After restless nights without a face-off, agonizing sports telecasts absent of a single power play and countless vacant hours at the HP Pavilion, the San Jose Sharks are back on the ice after a 113-day NHL work stoppage.
The Sharks will open the 2013 campaign in Calgary on January 20 against the Flames and they anticipate a jubilant crowd in their home opener against the Phoenix Coyotes Jan 24 at HP Pavilion.
The Sharks will play a condensed 48-game season in comparison to the traditional 82. Scott Emmert, Sharks’ Director of Media Relations, believes the condensed schedule will make way for a memorable NHL season.
“One bright spot out of this is that with a 48-game season, it will feel like playoffs,” Emmert explains. “It is not a 82-game marathon this time around; it is a 48-game sprint.”
The number of games hasn’t been the only thing that has changed since the NHL lockout. After finishing the 2011-2012 season seventh in the Western Conference with a 43-29-10 record, the San Jose Sharks have revamped their roster with key personnel moves that will have to mesh quickly in a shortened training camp.
“Hall of famers Larry Robson and Jim Johnson have recently joined the coaching staff for the 2013 campaign,” Emmert said. “Other than adding Brad Stuart and Adam Burish, we expect the core of last season’s team to be back.”
The last time Sharks fans saw the core of last season’s team on the ice was April 21, 2012 when they lost a five-game series to the St. Louis Blues in the first round of the playoffs. A lot has changed since April, including the fans perception of the NHL. Regardless of the countless loyal fans ready to barge into the HP Pavilion for the home opener, some Sharks fans have been rubbed the wrong way during the lockout period, a reaction that Emmert and the organization anticipated.
“It is hard to explain why these things happened. Ultimately, there is a business process to it,” Emmert said. “The biggest thing I hoped was to try and do what’s best for our fans during this time with a season ticket renewal process to pay a partial amount of season ticket owed.
“Our fans know that we try the best we can to offer a quality product and we have been blessed to have great fans here in the Bay Area.”
To show their fan appreciation, the San Jose Sharks organization has implemented community outreach events that will help ease the transition back to the ice after the lockout.
“Our team has always been well known for giving back to the community and we have a lot of pride in that,” Emmert said. “We have initiated several events during the work stoppages, including an event that recently allowed fans to come to the arena, skate on the ice and meet the coaches.”
Emmert further elaborates on the importance of community outreach during a lockout, ultimately reminding fans that being apart of the Bay Area community is vital for them as an organization.
“A lot of the staff does come out to the community and help with shelters,” Emmert said. “Our team always thinks it is valuable to be a community leader.”
With relationships building between the Sharks and the community, downtown San Jose anticipates a resurgence in business due in large to the valuable hockey tenants of HP Pavilion.
“I think it is very important. We are one of the main cores of entertainment tenants,” Emmert said. “We are trying to help out where we can by generating events that bring people down here. That is one reason why we gave away free tickets to a San Francisco Bulls game, so this could be added to the downtown schedule and encourage fans to go to neighboring San Jose establishments.”
Regardless if you’re are watching it at a bar in San Jose, in the comfort of your own home or on your feet inside HP Pavilion, the January 20 and 24 contests will showcase the fans’ love and appreciation for professional hockey in the Bay Area, a moment that marks the beginning to a wild 2013 NHL season.
