SAN JOSE – C.J. Suess initially had planned this week to fly from Abbotsford, British Columbia – where the San Jose Barracuda was playing – to his home state of Minnesota to spend Christmas with his mother and sister, and other friends and family members.

Suess’s travel plans changed, at least to some degree, after he was unexpectedly recalled to the Sharks on Monday. Tomas Hertl had just been suspended for two games for high-sticking Calgary Flames forward Elias Lindholm, and the big club needed another forward on the roster.

Oddly enough, Suess had just been reassigned to the Barracuda, the Sharks’ AHL affiliate, the day before.

“I hadn’t flown out yet, but I was headed out Abbotsford and got a call, pretty much saying that Hertl was out,” Suess said. “So, got brought back up. It was a quick little stint.”

Nevertheless, Suess (rhymes with crease), still has plans to fly home and be with his family this weekend, as the Sharks do not skate again until Tuesday when they play the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena. Suess was expected to be a healthy scratch for Thursday’s Sharks game with the Minnesota Wild.

Suess, 28, was raised by his mom, Cheryl Suess, and sister, Cheree. In 2017, prior to his senior year at Minnesota State-Mankato, the forward changed his last name from Franklin to his mom’s last name.

“I wouldn’t have anything without them,” Suess said of his family. “My mom has kind of given up a lot to get me to this point. I changed my name when I was in my senior year of college. That was just giving thanks for everything she’s done for me.

“Every time I can get back to see her and family and friends, I’m more than happy to go back and spend time.”

Suess, a fifth-round pick by the Winnipeg Jets in 2014, has had a challenging few years injury-wise since he turned pro in 2018 as he had played just four NHL games before this season.

In 2018-19, Suess needed shoulder surgery and was only able to play 26 games with the AHL’s Manitoba Moose. The next year, he only played 57 games in a season that was shortened by the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2020-2021, Suess played 31 games with the Moose but was never recalled and when he was promoted to the Jets the following year, he broke his thumb in January after just three games. The Jets did not give Suess a qualifying offer in the summer, and he became an unrestricted free agent.

Now, Suess, in his fifth full professional season after he signed a two-way contract with the Sharks as a free agent in July, is on an NHL roster over the Christmas break for the first time.

Besides the extra money that comes with playing in the NHL – Suess has a $775,000 salary with the Sharks and $160,000 with the Barracuda — the promotion is a somewhat significant moment for a player who’s had to overcome adversity.

Now the goal is to stay with the Sharks.

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Suess has played only one game with the Sharks so far this season — on Dec. 7 at home against Vancouver. Although there’s a chance he could get sent back to the Barracuda after Christmas, Suess might have other opportunities this season if there are more injuries or if other players are moved March 3 trade deadline.

“Ultimately, this is where I want to stay,” said Suess, who signed in San Jose as a free agent because of the opportunities he might receive with the organization.

“Through my first few years I kind of had some setbacks and I really haven’t given myself that opportunity to kind of get up here and stay,” Suess said. “So whether it’s injuries or COVID for two years,  it’s kind of been shortened throughout. I kind of was ready for a change and some opportunity here.”