Sharks, Canucks Will Skate In Arena Again Sept. 15 Exhibition May Be Swansong For Chiefs’ Sinclair, Debut For Gretzky
The announcement was hardly unexpected - the San Jose Sharks will meet the Vancouver Canucks here on Sunday, Sept. 15, in a National Hockey League exhibition.
The news was in the nature of the attraction.
Last year the preseason game - the first event in the Spokane Arena - brought back former Spokane Chiefs Pat Falloon and Ray Whitney in San Jose uniforms.
This year it’ll probably be the final local appearance of Chiefs center Darren Sinclair, who’ll play with the Canucks.
Although Sinclair is eligible to return to Spokane as a 20 year old, it’s likely the Chiefs’ player of the year will remain in the Canucks organization, Chiefs coach Mike Babcock said Monday.
“Nothing’s for sure in this business, but if I were a betting man, I’d bet Sinclair won’t be back (for the ‘96-97 season),” Babcock said.
If not, he’ll be in good company.
Chiefs defenseman John Shockey has decided to pass up his 20-year-old season to go on his mission with the Mormon Church.
Right winger Jay Bertsch and goaltender David Lemanowicz are likely to join Jason Podollan (Florida) and Sean Gillam (Detroit) in the pro ranks next year, Babcock added, which would eliminate the expected logjam of over-age players in Spokane.
WHL teams can suit three 20-year-olds.
“We have an outside chance at getting Jan Hrdina back,” Babcock said, but as of right now our (certain) over-ages consist of (defenseman) Adam Magarrell.”
Hrdina is still hopeful of signing with Pittsburgh.
Right wing Randy Favaro went to the new Edmonton Ice team in last week’s Western Hockey League over-age draft.
As for Shockey’s decision, Babcock said, “He’s a great kid who’s decided he wants to get on with his life. As long as he’s happy, that’s great for us.”
The 6 p.m. Sharks-Canucks exhibition took on an added dimenension with the possibility the NHL’s all-time scoring leader, Wayne Gretzky, could wind up in a Sharks uniform - and presumably in the Arena on Sept. 15. The Sharks are reported to be involved in “exploratory” talks with Gretzky’s agent.
“When we signed a 3-year-contract with San Jose as the designated home team in this event, our target was to get the L.A. Kings and No. 99 (Gretzky) against Falloon and Whitney,” Chiefs owner Bobby Brett said. “Falloon’s no longer with San Jose, but it’s possible that we’ll see The Great One …”
Tickets priced at $30, $22 and $18 go on sale today at 8 a.m. at G&B Select-A-Seat outlets and the Chiefs’ Arena ticket office.
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