Tampa Bay Lightning’s Yanni Gourde shoots against the San Jose Sharks during the first period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2017, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

By Amaury Pi Gonzalez

SAN JOSE–Hard for me to believe the San Jose Sharks are on their 26th season in the National Hockey League, I remember covering their very first game at the Cow Palace in Daly City (1991-92 season) while they were building their current home. Since 1993, the SAP Center in San José when I remember taking Telemundo cameras to film the construction of their current home in San José. It was then a big deal, because professional hockey was returning to the Bay Area. Prior to the 1967-68 season the NHL underwent their single biggest expansion in their history. Joining the league were the Oakland Seals, Pittsburgh Penguins, Philadelphia Flyers, Los Angeles Kings, Minnesota North Stars, and the St.Louis Blues.

My good friend Len Shapiro, (he regularly covers the Sharks here on this site and is the guy with the most hockey expertise in the Bay Area) was with the executive office of the Oakland Seals and he always reminds me of the lack of attendance to the Seals games at Oakland those years. But the Sharks have enjoyed solid support from a very loyal fan-base since they began play in San José. Of course this is not the San José of the late 1960’s it is one of the most affluent markets in the country, with Silicon Valley as their shinning star. The South Bay economy is one of the most dynamic economies in the country.

I covered my first game this season on Wednesday night November the 8th as they host the Tampa Bay Lightning.

On a rainy night, most people were not even yet at their seats, when with 25 seconds into the game Joonas Donskoi scored the first goal. The Sharks were winning 1-0. But little did we knew then, that was going to be all the scoring for the home team. For this night in San José there was proof of Russian collusion as Tampa Bay’s, Russian right wing Nikita Kuchenov scored his 15h goal of the season to tie the game in the first period, he leads the NHL in goals scored. In the second period the visitors iced the game scoring three goals, two of those by Russian center Vladislav Namestnikov. Slater Koekkoak also score for the Lightining. The Sharks now have a record of 8-6 loses, while Tampa Bay leaves San José on their way to play the Kings in Los Angeles, with a 12-2-2 record .

This season is just warming up, and hopefully this Sharks team can return to the Finals of the Stanley Cup as they did two seasons ago, I was there covering for Telemundo and the Sharks (although they lost to the Penguins )put on a memorable show for all in attendance.

The Sharks next game is this Saturday at the SAP Center against the Vancouver Canucks

Amaury Pi Gonzalez hosts the honorees for the Bay Area Radio Museum with Hockey analyst Len Shapiro and introduces inductees into the Hall of Fame wing of the Radio Museum and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com