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Kings-Sharks Outdoor Game Shines Light On California Hockey With 70,205 On Hand

The Kings-Sharks NHL Stadium Series game at Levi's Stadium on Saturday night showed the "genuine passion of fans who are establishing California as the epicenter of the sport's growth" and continued a "golden era for California hockey," according to the Helene Elliott of the L.A. TIMES. The "buzz was tremendous" among the crowd of 70,205, which marked the "third-largest crowd in NHL history." The AHL's admission of five California teams beginning next season "will be the next test of hockey interest" in the state (L.A. TIMES, 2/22). In San Jose, Mark Purdy wrote under the header, "Outdoor Hockey A Smashing Success In San Jose." If the point of Saturday night's game "was to show off the puck love of Northern California," that mission "was accomplished." The record-setting attendance figure "appeared to be a legitimate number, thereby creating the largest crowd ever to watch a hockey game west of the Mississippi River." The players also "soaked it up, as well." NBC's Eddie Olczyk said of the Sharks' supporters, "This fan base is outstanding." Purdy: "Northern Californians love big events, and this game was right in that wheelhouse" (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 2/22). Kings President of Business Operations Luc Robitaille said of the crowd, "We love the game. We also say in California, 'We'll accept any hockey fans.' This is absolutely incredible" ("Kings-Sharks," NBCSN, 2/21). Olcyzk said of Santa Clara vs. previous outdoor sites, "The weather (is) much more preferable" ("Kings-Sharks," NBCSN, 2/21).

ICE NOT AS NICE: NBC's Brian Engblom prior to the game said, "The ice surface looks really good right now. The puck is sliding pretty good. It’s not flipping around too much. It has a real hollow sound to it like it does most of the time in these outdoor games. ... So far, I'm really impressed with the conditions" ("Kings-Sharks," NBCSN, 2/21). But in L.A., Lisa Dillman wrote the game was played "under less-than-stellar ice conditions." Kings coach Darryl Sutter said, "It's hard to have great ice because it was so humid as the game went on. But I think they were doing everything they could to get snow off." Kings RW Marian Gaborik said, "I think for the guys that haven't played in an (outdoor) game, it's a good experience. ... It's a cool experience, especially for the people, to have a game in California here" (L.A. TIMES, 2/22). In San Jose, David Pollak reported players "talked about poor ice conditions that got only worse as each period went on." Fans "showed their ability to adapt to the football setting by firing up grills for tailgating parties that filled the air with smoke three hours before the opening faceoff" (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 2/22). Sharks C Logan Couture, asked to grade the ice on a scale of 1 to 10, said, "It was a 7 or 8 at the start, first five minutes, and then after the first five minutes, probably about a 3." Sharks C Joe Thornton said of the experience, "It was incredible. From start to finish, what an atmosphere. It was once in-a-lifetime-type thing for us" (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 2/22).

OWNER SIGHTING: The MERCURY NEWS' Purdy noted Sharks Majority Owner Hasso Plattner, who "shows up for Sharks games sporadically," was at Saturday night's game. The game "was very big for him" because he serves as SAP Supervisory Board Chair, and the company "has its name slapped across the Levi's Stadium rim as one of the building's significant corporate sponsors" (MECURYNEWS.com, 2/22).

INTO THE WILD: In Minneapolis, Michael Russo reports the NHL and Wild are planning to hold next year's Feb. 21 Blackhawks-Wild Stadium Series Game at TCF Bank Stadium in the afternoon. Wild RW Jason Pominville said, "A night game could be pretty cold." Russo notes no protocols "have been given that a certain temperature would be too cold for play" as of now (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 2/23).

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