Personal

Joe was born to Sandy and Mike Pavelski and has three siblings—Jerry, Sheri, and Scott. His family is Polish American and their surname was originally spelled Pawelski. His mother said: "He loved anything athletic, and hockey was just a good fit for the winter. You didn't realize that your son was that good." Joe Pavelski is co-owner of the Janesville Jets NAHL team. His younger brother Scott formerly played for the University of New Hampshire men's ice hockey team.

Playing career

Amateur

Pavelski won a Wisconsin State Hockey Championship with SPASH (Stevens Point Area Senior High) Panthers in 2002. He was a member of the 2004 Clark Cup champion Waterloo Blackhawks of the USHL. He won the 2004 USHL Dave Tyler Junior Player of the Year Award.

Pavelski played in 84 games over two seasons (2004-06) at the University of Wisconsin of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association He recorded 101 points (39-62). Pavelski was named to the All-WCHA Rookie Team in 2005, was selected to the All-WCHA Second Team, and the Men's RBK Division I West All-America Second Team. He helped Wisconsin win the 2006 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Championship, while leading the team in overall points.

Professional

Pavelski began his NHL career in the 2006-07 season. He began on a hot streak, scoring a goal in his first game, and scoring a total seven goals and 10 points in his first 12 games. He continued playing well, but suffered a leg injury which reduced his playing time. Pavelski earned the sobriquet "Little Joe" from Sharks announcer Randy Hahn, a reference to Pavelski's teammate and San Jose superstar "Jumbo Joe," Joe Thornton.

During the 2007-08 season, Pavelski became a regular player on the Sharks roster and one of the best and most consistent young players on the squad, playing in all 82 regular season games and in all 13 playoff games. He also became one of the most dangerous players in the NHL during shootouts, scoring seven times on 11 opportunities that season. During the 2008 Stanley Cup playoffs, he was tied with Ryane Clowe for the team lead in goals (five) and tied for second with Clowe in points (nine). Pavelski also led San Jose with three game-winning goals during the playoffs, which tied for third most in the league. In addition to his offensive numbers, he finished tied 12th among NHL forwards in blocked shots (59) during the regular season.

Pavelski had another solid season in 2008-09, playing in 80 games and recording 25 goals, 34 assists, and 59 points—career highs for all three statistics.

During the 2010 Stanley Cup playoffs, Pavelski had three straight multigoal games (Game 6 against the Colorado Avalanche and Games 1 and 2 against the Detroit Red Wings), not only helping the Sharks win all said games, but also becoming the first player to do so since Mario Lemieux in 1992. It was after this streak that he also picked up the nickname "The Big Pavelski" to accompany his former nickname of "Little Joe."

Pavelski came close to scoring his first NHL hat trick on March 19, 2011, against the St. Louis Blues. After the game, however, one of the goals was awarded to Patrick Marleau, whom it had been originally attributed, thus holding Pavelski to a two-goal game.

During the 2012-13 NHL lockout, Pavelski signed with Belarusian team Dinamo Minsk of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL).

On July 30, 2013, the Sharks announced that the club has signed Pavelski to a five-year contract extension. The extension will commence on July 1, 2014, following the expiration of Pavelski's current contract.

On March 11, 2014, against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Pavelski scored his 400th career point. During the season, Pavelski recorded a career-high 41 goals and 79 points.

On October 5, 2015 he was named the Sharks 11th captain in history, over teammates (and former captains themselves of the Sharks) Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau.

International play

Pavelski (#16) and Ryan Callahan (#24, with puck) move up ice against Canada during the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Medal record
Representing the United States
Men's Ice hockey
Olympic Games
	2010 Vancouver	Team

On January 1, 2010, Pavelski was selected to the 2010 USA Olympic team, the only USA player from the San Jose Sharks. He had three assists in the team's silver medal effort and was second in faceoff percentage amongst all players in the tournament. In the waning seconds of regulation time in the gold medal game, Pavelski won a faceoff, swatted a clearing attempt out of the air, and made a pass that set up the play that resulted in the USA tying the game with 24 seconds left. He was nicknamed "Swiss Army Knife" by USA General Manager Brian Burke. On January 1, 2014, Pavelski was selected to the 2014 USA Olympic team, his second appearance.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2002-03	Waterloo Black Hawks	USHL		61	36	33	69	32		7	5	7	12	8
2003-04	Waterloo Black Hawks	USHL		52	21	31	52	58		10	5	4	9	10
2004-05	Wisconsin Badgers	WCHA		41	16	29	45	26		—	—	—	—	—
2005-06	Wisconsin Badgers	WCHA		43	23	33	56	34		—	—	—	—	—
2006-07	Worcester Sharks	AHL		16	8	18	26	8		—	—	—	—	—
2006-07	San Jose Sharks	NHL		46	14	14	28	18		6	1	0	1	0
2007-08	San Jose Sharks	NHL		82	19	21	40	28		13	5	4	9	0
2008-09	San Jose Sharks	NHL		80	25	34	59	46		6	0	1	1	9
2009-10	San Jose Sharks	NHL		67	25	26	51	26		15	9	8	17	6
2010-11	San Jose Sharks	NHL		74	20	46	66	24		18	5	5	10	10
2011-12	San Jose Sharks	NHL		82	31	30	61	31		5	0	0	0	5
2012-13	Dinamo Minsk	KHL		17	7	7	14	10		—	—	—	—	—
2012-13	San Jose Sharks	NHL		48	16	15	31	10		11	4	8	12	0
2013-14	San Jose Sharks	NHL		82	41	38	79	32		7	2	4	6	2
2014-15	San Jose Sharks	NHL		82	37	33	70	29		—	—	—	—	—
2015-16	San Jose Sharks	NHL		82	38	40	78	30		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				643	228	257	485	244		81	26	30	56	32

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2009	United States	WC	4th		5	1	1	2	0
2010	United States	Oly	02 !		6	0	3	3	4
2014	United States	Oly	4th		6	1	4	5	0
Senior totals					17	2	8	10	4

Awards and honors

Award	Year
All-WCHA Rookie Team	2004-05
All-WCHA Second Team	2005-06
AHCA West Second-Team All-American	2005-06
NHL Second All-Star Team	2014

Transactions

• June 22, 2003 - Drafted by the San Jose Sharks in the seventh round, 205th overall.
• In 2006, Pavelski signed a two-year entry level contract with an annual average value of $850,000.
• On June 25, 2008, Pavelski signed a contract extension paying him $3.3 million over the next two years.
• On June 24, 2010, Pavelski signed a four-year, $16 million contract to stay with the Sharks.
• On July 30, 2013, Pavelski signed a five-year, $30 million contract extension with the Sharks.

[ Source: Wikipedia ]