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Jonathan Earl Cheechoo (born July 15, 1980 in Moose Factory, Ontario) is a professional ice hockey right winger who currently plays for the San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League. Cheechoo is the first member of the Moose Cree First Nation to play in the NHL. His playing with the Sharks was apparently pre-destined when he wrote an essay in the fourth grade about how he wanted to play with for San Jose in the future. Cheechoo recieved a C+ on the essay.
Cheechoo was drafted 29th overall by the Sharks in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft. He scored one of the most exciting Sharks goals ever in a 4-1 win over the Colorado Avalanche on April 24, 2004. Sharks defenseman Brad Stuart carried the puck into the Colorado zone, all the way past the blue line. Stuart then shot a pass to Cheechoo, but the goal was behind him, making for an almost impossible shot. Cheechoo improvised; he let the puck go between his legs, stuck his stick between his legs and shot back at the goal, past Colorado goalie David Aebischer.
After improving his poor skating tremendously in the offseason, Cheechoo scored 28 goals playing alongside Mike Ricci and Scott Thornton in 2003-2004. He has recorded four career hat tricks. His first was recorded on December 20, 2005 during a 4-2 victory against the Anaheim Mighty Ducks. The second was recorded on January 5, 2006 in a 6-3 win against the Columbus Blue Jackets. His third occurred on February 1, 2006, once again against the Mighty Ducks. His fourth and most recent hat trick occured on March 13, 2006 against the Los Angeles Kings. With his most recent hat trick, he becomes only the second player in team history to score 40 or more goals in a season. Cheechoo holds the Sharks record for the most hat tricks in one season. Most of Cheechoo's success this season can be attributed to the Sharks acquisition of superstar Joe Thornton. Before the trade Cheechoo had only 15 points (7G, 8A) in 24 games, while in the 39 games since the trade, Cheechoo has had 52 points (34G, 19A).
Cheechoo is emerging as an elite right winger.