Hockey is For Everyone March Recap

The San Jose Sharks hosted Hockey Is For Everyone Night presented by Zoom on Saturday, March 5th.
To start the night, Sharks players arrived to SAP Center wearing the jerseys of the

Upon entering the locker room, player stalls were decked out with HIFE specialty jerseys, nameplates, and pride taped sticks all displaying subtle, yet powerful gradients of rainbow colors. The specialty jerseys were auctioned off with proceeds benefiting
Girls on the Run
, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization focused on programs tailored towards empowering young women. The nameplates and select rainbow taped sticks will be auctioned off through the
Sharks Foundation
in June during Pride Month, benefitting
Project MORE
and the
Adolescent Counseling Services
.

The Sharks Foundation held a silent auction from March 5th-7th featuring Ceramic Shark Heads signed by current Sharks players with partial net proceeds benefitting
Local Color
, a woman-powered 501(c)(3) nonprofit that builds multifaceted opportunities to keep artists engaged and active in the community. These Ceramic Shark Heads were designed and painted by Local Color artists as well as S.J. Sharkie. In addition to the silent auction, the Sharks Foundation held a 50/50 raffle benefitting
Special Olympics Northern California. 
Upon entering SAP Center, all fans in attendance received a Hockey Is For Everyone shirsey presented by Zoom. These shirseys were designed to replicate the Sharks specialty jerseys for the night. On the concourse, fans could then interact with various local hockey programs including Sharks Sled Hockey (via BORP). BORP is an organization focused on creating adaptive sports and recreation programs. Joining the Sharks for the ceremonial puck drop was Zachary Nazareno, a player from the Sharks Sled Hockey team based out of Oakland Ice Center.

Also tabling on the concourse were the
One Step Sharks Special Hockey
team who practices out of Sharks Ice at San Jose and provides the opportunity for intellectually and physically disabled adults to play hockey. Fans in attendance saw firsthand the positive impact the One Step Sharks program has on its athletes through a highlight video and live shot of the athletes whom the Sharks hosted in a penthouse suite. Through a Sharks Foundation Grant, the One Step Sharks were able to purchase a Kaye Trainer this season, an on-ice device that helps athletes learn to skate on their own.

Also joining the Sharks for Hockey Is For Everyone Night, was American Sign Language Interpreter Dane Lentz. For the second year in a row, Lentz interpreted pre- and post-game media for players and coaches, as well co-performing the National Anthem alongside Melissa Gialdini.
Sharks prospect Ozzy Wiesblatt also played a role during the game, providing videos including a HIFE welcome message in ASL and showing fans ASL hockey terms. Ozzy is the 2020 NHL first-round draft pick for the San Jose Sharks and his mother, Kim White, was born Deaf. During the draft, the Sharks Director of Scouting, Doug Wilson Jr. used
ASL interpretation to announce Ozzy's
selection.
Additional special guests for the night included Amelia Schimmel, Oakland A's PA Announcer, Hayley Moore, AHL VP of Hockey Operations, and Kirsten Welch, AHL On-Ice Official. Welch went on to referee the San Jose Barracuda's Hockey Is For Everyone Night on March 6th. Throughout both the Sharks and Barracuda HIFE Nights, fans could see new dasher boards with messages encouraging diversity, inclusion, and belonging from every corporate partner.