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OT: San Jose draws record adult numbers

li0lsh

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Here’s a trivia question that many people would likely have a hard time answering correctly.

What entity has the largest adult hockey program in the United States?

That distinction belongs, believe it or not, to a group in Northern California.

Sharks Ice, located in San Jose, Calif., has 155 adult teams and nearly 1,400 adult players under its auspices.

“We’re the largest in the country men and women combined,” said Sharks Ice general manager Jon Gustafson, citing USA Hockey-generated tabulations. “We’re maxed out right now, especially in San Jose.”

Besides the main San Jose facility, smaller rinks are located in Fremont and Oakland (Oakland Ice Center Managed by Sharks Ice).

Sharks Ice is one of a growing number of facilities that are connected with NHL teams. In this case, the San Jose Sharks practice at the main Sharks Ice facility. Sharks Ice is the largest rink facility west of the Mississippi River and is one of only seven rink facilities in the country that currently operates at least four NHL-sized ice rinks.

“We’re 11 years in here now and the Sharks have been here a few years longer,” Gustafson said. “The Sharks have given this area, especially San Jose, some notoriety. Before, it used to be the Silicon Valley. Nobody knew who San Jose was. This is not a traditional hockey market. The Sharks came along with the great logo and people saw it was a great game. People started to try hockey and participate in it and found out they loved it.”

Gustafson said a sport like hockey fits perfectly into an active area like San Jose.

“People here are so health conscious and very well-educated, especially this being a high-tech area,” said Gustafson. “The game caters to them and so much to today’s youth. We’ve got teams from all over. We’ve got Apple teams and Cisco teams.”

All told, the three facilities provide seven sheets of ice—with four being housed in the main 183,000 square-foot San Jose facility.

Gustafson said the Sharks were the second NHL team to have a dedicated practice facility.

“Shortly after that the Sharks decided to build a training facility,” said Gustafson, who said the organization does a lot of corporate curling events. “They had the option to build from the ground up or take over an existing facility. This place is owned by the city and we’ve got a long-term management contract with it.”

Gustafson said the affiliation with the Sharks is a key component to the success of the facilities.

“It adds a competitive edge,” Gustafson said. “Kids want to have the Sharks uniform. It helps out with marketing. We thought if you can get the people to come in and try the sport, they will stay because it’s such a wonderful sport. We feel that the game is so good that once they come in here, they will be hooked.”

Around 1,600 kids participate in the “learn to skate” programs that are offered.

“That’s just in San Jose,” Gustafson said. “It’s all about grassroots and getting the kids involved. They progress from learn to skate to in-house to travel to high school and adult hockey, and there’s girls hockey. It’s a one-strop shop for whatever kid of hockey you want.”

Sharks Ice features non-stop hockey year-round.

“We’re open 5 a.m. to 2 a.m. all year,” Gustafson said. “Our adult program is so full that we’ve got our last games starting at 11:15 p.m.”

With participation numbers burgeoning, Gustafson said there has been talk of expansion.

“We are looking to build another facility,” Gustafson said. “We’ve got one on the drawing board in Pleasanton (Calif.). There’s still a way’s to go on it. We’d like to make it a four-sheet facility with the hopes of being open in 2010.”

And with numbers like Sharks Ice generates, a new facility won’t come a moment too soon.

Story courtesy of Red Line Editorial, Inc.

:D
 

elocomotive

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“We are looking to build another facility,” Gustafson said. “We’ve got one on the drawing board in Pleasanton (Calif.). There’s still a way’s to go on it. We’d like to make it a four-sheet facility with the hopes of being open in 2010.”

I'm hoping the Capitals can win the Cup in 2008!!! ;)

Good for San Jose. More hockey players makes for more hockey fans.
 

elocomotive

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Now you know what it's like to live in daily fear of the earth splitting open!

You chose to live on a fault line. I did not! I live in Maryland - a natural disaster-free zone. ;)

It was freaky. But I don't think I got the full effect of the fear. We had a bathroom stall wall tilt over at my work. That was the extent of the damage. I had to stand outside for a couple hours. What the quake lacked it damage and destruction, it made up for it in mild inconveniences!
 

sabresfaninthesouth

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filosofy29

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You chose to live on a fault line. I did not! I live in Maryland - a natural disaster-free zone. ;)

It was freaky. But I don't think I got the full effect of the fear. We had a bathroom stall wall tilt over at my work. That was the extent of the damage. I had to stand outside for a couple hours. What the quake lacked it damage and destruction, it made up for it in mild inconveniences!

Hey, hey, hey, I was born here. That's.....not.....my.....fault.....

:L
 
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