offensive weapons, and there just wasn’t enough space for all to be, say, on the power play, or whatever. I became a shutdown defenseman with my ‘D’ partner (Jens Baxmann), who I then played with for five years. I was voted a captain my third and fourth year there by my peers, and, even though the championships are great, I think that’s one of my biggest accomplishments, even career wise, because it means so much to me that they would think of me to be able to wear a letter to help lead a team."
However, the business end does always seem to rear its head, and, as the Eisbären saw its string of championships end, management felt a shakeup was needed. Luckily, for Sharrow, his years in Berlin had made him a valuable commodity, appealing to many other teams in the league. He chose Wolfsburg, a city only a couple hours west, as his next German destination. Having gained a strong affinity for Germany, he was thrilled to be able to continue his career in the same league and country.
The change of scenery did not change his on-ice performance. Sharrow again played a key role for his new team. After, numbers wise, his worst season in his debut with Wolfsburg, in the 2015-16 playoffs, he elevated his game. Like all players, it’s something he takes pride in, and he is prouder still that he has often been able to raise his game when it counts. Sharrow led the team’s defensemen in scoring that playoff, and Wolfsburg made it to the DEL finals. Unfortunately, for the first time in his German career, he would leave the finals without a trophy. More painfully, the Grizzlies would repeat the (de)feat again last season.
This, of course, has left Sharrow hungry to buck the trend. First, however, he’ll have to get back to the table. Sharrow broke his finger blocking a shot in an early Champions League game. That has kept him on the shelf since, though he anticipates a comeback before the season gets too deep. Wolfsburg, certainly, would love to have him back. Without him, it has been eliminated from the Champions League tournament, and dropped from the, very premature, playoff picture.
The return of his two-way game surely will be an asset. When that game comes, Sharrow will be looking to make his usual impact.
"I haven’t really taken a look at other leagues," he said. "I’ve had a good run in this one, so why not keep it going?"
