Captain's Ice

An informal "Captain's Ice" practice at Sharks Ice in San Jose, CA.

September is to hockey fans what March is to baseball fans.  Even if your team has come up short in the playoffs year after year ("Sharks, cough, cough, Sharks"), when each September rolls around and the Men of Winter prepare for another season, every true fan (or "finatic," in San Jose) is hopeful that this is finally THE YEAR.

The San Jose Sharks have been one of the most consistent teams in the NHL the past thirteen years - missing the playoffs only one time - and winning their division the past four straight seasons, but they just haven't been able to get over that final hump - an appearance in the Stanley Cup Finals.  They have appeared in the Conference Finals each of the past two seasons - the only NHL team to do so.

So after another off-season of big trades - thank goodness they were able to dump Heatley; now get ready to fall in love with dazzling young defenseman Brent Burns - free agent signings and other player moves, every true Sharks fan is ready to start the season and see what the 2011-2012 model Sharks can do on the open road.

All the players who were disappointed, beaten down and injured at the end of last season are now fresh and healthy.  The new arrivals are ready to prove they belong here.  The younger players from last season are ready to make a step up - take it to the next level - and prove they can be reliable veteran performers in the Bigs.

Each NHL season really starts in mid-August at the "Captain's Ice" practices.  NHL players and prospects who live in the Bay Area, including several who still live here but haven't played for the Sharks in years, gather together every weekday morning from 10:00 - 11:00 a.m to start to get the feel back in their hands and legs, and work on their conditioning, before the start of training camp.

NHLers can do a lot of off-ice training in preparation for another season, but ultimately the only way to get in shape to play hockey is to play hockey. 

Sharks forward Ryane Clowe stops for a picture.

I stopped in at Sharks Ice in San Jose (a four rink complex owned by the Sharks that is the only ice rink in San Jose) to watch this morning's Captain's Ice practice.  The rookies and prospects report to Training Camp this Friday, September 9th.  The informal morning Captain's Ice practices will continue through next week for the veterans, as they prepare for the start of training camp on Saturday, September 17.

If you're a hockey fan, I highly recommend coming out to Sharks Ice and watching one of the practices.  There's no charge and you can get up close to these talented pros, and get a much better idea of their size, speed and skill than if you were watching a game from the upper deck of the Shark Tank.

The Captain's Ice practices are also a great time for fans to interact with their favorite players.  The crowds are few, there were about 25 fans at today's practice, and the players are very accommodating of requests for photographs and autographs.

Former Shark Jonathan Cheechoo signs an autograph.

All the players I watched  today after practice were incredibly patient and gracious with the fans, taking the time to stop and take pictures and sign autographs for every fan who was waiting after practice.

It was also fun to see these grizzled veterans, many of whom ended last season looking pale, beaten and battered, now looking so fresh and tanned, sporting grins and smiles like little boys renewing their love of the game, and ready to go.  Coaches aren't allowed on the ice during these early "unofficial" practices, there isn't any hitting and no one keeps score, so it's just like the pond hockey of their youth.  Just a four on four scrimmage, or what the Canadians call "shinny" hockey.

They ran a few drills for thirty minutes to get warmed up and then broke into two teams to scrimmage.  It was funny to watch the pros trying to count the light and dark sweaters (a true hockey fan never calls it a "jersey"), taking them off and on to try and even out the teams, just like I've seen my boys do themselves hundred of times.

Sharks goalie Antti Niemi poses for a fan.

Brad Stuart, a former Shark who lives in San Jose in the off-season, but plays for the Detroit Red Wings during the season, came off the ice after the initial drills and before the scrimmage, leaving the remaining group with an odd number of skaters.  As he started to skate off, several of the other players started yelling, "Stewie, Stewie, come back and play, Stewie!"  Just like little kids out on the pond.

After thirty minutes of "shinny," they finished with some interval skating drills, skating hard for a couple of laps and then resting for a couple, over and over again - until they were all hunched over, out of breath, and barely able to skate.  All trying to push themselves as far as possible.

Will this be The Year for the Sharks?  Many people have been asking that question for the past ten years, only to have it answered "no" each April or May.  I would argue this is the best team, on paper, in Sharks history.  It seems like all the ingredients are there.  Winning any championship always requires some luck, drive and lots and lots of hard work.  And that work has already started as our Boys in Teal prepare for another season.  Is this The Year?  I don't know, but I can't wait.

(Note:  This is the first blog post where I actually took all of the pictures.)