ProStockHockey.com proudly presents Journeymen, our ongoing blog series — a raw, unfiltered look into the lives of elite players at various stages of their individual hockey journey, told entirely in their own words. This series isn’t about stats or headlines — it’s about the miles, the grind, and the road that shaped them. Each story dives deep into the successes and failures, the setbacks and celebrations, and those moments when walking away might have been easier — but they didn’t. Through honesty and reflection, these players share what kept them moving forward and what they want young, aspiring players to know from their own experiences as they chase their own hockey dreams.
My name is Zack Sharp, and I am from the suburbs outside of Chicago, Illinois. I am currently a sophomore at Western Michigan University, where I study sport management and play Division I hockey.
My hockey journey started at a young age, when my mom first got me on skates as soon as I could walk. From there, the game quickly became a huge part of my life. What started as just learning to skate has become a passion that has pushed me to compete at higher levels and to continue developing both on and off the ice.
Youth Hockey: Where It All Started
Youth hockey is really where it all began for me. I played for the Naperville Sabres until I was 12 years old, when I was faced with the opportunity to make the jump to the AAA level. Instead of moving up right away like many of my teammates and friends, I made the decision to stay back for an extra year. Looking back, that decision played a major role in my development, as it allowed me to grow my confidence and skill set, making my transition to AAA much smoother the following year.
My AAA career began with the Chicago Young Americans at the 12U level, where I spent two years developing my game and adjusting to the higher level of competition. After that, I made the move to Team Illinois, where I continued to improve and compete against some of the top players in the country. Those two years were extremely important for my growth, both on and off the ice, as I began to understand what it takes to play at an elite level.
As the USHL Draft approached, I had another big decision to make. I believed that putting myself in the best position to be drafted meant seeking out the highest level of exposure and competition possible. That led me to join the Chicago Mission at the U15 level. This was one of the most important decisions in my youth career, as it pushed me to another level and gave me the opportunity to showcase my abilities. Playing for the Mission not only helped me earn USHL draft interest, but it also led to invitations to national team development camps, which was a big milestone for me.
Early on Adversity
During my U15 youth hockey career, I was very fortunate to be selected for the National Team Development Program invite camp. This was one of the first times I had ever been invited to an event of that level, and it was a huge honor for me to be chosen among the top 40 players in my age group. I felt very confident going into that camp and believed I had a real chance to make the team. I prepared hard, played well, and gave myself what I thought was the best opportunity to earn a spot.
Although I felt I performed well, things ultimately did not go my way, and I did not make the final team. I remember feeling extremely disappointed and let down, especially because of how much the opportunity meant to me. It was one of the first major moments in my hockey career where I experienced that level of disappointment after investing so much into something.
Even though it was tough in the moment, it taught me a lot about resilience and handling adversity at a young age. It showed me that not everything is going to go my way, even when I feel prepared and confident. Instead of letting it discourage me long-term, I used it as motivation to keep working, improve my game, and come back stronger for future opportunities.
Using Adversity as Motivation
Following the cut from the National Team Development Program, which was a giant letdown, I had to take a step back and really look at myself in the mirror. I realized it wasn’t the end of the world, and that I needed to move on, use it as motivation, and trust that better opportunities were coming.
After that, I began to gain real interest from USHL teams ahead of the draft. I ultimately ended up being selected in the second round the following year, which was a another milestone in my hockey career. I was extremely proud of that moment, as it felt like a major step forward and validation of the work I had put in.
That selection gave me the opportunity to attend my first-ever USHL main camp with the Sioux Falls Stampede. That experience was something I will never forget — it was fast, competitive, and a tremendous learning moment for me. It was also around this time that I first started to receive college interest, which was a big shock and something I wasn’t fully expecting at that stage in my career. I still remember those first phone calls and conversations, and how exciting but surreal that moment was for me.
After that, I had the opportunity to return to the Chicago Mission for one more season, even though some players my age were making the jump to junior hockey. While I didn’t make that jump at the same time, going back to the Mission ended up being a great opportunity for my development. It gave me a chance to take on a bigger role, play with confidence, and really grow as a player and a person. I finished that year feeling confident in my game and in my path moving forward, knowing I had taken important steps in my development and was continuing to move in the right direction.
Junior Hockey Career
Junior hockey can be very tough at times, and I definitely faced a lot of adversity during my junior hockey career. But at the end of the day, it turned out to be one of the best things that ever happened to me. My junior hockey career started with the Sioux Falls Stampede in 2022. I was 17 years old, it was my first time moving away from home, going to a new city, a new school, and living on my own for the first time. Everything in my life was completely new.
There were definitely days when I struggled with the adjustment. I would call home and say I didn’t like this or I didn’t like that, and it took me a while to get comfortable with the new environment, the pace of junior hockey, and everything that came with being on my own. It was a big learning curve both on and off the ice, and not everything felt easy right away.
Midway through that same season, I ended up getting traded to the Cedar Rapids Roughriders in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. That was another major change and honestly, a whirlwind for me. It was another new team, new system, new living situation, and I had to adjust all over again in a short period of time. Even though it was overwhelming in the moment, it ended up being a blessing in disguise.
Cedar Rapids turned out to be one of the most important stops in my hockey career. It not only helped shape me into a better hockey player, but it also helped develop me into the young man I am today. There were definitely ups and downs — no question about that — but the experience forced me to grow up, become more independent, and learn how to handle adversity in a real way.
Looking back now, I have a true appreciation for everything I went through during that time, because it played a key part in preparing me for where I am today, both on and off the ice.
NHL Draft: Patience and Perseverance
Through my first season in the USHL, I began to gain interest from NHL teams through calls, emails, questionnaires, and interviews. That was a big shock for me and an unbelievable feeling, knowing something I had dreamed about my whole life was starting to feel real. As the year went on, I gained confidence and heard more about my chances for the upcoming NHL Draft. I remember my first year of eligibility clearly. The night before the draft, I couldn’t sleep, just thinking about the possibility of hearing my name called. On draft day, I went to work out and tried to stay busy instead of watching it all day, but I never got the call. I was extremely disappointed, but in hindsight, it became one of my biggest motivators.
I carried that frustration into my final year of junior hockey with one goal in mind: to get drafted. I went through the same process again — emails, calls, and interviews — but once again, I went undrafted. With one eligibility year left, I decided to go to Western Michigan University, where I stepped into a great situation with a strong team and a big opportunity ahead of me. During that year, my confidence grew as I continued to receive interest and go through interviews. On draft day, I stayed calm, went golfing, and tried not to think about it too much. That day became the best day of my life when I got a call from the San Jose Sharks saying I had been selected in the fourth round of the NHL Draft.
That moment taught me patience and resilience. No matter how long the process takes or how many setbacks you face, if you keep pushing forward, it can all pay off in the end.
National Championship
My first year at Western Michigan as a freshman was honestly a fever dream. It was everything you could ask for: the team was great, the coaches were great, the fans were great, and the overall support around the program was unbelievable. On top of that, the on-ice success was through the roof.
We won the regular season NCHC title, followed by the NCHC playoff championship, and ultimately went on to win the 2025 National Championship in St. Louis against Boston University. Winning that game was one of the best days of my life.
In that moment, it really felt like all the hard work, setbacks, and adversity I had faced throughout my career finally paid off. It’s something I will never forget and will always be incredibly proud of.
What Young Players Worry About Too Much — and What They Should Focus on Instead
I think a lot of young players worry way too much about things that don’t really matter in the long run. Stuff like points, rankings, who’s getting more attention, or who’s moving up faster. It’s easy to get caught comparing yourself to everyone else or stressing about getting noticed, but honestly, that just takes your focus away from what actually helps you improve.
Another big thing is overthinking mistakes. One bad shift or one bad game can feel like the end of the world when you’re younger, but in reality, it’s not that big of a deal. Everyone messes up — it’s part of the game.
What players should really be focused on is just getting better every day. Taking care of the little things, working hard in practice, being consistent, and controlling what you can control. Things like your effort, your attitude, how you train, and how you respond when things don’t go your way.
At the end of the day, development isn’t a straight line. Everyone’s path is different. The guys who make it are usually the ones who stay patient, keep working, and don’t get too caught up in everything else going on around them.
