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SAN JOSE SHARKS
Remodeled San Jose Sharks have new look, same goal

By Julie Juarez

Fresh off of celebrating the 20th anniversary season of professional hockey in San Jose and after reaching the National Hockey League's Western Conference Final for the second consecutive year, the San Jose Sharks are back for the 2011-12 season and hungry for more.

The Sharks continue to be the hottest ticket in the Bay Area and for good reason. Over the last decade, San Jose has annually been considered a top contender for the Stanley Cup. In 2010-11, the Sharks put together their fifth consecutive 100-plus-point season, won their fourth consecutive Pacific Division Championship and made the team's third Western Conference Final appearance.

Following a sterling regular season, the 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs provided a thrilling ride for Sharks fans. In the opening round, the Western Conference Quarterfinal, San Jose prevailed over their intrastate rival, the Los Angeles Kings, in six games. The series was highlighted by a stunning Sharks comeback in Game 3. Down 4-0, the Sharks rallied for a 6-5 overtime victory and became just the fourth team in playoff history to overcome a deficit of four or more goals.

By defeating the Kings, Team Teal won the right to face its nemesis, the Detroit Red Wings, in the Western Conference Semifinals for the second straight year. The Sharks, who had dispatched the Red Wings in five games a year earlier, captivated the hockey world yet again by taking Detroit to the brink of elimination with a 3-0 series lead and persevered to win Game 7 after the Red Wings fought back to tie the series.

The Sharks Cup quest ended in a hard-fought series loss to the Vancouver Canucks in the Western Conference Final in five games.

Unsatisfied with a season that fell just short of achieving the team's ultimate goal, the Sharks underwent significant changes this summer — on and off the ice.

In August, Silicon Valley Sports & Entertainment, the Sharks parent company, which had existed since 2000 and purchased the Sharks from their original owner in 2002, relaunched as Sharks Sports & Entertainment (SSE).

"In launching this endeavor, we felt that we were best served to leverage our organization's most recognized and popular brand," said Executive Vice President of Business Operations Malcolm Bordelon. "We want anyone who comes in contact with Sharks Sports & Entertainment to immediately associate it with the same commitment to excellence, competitive edge, high values and professional standards that are embodied by our hockey franchise."

SSE also owns and operates the Worcester Sharks, the San Jose Sharks top development affiliate in the American Hockey League, and three tennis properties, including two tournaments. The SAP Open ATP World Tour Tennis Tournament is held each February at HP Pavilion, while the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships ATP World Tour men's tournament and the WTA international women's tournament joint indoor event is held at the Racquet Club of Memphis in Tennessee, another SSE property.

In addition to the Sharks, SSE manages HP Pavilion, select arena events and all or parts of three ice rink facilities in the Bay Area. Sharks Ice at San Jose features four NHL-size rinks and serves as the official practice facility for the San Jose Sharks. It is the largest facility of its type under one roof west of the Mississippi River and is home to the No.1-ranked Adult Hockey League, according to USA Hockey. Sharks Ice Fremont and two rinks at the Oakland Ice Center operated by Sharks Ice bolster the total amount of ice sheets to seven.

On the ice, major changes also occurred. General Manager Doug Wilson retooled his roster over the summer to ice an even more competitive squad. Wilson retained many of the Sharks top core players, which includes five Olympians (three gold medalists) from the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games. He matched his existing assets with several proven NHL talents acquired through free agency and trades, compiling yet another impressive roster.

New to San Jose this season will be elite puck-moving defensemen Brent Burns, who was acquired from the Minnesota Wild in the Sharks 2011 NHL draft marquee trade to help revamp the team's defensive unit. Along with Burns, but in separate trades, the Sharks acquired former Wild forwards Martin Havlat, a six-time 20-goal scorer, and James Sheppard, the ninth overall selection in the 2006 NHL draft.

Four other free agents will also be donning the teal sweaters for the first time at HP Pavilion this season. Defensemen Jim Vandermeer and Colin White will provide veteran leadership and size on defense, while former L.A. King Michal Handzus and Columbus Blue Jacket Andrew Murray look to provide depth on the third and fourth lines.

"We have had a measure of success over the last several seasons but, ultimately, have not reached our goal of bringing a Stanley Cup championship to the Bay Area," said Wilson. "We will never apologize for having high expectations and we think these players will mesh well with our existing group. I can't wait for the season to start."

Along with the new additions, fans will find plenty of familiar faces on the ice at HP Pavilion. Joe Thornton, a second-year captain who boosted his already stellar career with a solid playoff performance in which he scored the series-deciding overtime goal against Los Angeles, will be back to lead his squad. Patrick Marleau, the team's longest-tenured player and leading point and goal-scorer from a year ago, returns after his fifth 30-plus goal season in six years.

Ryane Clowe will again aim to provide secondary scoring and grit on the ice. Versatile Joe Pavelski, who completed his third consecutive 20-plus goal season after achieving playoff hero status in 2010, will also help light the lamp for the Sharks.

Logan Couture, who just signed a two-year contract extension, looks to build upon last year's performance in which he finished runner-up for the Calder Trophy, given annually to the league's best rookie. He broke several franchise rookie records including most goals (32), most power play goals (10) and most game-winning-goals (eight), and he set a new NHL record for road game-winning-goals by a rookie with seven.

Providing depth on the third and fourth lines will likely be several young, homegrown talents, including Torrey Mitchell, Andrew Desjardins, Benn Ferriero, Brandon Mashinter, John McCarthy, Jamie McGinn, Frazer McLaren and Tommy Wingels, all of whom have risen through the ranks of the Worcester Sharks.

On the defense, smooth-skating Dan Boyle is also back to lead a group of defensemen with a variety of complementary skills. Boyle, who leads the Sharks top power play unit, finished in the top 10 among all NHL defensemen in points (50) and assists (41). Marc-Edouard Vlasic, one of the top defensive blue liners in the NHL, will provide a smart, stay-at-home presence. Fan-favorite Douglas Murray, one of the game's most punishing hitters, will keep the other team's forward lines in check. Jason Demers and Justin Braun, youngsters who had breakout seasons in 2011-12, will continue to play expanded roles within a highly talented and competitive defensive unit.

The Sharks will also field one of the best goalkeeping tandems in the NHL. Antti Niemi, who backstopped the Chicago Blackhawks to a Stanley Cup championship in 2010, will be the incumbent in net in his second season as a Shark. Niemi finished last season with a 2.38 GAA (ninth-best among starting goalies in the league), 35 wins and six shutouts, and he was essential in an 18-3-1 run by the Sharks from Jan. 15 to March 8 that vaulted them to the top of the Pacific Division and second place in the West. Antero Niittymaki will challenge Niemi for the starting job all season long. Niittymaki picked up 12 wins in 24 games in 2010-11 and was vital in San Jose's Game 3 comeback win over the Kings in the playoffs. The Sharks also have a very capable third goaltender waiting in the wings in Thomas Griess. Greiss, a German Olympian, played the 2010-11 season overseas for Brynas of the Swedish Elite League.

In just two decades of existence, the Sharks have been remarkably successful, growing from an upstart expansion team in a nontraditional hockey market to a franchise that has made the playoffs 13 times and in each of the past seven seasons. San Jose has also cultivated one of the most passionate fan bases in all of professional sports, evident by a packed and raucous crowd at every home game, local growth of the sport at the youth and adult levels, and the prevalence of the Sharks logo throughout California.

With their sights set directly on Lord Stanley's chalice, the Sharks open the 2011-12 campaign at home on Oct. 8 against the Phoenix Coyotes. Don't miss a chance to be part of one of the most exciting sports entertainment atmospheres in the entire Bay Area. Tickets for all 41 home games are available at sjsharks.com or by calling 408-999-5757.