Jose Sharks. San Jose Sharks. Hockey players, immigrants from the countries of the former USSR, who played for the club

Doug Wilson

Captain: Joe Thornton Farm clubs: Worcester Sharks (AHL)
Phoenix Roadrunners (ECHL)
China Sharks (Shanghai ALIH) Trophies: Conference victories: No Division wins: 2001-02 , 2003-04 , 2007-08 , 2008-09 , 2009-10 , 2010-11

Story

Hockey in the Bay Area

Sharks celebrate 4-0 win over Phoenix 12/11/2006

In the 2009/10 season, the team was one of the strongest in the regular championship, went through two rounds of the playoffs (beating Colorado and Detroit), and then lost dryly in the conference finals to the future cup winner, the Chicago Blackhawks.

In the summer of 2010, the only Russian legionnaire left the team, its main goalkeeper for several years - Evgeni Nabokov, instead of whom the current Stanley Cup winner Chicago Blackhawks goalkeeper Antti Niemi was taken.

In the 2010/2011 season, the Sharks also failed to take the coveted trophy - having won a difficult series against Detroit in the second round (4:3), they became easy prey for the Stanley Cup finalists - the Vancouver Canucks beat them with a score of 4:1.

In the summer of 2011, management decided that the San Jose team lacked strength on defense, as a result of which talented forward Devin Setoguchi was traded to Minnesota for defenseman Brent Burns the day after he was signed by the Sharks. Also, Dany Heatley, one of the forwards of the “Troika from San Jose”, was sent to the same Minnesota in exchange for Martin Gavlat. Antti Niemi again became the main goalkeeper in the 2011/2012 season. Goalkeeper Anterro Niitymmäki was unable to start the season due to injury, and the place of second goalkeeper was taken by German Thomas Greiss, who had been waiting for his chance for several years. It was planned that after Niitymmäki recovered from his injury, he would again take the place of the team’s second goalkeeper, but Greiss showed himself well this season and there was no place for the Finn. Shortly before the trade ban day, Anterro was sent first to a farm club and then to the Finnish league.

Statistics

Abbreviations: I = matches played in the regular season, W = wins, L = losses, D = draws, PO = overtime losses, O = points, G = goals scored, P = goals conceded, P = penalty time (min.), Reg . champion = place taken in the specified division based on the results of the regular season, Playoffs = result in the playoffs

Season AND IN P N BY ABOUT ZSH PS SHV Reg. champion Playoffs
1991-92 80 17 58 5 - 39 219 359 1894 6, Smith didn't hit
1992-93 84 11 71 2 - 24 218 414 2134 6, Smith didn't hit
1993-94 84 33 35 16 - 82 252 265 1343 3, Pacific 1/4 conf. 4-3 Detroit
1/2 conf. 3-4 Toronto
1994-95 48 19 25 4 - 42 129 161 840 3, Pacific 1/4 conf. 4-3 Calgary
1/2 conf. 0-4 Detroit
1995-96 82 20 55 7 - 47 252 357 1480 7, Pacific didn't hit
1996-97 82 27 47 8 - 62 211 278 2085 7, Pacific didn't hit
1997-98 82 34 38 10 - 78 210 216 1417 4, Pacific 1/4 conf. 2-4 Dallas
1998-99 82 31 33 18 - 80 196 191 1423 4, Pacific 1/4 conf. 2-4 Colorado
1999-00 82 35 30 10 7 87 225 214 1292 4, Pacific 1/4 conf. 4-3 St. Louis
1/2 conf. 1-4 Dallas
2000-01 82 40 27 12 3 95 217 192 1364 2, Pacific 1/4 conf. 2-4 St. Louis
2001-02 82 44 27 8 3 99 248 199 1249 1, Pacific 1/4 conf. 4-1 Phoenix
1/2 conf. 3-4 Colorado
2002-03 82 28 37 9 8 73 214 239 1112 5, Pacific didn't hit
2003-04 82 43 21 12 6 104 219 183 1091 1, Pacific 1/4 conf. 4-1 St. Louis
1/2 conf. 4-2 Colorado
Finnish conf. 2-4 Calgary
2004-05 - - - - - - - - - - -
2005-06 82 44 27 - 11 99 265 235 1058 2, Pacific 1/4 conf. 4-1 Nashville
1/2 conf. 2-4 Edmonton
2006-07 82 51 26 - 5 107 256 197 939 2, Pacific 1/4 conf. 4-1 Nashville
1/2 conf. 2-4 Detroit
2007-08 82 49 23 - 10 108 216 187 1061 1, Pacific 1/4 conf. 4-3 Calgary
1/2 conf. 2-4 Dallas
2008-09 82 53 18 - 11 117 251 199 1037 1, Pacific 1/4 conf. 2-4 Anaheim
2009-10 82 51 20 - 11 113 264 215 ---- 1, Pacific 1/4 conf. 4-2 Colorado
1/2 conf. 4-1 Detroit
final of the conf. 0-4 Chicago
2010-11 82 48 25 - 9 105 248 213 ---- 1, Pacific 1/4 conf. 4-2 Los Angeles
1/2 conf. 4-3 Detroit
final of the conf. 1-4 Vancouver
2011-12 82 43 29 - 10 96 228 210 ---- 2, Pacific 1/4 conf. 1-4 St. Louis

Current lineup

Goalkeepers Defenders Forwards
  • No. 8 Joe Pavelski
  • No. 9 Martin Gavlat
  • No. 10 Brad Winchester
  • No. 12 Patrick Marlowe (A)
  • No. 15 James Sheppard
  • No. 17 Torrey Mitchell
  • No. 18 Dominic Moore
  • No. 19 Joe Thornton (C)
  • No. 26 Michal Handzush
  • No. 28 Andrew Murray
  • No. 29 Ryan Clow (A)
  • No. 34 Daniel Vinnik
  • #37 TJ Galliardi
  • No. 39 Logan Couture
  • No. 69 Andrew Desjardins
  • No. 78 Benn Ferriero

Hockey players, immigrants from the countries of the former USSR, who played for the club

  • Sergey Bautin (Russia)
  • Vyacheslav Butsaev (Russia)
  • Ilya Byakin (Russia)
  • Artur Irbe (Latvia)
  • Alexander Korolyuk (Russia)
  • Viktor Kozlov (Russia)
  • Mikhail Kravets (Russia)
  • Igor Larionov (Russia)
  • Sergey Makarov (
A country
USA
State / province
California
City
San Jose
Conference
Western
Division
Pacific (Pacific)
Official site
http://sharks.nhl.com/
Stadium
HP Pavilion
Capacity

Capacity 17496 people.


Story

Considering the San Jose Sharks club's not-so-impressive work history by NHL standards, it would be hard to classify it as an unexplored youth. During its existence on the map of the leading hockey League of North America, the team made no less a splash than Cinderella at her first ball in her life. A series of ups and downs did not prevent the Sharks from staying on the crest of the wave and gaining popularity not only in their native “water area”, but also, going beyond it, becoming one of the most beloved teams in the entire hockey world. The chronological sequence of the developing success of the Sharks is presented to your attention in the historical summary of events.

It all started on May 9, 1990, when the NHL allowed George and Gordon Gund to sell the Minnesota North Stars in exchange for the right to create a new club in the so-called Bay Area. According to the plan, his invasion of the League was scheduled for the 91/92 season. On June 26, a symbolic laying of the foundation took place on the site where the San Jose Arena was to appear some time later.

The creators of the image of future NHL debutants had a difficult task to solve. Bearing in mind how important it is not to make a mistake, or rather even to guess, with the introduction of a new “brand”, a trademark, they very carefully and scrupulously approached the problem of choosing a name. In July, more than 2,300 (!) possible options were put to a vote, in which over 5,700 people participated. The winner received a “consolation” prize - a trip for two to Chicago for the traditional “star” match. By the way, one proposal even came from Italy. The fateful decision was made by representatives of 47 states and all Canadian provinces. The "Top 15" in alphabetical order was as follows: Icebreakers, Blades, Breakers, Breeze, Fog, Gold, Golden Gaters, Golden Skaters, Grizzlies, Condors, Knights, Redwoods, Sea Lions, Sharks and Waves. In the end, the choice fell on the Sharks, and the author of the idea was a certain Allen Spear from San Jose. On September 6, the fact that the name “Sharks” was assigned to the club was officially announced.

Why exactly the Sharks? Today this question sounds a little trivial. And yet the rational grain could be traced quite clearly. First, there are seven different species of sharks that live in the Pacific Ocean surrounding the California Peninsula. And the bay, to which, in fact, the city of San Jose is adjacent, was generally dubbed the “red triangle” due to the incredible number of marine killers. Secondly, numerous research institutes are concentrated in this area, the main activity of which is the search for sharks, the study of species and their conservation. And finally, according to Executive Vice President of Marketing Matt Levine: “Sharks are ruthless, determined, fast, agile, smart and fearless. We want our organization to meet all of the above qualities.”

While the construction of a new palace, designed for 18 thousand people, was in full swing, it was necessary to solve the problem of the temporary stay of the newly created “Sharks”, that is, to provide ice for home games. After consulting, George Gund and San Jose Mayor Tom McEnery decided that within two years that location would be the Cow Palace in Daly City. On December 12, an agreement in principle was concluded between the city council and the management of the San Jose Arena. Those in power donated $125 million from the city treasury to fund the construction of the palace. In addition to hockey, basketball competitions were planned, and then the capacity was automatically increased to 19 thousand spectators. Plus, holding events of a different kind allowed the San Jose Arena to host up to 20 thousand people. In turn, the Sharks management promised to contribute 17-20 million “conventional units” with the wording “for convenience.” The first visitors were supposed to cross the threshold of a fresh masterpiece of American architecture of the late twentieth century in September 1993.

On February 12, 1991, the original logo, the creation of highly qualified designers Terry Smith and Mike Blatt, was released. The long-awaited premiere of both versions (home and away) of branded jerseys took place. The demonstration was led by Sharks co-owner George Gand and world hockey legend Gordie Howe.

On March 30, a two-year contract was signed between the San Jose Sharks and the International Hockey League team Kansas City Blades. Its terms stipulate that the latter will be the Sharks’ farm club for a specified period.

George Kingston became San Jose's first head coach. His assumption of office was announced on April 12.

At the end of May, NHL bosses actually gave the Sharks the green light, receiving from them $50 million - the mandatory fee required to join the League. A few days later, in the expansion draft, the first 34 players are available to the Sharks. The traditional rookie draft takes place on June 22, and San Jose managers play a kind of roulette for the first time. They pick second, and the Sharks jersey is being worn by right winger Pat Falloon, who previously played in the West Coast League. So, everything necessary for the start of the regular season is almost ready. The Sharks play their first NHL game on October 4th. They were expected to visit in Vancouver.

Admittedly, the Canucks were somewhat shocked. After two periods, San Jose was inferior to the hosts 0:3. Perhaps no one expected a different result. However, in the final third everything turned upside down. The Sharks, without delaying the matter, immediately decided to cement their reputation as a sensational team. The demonstrated character allowed the guests to restore the balance - 3:3. Vancouver panicked. The matter was approaching overtime, but 19 seconds before the “x” moment, the Canucks were saved by Trevor Linden. Is it fair to think that the Sharks lost in this case? We bring this issue to your attention. Oh, by the way, we almost forgot to mention Craig Cox, the legendary man, or rather the legendary shark, who committed the first deadly bite. Mark Pavelich and Neil Wilkinson cleared the fairway for Cox, who, 4 minutes 9 seconds into the third period, turned on the red light behind the Vancouver goal.

On October 8, the Sharks confirmed the superiority of the water element over fire. The Calgary Flames, carried by a tailwind to San Jose, arrived at the Cow Palace ice, where, however, they were disappointed. The Sharks won their first victory at home - 4:3. A draw, apparently, did not suit the capricious “Sharks”, and 3 and a quarter minutes before the end of regulation time, Kelly Kisio tipped the scales in the right direction.

As for the away model, San Jose did not find self-realization until November 30th. In Calgary, the sad tradition has ceased to exist. And again the game is on the edge with a minimal advantage of one of the “appositions”. Steve Bozek and David Bruce made the recent Stanley Cup winners feel uncomfortable in front of a Canadian audience. Sharks goalkeeper Jeff Hackett had a glimmer of hope for a shutout. But one and a half minutes before the final siren, the famous beam disappeared into space “thanks to” Gary Suter. In the end, only (!?) 2:1.

The euphoria from the “entrance exams” has passed and the daily routine work has begun for the right to immediately (and why not?) grab the tidbit, which is usually considered a place in the playoffs. Having passed half the distance of the regular championship, the NHL freezes in anticipation of the All Stars match. In January 1992, stars were supposed to appear in the Philadelphia sky. The Sharks sent Doug Wilson on a trip to the opposite coast of America. Wilson was at home on the Campbell Conference team, as evidenced by his six previous All-Star appearances.

According to established tradition, NHL debutants remain somewhat in the shadows in the spring, and the Sharks were no exception. At the end of June, a reshuffle is coming in the “highest echelons of power”, as a result of which general manager Jack Ferreira gives up his powers, Dean Lombardi takes over the duties of vice president and director of hockey operations, Chuck Grillo also receives the position of vice president and is now responsible for personnel selection (read players). Let us add that the responsibilities of the vice president fell on the shoulders of head coach George Kingston. Is there anything in store for the Sharks in their second season in the NHL?

On November 17 in Los Angeles, goalkeeper Arthur Irbe brings San Jose a truly historic and triumphant victory over the Kings - 6:0. This is the first shutout in Sharks history. For the sake of such success, the “Baltic wall” probably had to resort to practical magic and bewitch the entire “Forum”: not one of the 39 shots of the Kings hockey players did not reach the desired goal. Exactly three days later, Sharks captain Doug Wilson reached the 1,000 career game mark. Ironically, the opposite side of the fence was occupied by the Chicago Blackhawks, the team whose ranks Wilson defended for 14 seasons. The day of December 3 was marked by another remarkable event: NHL newcomer Rob Goudreau, playing only his second game, “shipped” three pucks against the Hartford Whalers. However, despite the hat-trick and overwhelming support from the home crowd, the Sharks were powerless against the Whalers and lost with a score of 5:7. By the way, on January 5, 1993, Rob Goudreau was recognized as the best newcomer of the month. To tell the truth, there were no options left to make a different decision: in 14 games, Rob accurately “shot” 14 times (including 2 (!) hat-tricks) and in 5 cases acted as a “carrier of shells”.

In early February, North America experienced its annual “star change” in Montreal. Once again, the lucky tickets have been booked for the Sharks - Kelly Kisio and Mike Sullivan. And I must admit, in San Jose there was no need to blush for “our own people.” Sullivan looked very good in the SuperSkills (second place in the speed skating competition with a time of 13.658 seconds for two laps), and Kisio, whose participation in the All Stars match was the first, gave a surprise the next day: a goal plus an assist .

Now we will make a significant time leap, leaving behind almost six months, in order to mark in the history of “San Jose”, perhaps, a turning point, called an incredible return in many reference books. On June 16, new Sharks coach Kevin Constantine was introduced at a specially convened press conference. By the way, the Sharks coaching bridge has been empty for two months now, since George Kingston was forced to leave the team for the “outstanding” result of his players in the regular season. It must be admitted that Konstantin is certainly a desperate person, an intriguer like few. Otherwise, how else can we interpret the excerpt from his then statement: “San Jose” will take part in the playoffs in the very near future.” It is quite understandable that the media reacted to what they heard with a degree of irony and skepticism. How else were they supposed to react to Konstantin’s words, which were actually unsupported, if the Sharks last season set the NHL anti-record of all time - 71 defeats. The journalists, reasonably citing Kevin’s youth, and, most likely, not attaching much importance to his promises, having done their job, went home. No one knew that day that the Sharks were destined to excite and turn the hockey world upside down.

A new figure appears at the Californian headquarters - Greg Jamison, executive vice president and chief of operations. Meanwhile, the commissioning of the newest San Jose Arena was approaching.

Its opening ceremony took place on September 7. The event turned into a two-day celebration. The city, including all layers of society, was walking. And the next day, the first official show took place within the walls of the palace - a circus performance. The organizers, having sold 16,356 tickets, clearly made the right decision.

But the main thing, for the sake of which, in fact, the construction of the arena was started - hockey. And taking into account the recent match of Kevin Constantine, the wait for the start of a new championship became unbearable. September 30 is the first game at the San Jose Arena as part of the exhibition series. The Sharks hosted the New York Islanders and won 4-2.

And now the season has begun. An ominous nine-game stretch, in which the Sharks lost eight times and drew once, has left skeptics rubbing their hands. The only mitigating circumstance for them was the fact that out of 20 declared hockey players, Konstantin had 12 newcomers at his disposal. However, San Jose’s plans did not include another rollback to the outsiders of the Western Conference. And among other things, Kevin Constantine needed to keep his word, so the “Sharks” change course exactly the opposite, and in the next 8 meetings the result seems more tangible: 4 wins, 2 fiascoes and 2 draws. The club goes on tour in November. The specialists “freeze” in anticipation. But here again everything goes without a hitch: San Jose’s opponents capitulated three times, the same number of draws with only one misfire. It is noteworthy that by the end of December the Sharks had more away victories than in the previous two seasons.

On January 22, 1994, New York hosted the NHL stars. Among others, the “city of contrasts” welcomed Arturs Irbe and Sandis Ozoliņš with open arms. For both, participation in the All-Star format matches was their debut. Irbe brilliantly defended the second twenty minutes and was recognized as the top goalkeeper of the Western Conference. Ozolins became the most productive player in his team with 2 goals and one assist.

March-April marked the final stage of the regular season. The Sharks embarked on a final run toward the playoffs, which included San Jose's record 9-game unbeaten streak (7 wins and 2 draws). On April 5, after the “Kings” from Los Angeles were “overthrown” away, it became finally clear: the Sharks would fight for the Stanley Cup. Which means Kevin Constantine kept his promise. And his team accomplished the largest coup in NHL history. After the disastrous 92/93 season, when the Sharks scored a measly 24 points in 84 games, their points equivalent was now 82 with a balance of 33 wins, 35 losses and 16 draws.

Of course, from the very beginning of the knockout matches, no one considered the Sharks as worthy competitors. Moreover, after the news that in the first round their counterparts would be the Detroit hockey players, who occupied the highest level in the West bracket, no one bet even a penny on Konstantin and Co. However, on April 30, North America refused to believe what had happened: in the 7th decisive match of the 1/8 finals of the Stanley Cup, San Jose put an end to the Red Wings' cup dreams. With 6 and a half minutes remaining in the final third, with the game tied at 2-2, Sharks center Jamie Baker tips the scales in favor of his teammates. The score 3:2 did not change until the final siren, and the Wings and Sharks went their separate ways.

It's hard to imagine what psychological state the Toronto Maple Leafs were in. After all, the Sharks went against the Canadian favorites in the quarterfinals. And if “San Jose”, having essentially jumped in over their heads, lost practically nothing, then the “Leaves” were in a slightly different status.

And here it is, the culmination of the season. Contrary to forecasts, which are still based on common sense and not on miracles, the Sharks lead the series 3:2. The next meeting could be decisive. It turns out to be decisive, but unfortunately against San Jose. In overtime, Toronto brings its opponents to their knees. And in the final 7th match, despite the fact that the Sharks significantly succeeded in shots on goal (32 versus 21), the numbers on the scoreboard summed up the score 4:2 with the advantage of the Maple Leafs.

It was all over, and it was time to draw some conclusions. First of all, I would like to remember those who made Kevin Constantine’s dream come true directly on the ice arenas: these are hockey players from the post-Soviet space Sergei Makarov, Igor Larionov, Artur Irbe, Sandis Ozolins, veterans Jeff Norton and Ulf Dahlen, Pat Falloon, Ray Whitney and many others. Konstantin himself, by the way, took second place in the voting among applicants for the Jack Adams prize as the best coach of the year. The Sharks' incredible success was credited to their equally incredible fan support. San Jose Arena has sold out 28 of the Sharks' 41 home games. Commentators broadcasting from the “shark den” could sometimes barely hear themselves, as the “noise level” reached 117 decibels.

In the offseason, a lot of work is done to promote the team (in particular, agreements have been concluded with two radio stations) and to establish public relations. But on October 19, news agencies shocked millions of people by announcing a lockout. General hockey isolation continued until January 13, 1995, when the parties themselves finally realized that they could not live without a stick and puck, and, having signed a new six-year collective agreement, blessed the clubs for a shortened, but still another championship NHL.

As it turned out a little later, not only a lockout can cause the cancellation of a hockey spectacle. On March 10, for example, the Sharks-Red Wings game was postponed due to flooding.

But there were also events with a “plus” sign. On March 17, San Jose became the first NHL club to have its own website on the Internet.

Regardless of the version of the regular championship, the club’s goal is to occupy a niche in the top eight. And the “Sharks”, for the second time in a row, having caught on the bandwagon of the departing train, cope with the task. Once again, drama plays out as the No. 1 seeded Calgary Flames succumb to the pressure. In Game 7 of the opening Stanley Cup series, a minute and 54 seconds after the start of the second extra period, Ray Whitney irrevocably extinguishes the Flame. It was not possible for the Sharks to “swim” the quarterfinal barrier, just like a year ago.

In October, a reshuffle is coming on the San Jose coaching staff. Kevin Konstantin's assistants Vasiliy Tikhonov and Drew Remenda move to Kansas City and become head coach and assistant in the Blades' affiliate, respectively. Their predecessors Jim Wiley and Mark Kaufman are rushing to San Jose. In turn, Konstantin signs a new contract for a period of three years.

Less than two months have passed since the contract came into effect, and Konstantin puts his resignation letter on the table. The reason for this is a thoughtless transfer line (the Sharks, for example, parted with such masters as Sergei Makarov and Sandis Ozolins), which led to unsatisfactory “out-of-semester” indicators. Next, the Sharks will surf the NHL under the management of Jim Wiley. The instability of San Jose in February-March led to changes in the management office. The situation with the head coach was definitely resolved by June 6, 1996. The case is taken over by Al Sims, who has 15 years of experience as an active player and three years of coaching with the Anaheim Mighty Ducks. The supporting roles included Wayne Cashman and Roy Sommer. New goals and objectives in San Jose were associated precisely with these people.

The most significant event of the 96/97 season was celebrated on December 17 of the outgoing year. This evening the stands of the San Jose Arena were filled to capacity for the hundredth time in a row (!).

The “All Stars” match (January 18, 1997), which literally gave the entire city an unforgettable holiday and a grandiose show, was written in golden letters in the history of “San Jose”. Let's immediately make a reservation that the All-Star match in San Jose was originally scheduled for 1995. The reason for its cancellation was the well-known lockout, which already shocked the entire sports community on both sides of the Atlantic. Therefore, the traditional congress of talents did not fit into the already extremely compressed schedule of the shortened champion. It seemed that the Pacific Coast would not soon see the “starfall”, and yet the League bosses again granted San Jose this privilege two years later. It is noteworthy that the city received a chance to host the All Stars Weekend faster than other geographic locations that appeared on the NHL map in the 90s. Ottawa, Anaheim, Phoenix, Florida, due to a number of reasons, are still languishing in anticipation of their turn. Only the Tampa Bay organization dared to book 1999 for a star-studded forum.

Owen Nolan and Tony Granato were called up from the Sharks' waters to the Western Conference banner. The latter received a special invitation with the wording “for his dedication to hockey.” A little earlier, Tony bravely underwent a complex brain operation and found the strength to return to the ice.

Who would have thought that it was Owen Nolan who would later become the headliner of the entire “star” match. By the way, the day before, in the traditional “SuperSkills” competition, Owen was one step away from winning the throwing accuracy competition. Even then, the legendary Ray Bourque took the palm from our hero. Nolan's hour struck exactly one day later.

It was definitely a moment of glory. You know, even “Star Weekends,” despite all its shockingness and pomp, often fade into oblivion due to the lack of some intrigue, or a single bright episode that, over time, will unmistakably recall the events of bygone days.

So, it was the third period of the meeting. General joy, fun. The smiles never leave the players' faces. Beautiful, easy, relaxed hockey, plenty of pucks. “East” gave the “West” a more than solid head start (11-5). The unforgettable Buffalo goalkeeper Dominik Hasek took his place in the goal of the nominal visiting team, which were representatives of the Eastern Conference. This is where it all started. What “Dominator” began to create absolutely defies logic. It seemed that they simply didn’t have time to warn the Czech: “Dominic, this is a “Match of Stars” show. You shouldn’t take everything so personally.” But “Dominator” had no time for show. Having caught the courage, Hasek seemed like an insurmountable iceberg, against which the attacks of the “Westerners” were broken over and over again. It is simply impossible to convey the disappointment of Owen Nolan, Pavel Bure (both had a double before the final twenty minutes), and Theo Fleury, who constantly tormented the opponents’ defense, but each time “stepping on the same rake.” There was no trace left of the hosts' festive euphoria; even some resentment towards Dominic slipped into their eyes. They say that he allows himself here, after all, this is not the regular season or the playoffs for him! “Breaking through” the stubborn Hasek became a matter of principle. This was the intrigue. The score itself was no longer of interest to anyone. "Dominator" concentrated everyone's attention on himself.

The tension reached its climax. And now, the long-awaited denouement comes. There are 6 minutes of playing time left before the final siren. Owen Nolan receives a pass in the middle zone on the left side and, determined, begins another raid towards the final frontier of the Eastern Conference. The spectators, who have also not lost hope for a “miracle,” without sparing their vocal cords and anticipating triumph, increasingly begin to charge the sound wave. No one can imagine what will happen in a moment. And the following will happen. Nolan, bypassing the blue line, will enter the zone and move slightly to the center, finding himself, in fact, one on one with the irreconcilable “Dominator”. You can understand the emotional state of Owen, who wanted to “shoot” in front of his fans at all costs. And he gave vent to his feelings. His foppish gesture, as well as the entire episode, will be savored by video engineers more than once: the distance between him and Hasek is inexorably shrinking, Nolan dribbles the puck with one hand, and with the other he points the super-Czech to the corner where the shot will be thrown. There follows a Moscow Art Theater pause, after which the rubber disc... is sent “with tassels” to the “nine”. It is impossible to describe what happened in the stands in words. It was a fabulous finale. Many, however, later came to the idea of ​​calling all of the above a script, a successfully executed production, or, in a word, an action planned in advance. As for Owen Nolan, then and now he categorically denies involvement in, as they say, falsification of facts. How everything really happened is up to you to judge.

I was frankly surprised, or rather even disappointed, by the decision of the NHL's top jury, which determined the most valuable player of the match. According to all the laws of the genre, they simply had to recognize Nolan as the “shark”. His hat-trick, which included a geyser of adrenaline at the end, was perhaps the main event of the evening. However, people who had, frankly, a mediocre attitude towards hockey had a different opinion: they chose... Mark Recchi, who also reached the top with three goals scored. This kind of decision, understandably, was accepted with hostility by the audience. Recchi himself was no less surprised than others, and admitted that from now on, apparently, he would be guaranteed a “warm” welcome at the San Jose Arena. It remains to add that the “cream” of the NHL, divided along the West-East principle, crossed their sticks in San Jose for the last time.

The 1997/1998 season turned out to be traditionally quite good for the young team. Before the start of the games, the club was led by Darryl Sutter, who has never missed the Stanley Cup in 21 seasons as a player and coach. However, San Jose did not start the championship well, but as the season progressed, players such as Mike Vernon, Kenneth Sutton, John McLean, Brian Marchment, Dave Lowry, Mike Ricci, and Joe Murphy joined the club and made the team one of the most experienced in the League. They helped the club reach 8th place in the Western Conference, but in the first round of the playoffs the Sharks lost to President's Cup winner Dallas. The California squad lost the first two meetings of the starting round, after fights on their ice they restored the balance in the score, but subsequently only Dallas won, snatching the last success in overtime. “Each of our players showed true sportsmanship,” John McLean said after the defeat. “But we can expect a lot from this team in the future.”

A similar story happened the next year, where during the regular season the Sharks set several club records. Again - an unconvincing start (0 wins in 8 games), several smart acquisitions and as a result - entry into the playoffs, where Theo Fleury's strengthened Colorado became the opponent. However, the main hero of the confrontation between the Sharks and the Avalanche was the young Denver forward Milan Hejduk, who scored the decisive goals twice in overtime. The series scenario was exactly the same as the year before with Dallas: 0-2, 2-2, 2-4, with the last defeat in overtime.

We note the arrival of current leaders Vincent Damphousse and Niklas Sundström to the team, as well as the appointment on October 28, 1998 of Owen Nolan as the fifth captain in the history of the Sharks. The club’s most productive player for the second year in a row was young Jeff Friesen, who removed the same Nolan from this “post.”

However, it was Nolan who became the main ringleader of San Jose in the 1999/2000 season. He became the only hockey player in the NHL to score at least 40 goals (44), as well as accumulate at least 100 penalty minutes (110) and perform at least 200 power moves (209). His percentage of the team's total goals was second in the League after Pavel Bure (19.7 vs. 23.8). At the same time, 11 Sharks players scored at least 10 goals in the season; only Pittsburgh, Colorado and St. Louis could boast a similar result. The club's leading defenseman with 36 points, Brad Stewart, was nominated for Rookie of the Year, and another debutant, Evgeni Nabokov, became the first rookie goaltender in NHL history to finish 0-0 in his first game. But Nabokov’s opponent in that fight was not just anyone, but Patrick Roy himself, whom many consider the greatest goalkeeper in the annals of the NHL.

The team's success continued in the playoffs. Quite unexpectedly, the Californians knocked out the winner of the regular season, St. Louis, from the dispute for the main trophy of the season, but already in the next round, in five matches, they laid down their arms in front of Dallas.

The 2000/2001 championship became one of the most successful in the club's history. Having improved their points performance for the 5th year in a row, the Sharks, even despite the injuries of Owen Nolan and Vincent Damphousse, rose to fifth place in the Western Conference and received St. Louis, who had been offended by them a year earlier, as opponents at the first stage. This time, the Bluesmen took a more responsible approach in the fight against San Jose, and Darryl Sutter’s charges were forced to go on vacation after just 6 matches. Teemu Selanne, received in March in exchange for Friesen and Steve Shields, did not shine very well in the playoffs, but Sharks fans, not without reason, hope that the “Finnish Flash” will still prove himself as part of their favorite club. This season was triumphant for Evgeniy Nabokov, who received the Calder Trophy as a reward - the prize for the best newcomer of the year.

The Sharks have already accustomed their fans to the fact that they regularly reach the playoffs. “San Jose” is one of six clubs in the West that has consistently participated in the Silver Bowl for the last four years. But the Sharks have not yet achieved any real success. Let's believe that they are still ahead.

San Jose Sharks roster for the 2008/09 season:
Goalkeepers: Evgeniy Nabokov , Brian Boucher.
Defenders: Dan Boyle, Rob Blake, Christian Ehrhoff, Marc-Edouard Vlasic, Doug Murray, Brad Lukovich.
Left wingers: Patrick Marleau, Milan Michalek, Marcel Goch, Tomas Plihal.
Center forwards: Joe Thornton, Joe Pavelski, Torrey Mitchell, Jeremy Roenick.
Right Forwards: Jonathan Cheechoo, Ryan Clow, Mike Greer, Devin Setoguchi.

Transitions in the 2008 off-season:
Key acquisitions: h. Dan Boyle (Tampa Bay), D. Brad Lakovich (Tampa Bay), D. Rob Blake (Los Angeles).
Key losses: h. Craig Rive (Buffalo), D. Brian Campbell (Chicago), d. Matthew Karl (Tampa Bay).

Salary for the 2008/09 season:
Players whose salaries exceed $1 million are listed
n. Joe Thornton - $7,200,000
h. Dan Boyle - $6,666,667
n. Patrick Marleau - $6,300,000
V. Evgeniy Nabokov - $5,375,000
h. Rob Blake - $5,000,000
n. Milan Michalek - $4,333,333
h. Christian Ehrhoff - $3,100,000
n. Jonathan Cheechoo - $3,000,000
h. Kyle McLaren - $2,500,000
n. Mike Greer - $1,775,000
n. Joe Pavelski - $1,637,500
n. Ryan Clow - $1,600,000
h. Brad Lukovic - $1,566,667
n. Devin Setoguchi - $1,246,667
n. Jeremy Roenick - $1,000,000
h. Mark-Edouard Vlasic - $1,000,000

The best San Jose Sharks hockey players of all time (The Hockey News version, November 2007):
1. n. Joe Thornton, 2nd Owen Nolan 3. c. Evgeniy Nabokov , 4. n. Patrick Marlowe 5. n. Igor Larionov , 6. n. Mike Ricci, 7. c. Artur Irbe, 8. z. Mike Rathje, 9. n. Vincent Damfousse, 10. n. Jonathan Cheechoo.

Statistics for the 2007/08 season:
Result: 49-23-10 (2nd place in the conference)
Pucks scored: 222 (10th place in conference)
Missed goals: 193 (3rd place in conference)
Playoffs: lost in the quarter finals
Glasses: Joe Thornton - 96
Goals: Joe Thornton - 29
Gears: Joe Thornton - 67
Penalty minutes: Craig Rive - 104
According to the +/- system: Doug Murray - 20
Power play goals: Joe Thornton - 11
Shorthanded goals: Mike Greer - 3
Winning goals: Jeremy Roenick - 10

(National Hockey League). The club is based in San Jose, California, USA. The team's colors, black and dark orange, are based on a popular color combination in American sports.

Story

Hockey in the Bay Area

In the first round, the Sharks' opponents were Detroit hockey players, who occupied the highest level in the West bracket and were the undisputed favorites of the series. However, on April 30, in the 7th decisive match of the 1/8 finals of the Stanley Cup, San Jose beats the Red Wings with a score of 3:2 and sensationally beats a more eminent opponent. The Sharks' next opponent was the Maple Leafs from Toronto. The Sharks led the series 3:2, but in overtime of the sixth match, Toronto won, and in the final 7th match, despite the fact that the Sharks led in shots on target (32 versus 21), the score was recorded 4 :2 in favor of the Maple Leafs.

In the summer of 2010, the only Russian legionnaire left the team, its main goalkeeper for several years, Evgeniy Nabokov, who was replaced by the current Stanley Cup winner, Chicago Blackhawks goalkeeper Antti Niemi.

Statistics

Abbreviations: I = matches played in the regular season, W = wins, L = losses, PO = overtime losses, O = points, GS = goals scored, GS = goals conceded, Reg. champion = place taken in the specified division according to the results of the regular season, Playoffs = result in the playoffs

Season AND IN P BY ABOUT ZSH PS Reg. champion Playoffs
2011-12 82 43 29 10 96 228 210 2, Pacific 1/4 conf. 1-4 St. Louis
2012-13 48 25 16 7 57 124 116 3, Pacific 1/4 conf. 4-0 Vancouver
1/2 conf. 3-4 Los Angeles
2013-14 82 51 22 9 111 249 200 2, Pacific 1/4 conf. 3-4 Los Angeles
2014-15 82 40 33 9 89 228 232 5, Pacific didn't hit
2015-16 82 46 30 6 98 241 210 3, Pacific 1/4 conf. 4-1 Los Angeles
1/2 conf. 4-3 Nashville
final of the conf. 4-2 St. Louis
Stanley Cup final. 2-4 Pittsburgh

Current lineup

Goalkeepers
Number A country Name Date of Birth
31 Martin Jones January 10, 1990
Defenders
Number A country Name Date of Birth
4 Branden Dillon November 13, 1990
7 Paul Martin March 5, 1981
44 Mark-Eduard Vlasic March 30, 1987
61 Justin Brown February 10, 1987
74 Dylan Demelo May 1, 1993
80 Matt Tennyson April 23, 1990
88 Brent Burns March 9, 1985
David Shlemko May 7, 1987
Forwards
Number A country Name Date of Birth
8 Joe Pavelski July 11, 1984
9 Dainius Zubrus June 16, 1978
12 Patrick Marlowe September 15, 1979
16 Nick Spauling September 19, 1988
18 Mike Brown June 24, 1985
19 Joe Thornton July 2, 1979
27 Joonas Donskoy April 13, 1992
39 Logan Couture March 28, 1989
42 Joel Ward December 2, 1980
48 Tomas Gertl November 12, 1993
50 Chris Tierney July 1, 1994
57 Tommy Wingles April 12, 1988
68 Melker Karlsson July 18, 1990
83 Matt Nieto November 5, 1992
89 Mikkel Boedker December 16, 1989

Individual records

  • Most points in a season: Joe Thornton - 114 (22+92) (2006-07)
  • Most goals scored in a season: Jonathan Cheechoo - 56 (2005-06)
  • Most assists in a season: Joe Thornton - 92 (2006-07)
  • Most penalty minutes in a season: Link Gaetz - 326 (1991-92)
  • Most points scored by a defenseman in one season: Sandis Ozolins - 64 (26+38 in 1993-94)
  • Most playoff points in a season: Igor Larionov - 18 (5+13) (1993-94)
  • Most games played by a goalkeeper in a season: Evgeni Nabokov (2007-08) - 77
  • Most minutes played in a season among goalkeepers: Evgeniy Nabokov (2007-08) - 4560 min 56 sec
  • Most wins by a goalkeeper in a season: Evgeni Nabokov (2007-08) - 46
  • Most shutouts in a season: Evgeni Nabokov - 9 (2003-04)
  • Most shutouts in a regular season: Evgeniy Nabokov (1999-2010) - 50
  • Most games played among goalies in the regular season: Evgeni Nabokov (1999-2010) - 563
  • Most minutes spent on the field in the regular season among goalkeepers: Evgeniy Nabokov (1999-2010) - 32,490 min 43 sec
  • Most victories among goalies in the regular season: Evgeni Nabokov (1999-2010) - 293
  • Most games played by a goaltender in the Stanley Cup: Evgeni Nabokov (1999-2010) - 80
  • Most Stanley Cup wins by a goaltender: Evgeni Nabokov (1999-2010) - 40
  • Most playoff wins by a goalie in a season: Evgeni Nabokov (2003-04) - 10
  • Most playoff shutouts in a season: Evgeni Nabokov - 3 (2003-04)
  • Most Stanley Cup shutouts: Evgeni Nabokov (1999-2010) - 7
  • Most minutes played in a season in the playoffs among goalies: Evgeniy Nabokov (2003-04) - 1052 min 15 sec
  • Most minutes played in a Stanley Cup by a goaltender: Evgeni Nabokov (1999-2010) - 4,818 min 53 sec

see also

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Notes

Literature

  • Steve Cameron: Feeding Frenzy! The Wild New World of the San Jose Sharks. Taylor Publishing Company, December 1994, ISBN 0-87833-102-6
  • San Jose Sharks 2007-08 Club Guide., 2007
  • San Jose Sharks 2008-09 Club Guide., 2008

Links

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