Sharks sponsor special match for Special Olympians – The Mercury News

SAN JOSE — On Wednesday, Jennifer Hall was honored by the San Jose Sports Hall of Fame as its Special Olympian of the Year.

On Sunday, Hall experienced something perhaps even more thrilling — a chance to play floor hockey with San Jose Sharks stars Joe Pavelski and Mikkel Boedker. Hall was one of dozens of South Bay Special Olympians who took part in a scrimmage in a high school gym here that was organized by the Sharks and Special Olympics Northern California and Nevada.

“Oh my god, it was so amazing!” said Hall, 46, of San Jose. The Sharks players “are amazing people,” she added.

Special Olympics has been organizing floor hockey competitions in the South Bay and throughout the region for years. The group’s South Bay branch organizes teams at its sites in Palo Alto and San Jose. The teams train for eight weeks, leading up to a regional competition in early December.

Sunday’s match featured a team from Palo Alto versus one from San Jose. Pavelski and Matt Nieto played with San Jose’s team, while Boedker and Logan Couture sided with Palo Alto’s. Each team was coached by assistant coaches from the Sharks.

Sunday’s event market the first time the Sharks had teamed up with the local Special Olympics organization to put on a floor hockey match. The team convinced some of its sponsors to donate to the teams jerseys, helmet and helmet decals, all of which they’ll be able to use at the upcoming regional event.

Meanwhile, Sharks coach Peter DeBoer served as the referee for the scrimmage. DeBoer’s assistant coaches served as coaches for the San Jose and Palo Alto squads. And even Sharks mascot S.J. Sharkie took part, alternately serving as goalie and court jester.

Giving the action even more of a feel of a Sharks game, the players entered the gym through an inflatable shark head in much the same way the professional team makes its entrance into the the Shark Tank. Sharks organist Mikey Day played along to the action on the court. And Sharks broadcasters called the game over the loudspeaker system.

After leading most of the game, San Jose lost in the final minutes of the hard-fought game by a score of 12-10.

“It was fun,” said Robert Aranda, 31, of Santa Clara, who played for San Jose’s squad. “I liked it even though we lost.”

Added Louis Manson, 28, of San Jose, who played for his hometown team: “It was a heck of a game.”

The 30 or so parents and family members who attended the game seemed to have a good time, too. Bill Meyer’s son Colin, who also played for San Jose’s team, is a big hockey fan. The two of them attended game six of the Sharks conference finals matchup with the St. Louis Blues last season. So it was a thrill to see the Sharks players and coaches in person, Meyer said.

“I don’t know if I’m more excited for him or for me,” said Meyer, 60, of San Jose.

Brian Overby is not only a big Sharks fan, but Joe Pavelski is his favorite player, said his dad, Keith Overby, 58. So it was a special experience for Brian to be able to play on the same team with Pavelski, Keith Overby said.

“This is a great experience,” said Overby, an electronics engineer who lives in San Jose. “He’s just ecstatic.”

The Sharks players and staff who participated seemed to have a good time, too. DeBoer said that while he had worked with Special Olympics before, it was great to be able to help out with a hockey game.

“This is more my element,” he said. “I can’t think of a better way to spend a Sunday.”

After playing alongside the Special Olympians, Boedker spent time after the game signing autographs and hugging his recent teammates and opponents alike. Boedker was impressed by how well they played.

“They were really, really good athletes, so it was a lot of fun,” he said.