Sharks to hold training camp in Scottsdale
Just call them the Scottsdale Sharks for now.
General manager Doug Wilson announced Sunday that the San Jose Sharks will be holding training camp in Scottsdale, Arizona, presenting another challenge to a team that is looking to rebound from one of its most turbulent seasons in the last 20 years.
Hours earlier, the NHL and the Players’ Association completed a deal to hold a 56-game 2021 season from Jan. 13 to May 8 with playoffs to last into July. The league’s Board of Governors voted Sunday to approve the agreement that was supported by the NHLPA executive board Friday night.
With skating at their own facility in San Jose prohibited due to Santa Clara County’s ban on contact sports — the ban has been extended into January — the Sharks’ training camp will take place at Scottsdale Ice Den, a privately owned facility where the Arizona Coyotes usually practice.
As one of the seven teams that was not part of the NHL’s Return to Play this summer, the Sharks,
would be allowed to open camp Dec. 31.
The league’s 24 other teams would open Jan. 3 and the regular season would begin Jan. 13. There will be no exhibition games.
The Associated Press reported Saturday that the Sharks would stay in Arizona for the start of the regular season. That, however, has not been finalized, Wilson said.
Still, there is no indication when the Sharks will be allowed to play games at SAP Center, or when fans will be allowed in the building.
In a statement Sunday, the NHL said their current plan was to play game at home arenas while “understanding that most arenas will not, at least in the initial part of the season, be able to host fans.”
As coronavirus cases continue to climb in many parts of North America, the league said Sunday it is allowing for the possibility of playing games at neutral sites if needed.
The Sharks’ move out of San Jose had been speculated for weeks after Santa Clara County health officials announced in late November that all sports involving physical contact or close proximity to persons outside of their household will be prohibited until Dec. 21.
Earlier this week, though, county health officials said their restrictions were going to align with the timing of state restrictions, which are scheduled to be in place
until Jan. 8, at least.
Shortly after Santa Clara County’s new restrictions were initially announced in November, the 49ers said they would move two December home games that were supposed to be played at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara to State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
The 49ers practices are held on the grounds of the stadium and the team is staying at the nearby Renaissance Hotel, which houses the 49ers’ locker room and a small weight room.
Aware that being in that type of environment for an extended period of time might start to wear on individuals, 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan asked the team’s leadership group to make sure they looked out for their teammates.
“It’s just understanding that it’s human nature,” Shanahan said earlier this month. “Some stuff’s going to come up over the next three weeks and no one ignore it. Just always bring it to someone’s attention because the worst thing you
could be in these situations is feel kind of alone on an island and we’ve got a big group going through it, so we can rally together and make sure we help each other through it.”
With the Sharks likely away from home for at least the next three weeks
or more, they figure to face similar challenges.
According to Chris Johnston of Sportsnet, players on temporarily relocated teams are entitled to a hotel room for them and their family, a rental car and a per diem. If relocation lasts more than 28 days, additional benefits will be negotiated.
The Sharks are looking to rebound from a season in which they finished 29-36-5 overall and 15th and last in the Western Conference. Their .450 points percentage was the worst since the 2002- 03 season when they were 28-37-9 (.445).
The Sharks have a new full-time coaching staff, led by Bob Boughner, and have a handful of new players, including goalie Devan Dubnyk, and forwards Ryan Donato and Matt Nieto.
Dubnyk and Donato were acquired from the Minnesota Wild in trades.