By: Mark Allred | Follow Me On Twitter @BlackAndGold277
Big defenseman Wiley Sherman has found a new home in the hockey world, signing a one-year deal with the Esbjerg Energy club overseas in the county of Denmark. Sherman is a 25-year-old 6′-6″ 201-pound blueliner who was selected by the Boston Bruins in the fifth round of the 2013 National Hockey League Entry Draft from the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
Confirmed: Wiley Sherman (D) | Providence Bruins -> Esbjerg Energy | https://t.co/XGAQOglGuI #Denmark
— EP Transfers (@ep_transfers) November 6, 2020
Sherman played with the Hotchkiss School (US-Prep) when he was selected in the later rounds of 2013. He would later commit to play in the ECAC with the Harvard University team and get into his first full collegiate action in the 2014-15 season as a freshman.
In four seasons with the Harvard Crimson, Wiley played in 137 games in the NCAA, posting 7-26-33 career numbers. The big shutdown defenseman was with Harvard for two ECAC Championship seasons (2014/15 & 2016/17) and hoisted the illustrious Beanpot Trophy in February of 2017, bringing home a Boston Tournament championship for the first time since 1993. In March of 2018, the Boston Bruins signed Wiley to a two-year, entry-level contract at the end of the Harvard 2017-18 season, which would be his final campaign in the NCAA. Sherman would later report to get into two games for the Boston Bruins top minor-pro affiliate, the Providence Bruins. In those two games in the American Hockey League that year, he posted zero points and was a minus-two while he was with the AHL Bruins on an Amateur Try-Out agreement.
The Boston Bruins have given qualifying offers to Jake DeBrusk, Matt Grzelcyk, Zach Senyshyn, Karson Kuhlman, Jakub Zboril, and Peter Cehlarik.
— NHL News (@PuckReportNHL) October 8, 2020
Brett Ritchie, Brendan Gaunce, and Wiley Sherman will go to UFA. #NHLBruins
In two seasons with the Providence Bruins as a full-time player, Sherman appeared in 72 games in the AHL, posting 2-9-11 numbers as he continued to develop as the Boston organization saw a project in his size and a future need for bigger shutdown defensemen. Unfortunately, Sherman was not offered a qualifying offer to continue his development under the NHL Bruins prospect umbrella seeking playing time elsewhere.
With the Uncertainty of a return to play for the North American professional hockey leagues, this was most likely the best decision for Wiley to get back on the ice immediately as the Covid-19 numbers subside in the new world. Once North American pro leagues get back up and running like the pre-Covid days, I’m sure Sherman’s road to the NHL might be a little better as in interest from professional teams stateside as the Greenwich, Connecticut native looks for more opportunities in the homeland.
Wiley Sherman vs Ryan Haggerty from the Providence Bruins at Springfield Thunderbirds game on Mar 7, 2020 https://t.co/v6UPnI5URy
— hockeyfights (@hockeyfights) March 22, 2020
Wiley Sherman will be missed in providence. Good luck and be safe.