James Sheppard James Sheppard ( born April 25 , 1988 ) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player , currently playing for the San Jose Sharks in the NHL . Playing career . Junior career . After growing up playing hockey in Hockey Nova Scotia ' s minor hockey system , Sheppard played for the Dartmouth Subways of the Nova Scotia Major Midget Hockey League . ( NSMMHL ) in 2003 – 2004 . He grew up in his elementary and junior high years attending Cavalier Drive School in Lower Sackville , Nova Scotia . In his rookie season with the Subways , Sheppard scored 92 points in 61 games . That following summer , Sheppard was drafted 1st overall in the QMJHL draft by the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles . As the season progressed , Sheppard represented Team Atlantic at the World Under - 17 Championship . Sheppard wore the honour of team captain and scored 10 points in 6 games , leading his team to a bronze medal . Sheppard eventually finished the 2004 – 2005 QMJHL season 4th in team scoring with 45 points . In January 2006 , Sheppard was one of ten QMJHL participants to represent Team Orr in the CHL Top Prospects game , where he recorded one assist . Sheppard went on to finish the 2005 – 2006 QMJHL season 2nd in team scoring with 84 points . Sheppard wore the honour of team captain for the 2006 – 2007 season but was left off the roster of Team Canada for the 2006 IIHF World Under - 20 Hockey Championship . Sheppard was drafted by the Minnesota Wild in the first round ( 9th overall ) in the 2006 NHL draft . NHL career . Sheppard signed an entry - level contract with the Wild in September of 2007 and began his professional career by making the jump straight from juniors to the NHL . Sheppard would make his NHL debut on 10 / 10 / 07 against the Edmonton Oilers , and in his first season with the Wild Sheppard often played major minutes due to injuries to teammates . This helped him set a Wild record for games played by a rookie - he appeared in 78 games . Though he produced only 19 points ( 5 goals and 14 assists ) during his 78 games , he did play in all 6 games vs . the Colorado Avalanche in the first round of the 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs . Sheppard ’ s second season would be slightly better than his rookie campaign , scoring five goals and nineteen assists ( for a total of twenty - four points ) . Even with the slight improvement , he would find him self in then - coach Jacques Lemaire ’ s dog house . Hopes were high for Sheppard to start the 2009 - 10 season as the Wild brought in Todd Richards and a new more offensive style , but he has yet to fulfill those expectations . Despite a very underwhelming 2009 - 2010 regular season where Sheppard scored only six points in sixty - four games , the Wild resigned James Sheppard to a 1 year contract for the 2010 - 11 season . On August 6 , 2011 , was traded to the San Jose Sharks for a 3rd round pick in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft . ATV Accident . Sheppard was involved in a ATV accident which fractured his patella on September 7 , 2010 . Sheppard and " several other NHL players " were on a guided tour in Vail , Colorado when Sheppard was forced to swerve off the ATV course due to an oncoming truck and eventually hit a tree . Sheppard has knee surgery the following day , but was suspended by the team due to a no ATV riding clause listed in his contract . Because of Sheppard ' s non - hockey related injury , it was announced on October 6 , 2010 that Sheppard will be designated as an " injured non - roster player " for the 2010 - 2011 season . Ten weeks after the accident , Sheppard appeared to the media to discuss the incident , saying that he was not fooling around on the ATV and that it was on a guided tour . Sheppard was able to return to skating in mid - December , but was back off the ice again in late February due to soreness in his kneecap .