How diehard Sharks fans scored elusive Rookie Faceoff tickets originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Editor’s note: Sheng Peng is a regular contributor to NBC Sports California’s Sharks coverage. You can read more of his coverage on San Jose Hockey Now, listen to him on the San Jose Hockey Now Podcast, and follow him on Twitter at @Sheng_Peng.
LOS ANGELES — Watching Macklin Celebrini’s debut game in a Sharks uniform live on Friday was not an easy ticket.
Regardless, about a dozen Sharks fans finessed their way into Toyota Sports Performance Center for Rookie Faceoff, keen on witnessing franchise history.
The No. 1 overall pick of the 2024 NHL Draft didn’t disappoint, scoring a goal and dominating on both ends of the ice, leading the Sharks to a 3-2 victory over Utah Hockey Club.
Hopefully for the Sharks, it’s the first of many wins for a franchise that has missed the Stanley Cup playoffs for five years and counting.
Just as impressive as Celebrini’s performance were some of the stories of how diehard Sharks fans infiltrated the building.
So what was so hard about getting a prospects tournament ticket?
For starters, Toyota Sports Performance Center, the Los Angeles Kings’ practice facility in El Segundo, is just a two-ice sheet building and isn’t suited for larger crowds, perhaps about 500 at most at a rink. In comparison, Sharks Ice has six sheets, highlighted by Tech CU Arena, the home of the San Jose Barracuda, with a capacity of 4,200.
On top of that, Rookie Faceoff, first and foremost, is an opportunity for the seven participating clubs, the Kings, Sharks, Seattle Kraken, Utah Hockey Club, Vegas Golden Knights, Anaheim Ducks, and Colorado Avalanche, to evaluate their prospects in a competitive setting. Also, it’s a chance for the rest of the league to get an up-close look at these prospects. So priority for already-limited seating goes to the 32 NHL teams, and their front office personnel and scouts.
Players’ families also are prioritized. For example, I met Quentin Musty and Braden Hache’s parents on Friday. Rick Celebrini, Macklin’s father and Golden State Warriors director of sports medicine and performance, also was in the stands for Friday’s game.
That left, according to the Kings, just 200 all-tournament tickets for the fans. They weren’t cheap or easy to acquire either. The $200 passes were offered first to Kings and Ontario Reign season ticket holders, then Jr. Kings families.
So, how did Sharks fans break into these…