Greenwich Native Signs NHL Contract With San Jose Sharks

GREENWICH, CT — Fresh off his first Olympics this past winter, Greenwich native Strauss Mann is now headed to the National Hockey League.

Mann signed a one-year contract with the San Jose Sharks earlier this week. Per team policy, terms of the deal have not been disclosed.

"Strauss is a quick athletic goalie with history of leadership and success exemplified by being named the first goalie Captain at University of Michigan in 78 years," said Shin Larsson, Sharks Supervisor of European Scouting, in a news release from the team. "He followed his successful collegiate career with a strong season for Skelleftea in the SHL and represented Team USA at the most recent Olympics. We look forward to adding a quality goaltender and person to our organization."

Mann celebrated the signing on Twitter, posting a photo of himself signing the contract surrounded by his family.

"Humbled and proud to be signing my first NHL contract with the @SanJoseSharks," the tweet said.

Mann, a Brunswick School alum, first started playing goalie around age 10.

The 23-year-old played hockey at Brunswick before going to the University of Michigan in 2017. With the Wolverines, Mann played in 77 games with a .926 save percentage.

During his collegiate career, Mann was named the Big Ten Goaltender of the Year and named to the First All-Star Team in 2019-2020, named a Second Team All-Star (2020-21), Academic All-Big Ten (2019-20, 2020-21), and was the Michigan Student Athlete Rookie of the Year (2018-19).

Mann finished his NCAA career ranked fourth in Michigan Wolverine history in shutouts. He tied the record for most shutouts in a single season at Michigan with six in the 2019-20 season.

After college, Mann went to the Swedish Hockey League in 2021, and played in 22 games for Skelleftea AIK. Mann tallied a 13-8-1 record with a 2.19 goals-against average, a .914 save percentage and three shutouts.

Mann also played one season with the Fargo Force in the United States Hockey League in 2017-2018.

In the 2022 Winter Olympics for Team USA in Beijing, Mann appeared in two games and went 1-1 with a 1.85 goals-against average and a .945 save percentage.

In February before the Olympics began, Mann's former coach at Brunswick, Rob VanBelle, said he wasn't surprised at the heights Mann has reached.

"Just when you think he might be peaking as a player, he raises the bar for himself and then clears it," VanBelle told Patch.

Mann joins a Sharks team that is currently 30-34-12 and in seventh place in the Pacific Division.