CHOMP! Sharks Give Back With Massive Team Bite
Sometimes it’s an individual player who shines as the charitable beacon of the team. Other times, it’s a larger contingent of the group. When it comes to one NHL team in San Jose, CA, however, the whole school of SHARKS is in on the action.
Photo: Lisa Cecconi
Hugbacker has had the good fortune of interviewing its fair share of hockey players, such as the Athletes Against Autism group, as well as the awesome Rick Nash. Amid all the chats, however, I’d never actually been to a hockey game in my life, professional or otherwise. So imagine the bizarre circumstance of finding myself at not one, but two NHL games in the past six weeks, courtesy of a girlfriend/San Jose Sharks season ticket holder. (Thanks, Mary!) While watching the game against the Minnesota Wild and learning how to do that shark bite thing with my arms whenever the ominous theme from Jaws begins during a power play, (not that I’m 100% sure what a power play is, mind you–still learning!), Mary suggested, “You should interview one of the Sharks for Hugbacker. They do a ton for the community,” and launched into a sampling of said deeds. Unable to escape such rabid enthusiasm–the girl has serious Sharklove–I did as told and contacted the Sharks office. And am very glad I did. These boys are awesome…
A few weeks later I found myself at a Sharks practice, snapping photos, watching drills, and standing in the locker room, waiting to chat with the heavily pad-clad bodies as they filtered in off the ice.
Photo: Lisa Cecconi
Patrick Marleau, the team’s all-time leader in games played, assists, goals and points, as well as being the longest-tenured Shark (are there any other records to set?), is a constant off-the-ice source of support with charitable events and outreach programs run by the Sharks. In tandem with the Sharks Foundation and the Good Tidings Foundation, he recently took part in a blacktop resurfacing project at a local elementary school, where a brand new street hockey court was constructed. Painted Sharks colors with Marleau’s name emblazoned onto it, the new court saw its first game played by the students with Marleau and fellow Sharks Joe Pavelski and Jeremy Roenick, followed by two more things all kids love: autograph signings and ice cream!
Kids at Washington Elementary prepare to battle Marleau on their new court
Marleau also has his own foundation with two other NHL players who hail from his hometown of Swift Current, Saskatchewan: Trent McCleary, who retired in 2000 from the Montreal Canadiens, and Travis Moen, who also plays for Montreal. The McCleary Marleau Moen Foundation helps ensure that kids between 6 and 18 have the opportunity to develop their athletic skills. “These kids have the same drive and passion for sports as others do,” said Marleau. “We don’t want them to miss out on something they love just because of financial constraints.”
Known as “the enforcer” of the team, [another term I learned that day--it's pretty ridiculous how hockey-savvy I'm getting], Jody Shelley is the one who protects his teammates, a trait which extends off the ice as well, albeit not in fisticuffs. Supporting those in need is something that very obviously touches the 6′3″ forward, and there was no hiding his sincerity as he spoke of it. I found larger-than-life Shelley to be incredibly eloquent and with an extremely purposeful demeanor; he looks you squarely in the eye when speaking, with every word thoughtful and from the heart.
Photo: Phillip MacCallum, Getty
“Columbus is where I really started getting involved with kids,” says Shelley, who played for the Columbus Blue Jackets for the first seven years of the team’s existence. “The thing that gets me the most is, when there’s a kid with a serious illness, they’re not the only one affected–it’s everyone in their life. I think sometimes we don’t realize that. Parents, sisters, brothers…they’re the ones who are really living it every single day. It’s important to be aware of all they’re going through. The other thing is that we as athletes come in with everyone else having done all the work and making it very easy for us. The reality is that professional athletes are set up to look good, that’s just the way it is. But visiting these kids, seeing the whole situation and how it affects everyone in their lives–it just puts everything in perspective.”
Photo: Carla Allen
For the past five years, Shelley has hosted the Golf Fore Health tournament in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, where he played minor league hockey. The annual event raises funds for Yarmouth Regional Hospital. “Every year we raise money for a different piece of medical equipment,” says Shelley. “It could be an MRI machine or some other major piece of equipment–whatever’s needed the most.” Over $33,000 was raised at the event this past July.
Speaking of golf tournaments, the Sharks Foundation Annual Golf Classic was held in September at Cinnabar Hills Golf Club, raising over $75,000 for the Sharks Foundation.
Sunny fairways replaced the frosty ice for a day at the Sharks Foundation golf tourney
When it comes to getting kids excited, Joe Pavelski is fully aware of the hard, cold facts. “Kids are always happy to see us, but when they see Sharkie, that’s pretty much it. He’s by far the star of the show. It’s unbelievable how much they love him.” Pavelski and the famously finned mascot, S.J. Sharkie, stopped by Shirakawa Elementary School in San Jose last month as part of the Sharks’ Reading Is Cool literacy program. The excitement factor was confirmed by one of the teachers, who commented on the status of her class after the Pavelski/Sharkie visit, saying, “Trying to teach math right after was difficult.”
Pavelski recalls the important role sports played growing up, and bases his off-ice efforts on giving kids the same opportunity. “I always loved being outdoors–golf, baseball, fishing, pretty much anything. So seeing kids get the same chance is huge for me.” He recounts fondly how his dad assisted with Pee Wee baseball and other sports, and what a great part of childhood that was. “Sponsoring kids in sports and seeing them smile when they get the chance to play…it’s great.” Pavelski, who has recently been injured but is slowly increasing his practice time, hosted an inaugural golf tournament this past summer in his hometown of Stevens Point, Wisconsin. Of the Sharks involvement in the community, he says, “We are definitely out there a lot, but sometimes I think we can do even more.”
Halloween shenanigans: An auction for the spooky jerseys brought in over $19,000 for the Sharks Foundation!
Another player I got to chat with [was there no end to my luck that day?] was goaltender extraordinaire, Evgeni Nabokov, (a.k.a. “Nabby”). We only had a few minutes together, but even within that limited time I was able to glimpse how invested he is in being there for those in need. “There’s a 10-year-old I met who’s had 60 heart surgeries,” he said, then paused, and repeated, “60, at ten years old.” Nabby went on to explain the courage of the young one who’d obviously touched his heart. “I’ve visited him at the hospital and he’s been to a game, but you just see what they’re going through, and you want to do more.”
Nabby actually owns a 14-person suite at HP Pavilion (where the team plays, known affectionately as “The Shark Tank”), and receives tickets to all events in the building, which in addition to hockey games also includes concerts, family shows, and a variety of other events. In classic Sharkesque style, Nabby donates his tix to various local nonprofit organizations. On October 10th, his suite was one of two donated for “Hockey Fights Cancer Awareness Night” in support of the league-wide initiative. Members from the Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital in Palo Alto and Children’s Cancer Community in Sonoma enjoyed the game from the suites, with a post-game locker room visit for select members of the group.
Chillin' in the locker room on Hockey Fights Cancer Awareness Night
The day of my visit to the Shark-infested practice facility in San Jose, some of the players and their wives and girlfriends–with Sharkie in tow, bien sûr, made their way later that afternoon to the pediatric unit of Santa Clara Valley Medical Center (VMC) in San Jose. The trip combined a visit with the young patients as well as the presentation of a check for $17,000 to the VMC Foundation, the proceeds of which came about via a fundraiser called “Favorite Things Baskets.”
The overflowing goodie baskets were created by the ladies, and chock-full of their significant others’ favorite things, such as DVDs, snacks, gift certificates, game consoles, and other fun items. Fans bid on a particular player’s basket (via blind-bid format) during the first few home games of the 2009 Stanley Cup playoffs. The $17,000 raised will help pay for the purchase of new televisions for patient rooms in the pediatric unit (for cheering on the Sharks!), as the current TVs are over a decade old and incompatible with DVD players.
A young patient at VMC, surrounded by the Sharks' pearly whites
Yes, it’s the longest post in Hugbacker history (whose one-year anniversary is coming up next month, woo-hoo!), but what better way to celebrate than to give mad, well-deserved props to such a remarkably supportive, hospitable, and classy organization.
Yours truly–and newbie Sharks fan–thanks you as always for reading.
Awesome piece, Lisa!
Although it would have been great to have my beautiful girl go with you for your interview, I think your piece will make her feel as if she was with you in spirit the whole time!
Great job!
Lisa,
Watching “My Boys” play against Detroit in OT and was thrilled to find your article posted! After being at the Tank for 42 games last season I was excited to be able to take you to the games!!! Can you say Shark Fever??? Believe me, there is NOTHING like it!!! However, I am jealous you got to meet my boys one on one!!! In my dreams!!! They are truely an AMAZING group of guys! GO SHARKS!!!