Tickets for the 2006 ECHL Allstar game in Fresno on sale today

ECHL FRESNO FALCONS

Ticket packages for the ECHL Allstar game in Fresno are available for purchase at Ticketmaster.com today starting at 10AM. The ECHL Skills Competition takes place January 24th at 7PM, the ECHL All-Star Game January 25th at 7 PM.

All-Star Game Ticket Packages On Sale Friday

FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno Falcons announced that ticket packages for the 2006 ECHL All-Star Game and Skills Competition presented by Bud Light will be available beginning Friday at 10 a.m. PT.

Ticket packages range in price from $25-35 and include a seat at both the Skills Competition and the All-Star Game. The Skills Competition is January 24 at 7 p.m. and the All-Star Game is January 25 at 7 p.m.

Ticket packages are available at Ticketmaster outlets and the box office at Save Mart Center which is open Monday-Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Ticket packages can also be purchased at select Save Mart Supermarkets, Tower Records, Wherehouse Music and Ritmo Latino locations.

Ticket packages can be ordered online at www.Ticketmaster.com or by telephone at (559) 458-TIXS (8497).

Radisson Hotel & Conference Center Fresno Named All-Star Host Hotel

FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno Falcons have announced that the Radisson Hotel & Conference Center Fresno will serve as the official host hotel for the 2006 ECHL All-Star Game and Skills Competition presented by Bud Light.

Serving as the ECHL Headquarters during All-Star festivities, the Radisson will host the American Conference and National Conference All-Stars as well as team owners, league partners, league officials and fans. The Ice Odyssey VIP Party will be held at the Radisson following the Skills Competition on January 24 as will the All-Star Fan Fest following the All-Star Game on January 25.

The Radisson is offering a special ECHL All-Star room rate of $93 per night for ECHL fans which can be redeemed by visiting www.radisson.com/fresnoca and entering ECHL as the Promotional Code.

Ticket packages for the 2006 ECHL All-Star Game and Skills Competition presented by Bud Light will be available beginning Friday at 10 a.m. PT.

Ticket packages range in price from $25-35 and include a seat at both the Skills Competition and the All-Star Game. The Skills Competition is January 24 at 7 p.m. and the All-Star Game is January 25 at 7 p.m.

Ticket packages are available at Ticketmaster outlets and the box office at Save Mart Center which is open Monday-Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Ticket packages can also be purchased at select Save Mart Supermarkets, Tower Records, Wherehouse Music and Ritmo Latino locations.

Ticket packages can be ordered online at www.Ticketmaster.com or by telephone at (559) 458-TIXS (8497).

Visit FresnoFalcons.com or ECHL.com for more information.

San Jose State ready for 2005-06

SJSU HOCKEY

From SJSUhockey.com:

At Wednesday's practice, senior wing Ray Kellam was announced as captain of the 2005-2006 San Jose State Hockey team. Center Adam Dekeyrel and defenseman Andy Whiteside were chosen as alternates. This marks the third year that Kellam has been chosen to lead the club by a vote of his teammates.

Be sure to welcome the Spartans to the upcoming season by attending the Intrasquad Scrimmage on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. at the U.S.S. Spartan (aka Logitech Ice).

The regular season opens on Oct. 7 as the Spartans host against arch-rival USC.

SJSU opens the regular season with a double-header at Logitech against arch rival USC October 7th and 8th.

Pre-season roster down to last available spot

Three players were assigned from the San Jose Sharks training camp to the AHL Cleveland Barons today. Matt Carkner [D], Steve Bernier [RW], and Nolan Schaefer [G] were sent to the Sharks development affiliate in Cleveland.

The pre-season roster currently stands at 24, with the NHL regular season roster limit set at 23 players. Players who might be fighting for the last spot: Josh Langfeld [RW], Ryane Clowe [LW], Josh Gorges [D], Christian Ehrhoff [D], and Jim Fahey [D].

The Sharks have started the pre-season 6-0-0. They will get a chance to go undefeated in the final pre-season game against Phoenix in San Jose Friday night.

According to CBS Sportsline, Vesa Toskala leads the team with 3 wins, Evgeni Nabokov follows with 2, and Nolan Schaefer has 1. Ryan Clowe leads the team with 3 goals, Marco Sturm with 4 assists, and Sturm and Patrick Marleau are tied with 5 points each. Christian Ehrhoff leads the defensive core with a +5, and 4 overall points [2G,2A].

The regular season starts for San Jose on the road October 5th against the Nashville Predators. The first home game comes October 12th against the Columbus Blue Jackets. In 2003-04, the Sharks finished with a 43-21-12-6 record for 104 total points to win the Pacific Division.

[Update] Clowe, Goc earn way to Sharks roster - SJ Mercury News.

The Hockey News names San Jose the NHL's fastest club

THN editor Matt Canamucio gives the Sharks the benefit of the doubt this year, predicting that San Jose will be a frontrunner this year in the Western Conference.

WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE - The Sharks remain the frontrunners in a Pacific Division that will likely be improved this season. They are widely regarded as the NHL's fastest club, something that will pay dividends under the new rules. Doug Wilson took a gamble by not making any premium signings over the summer, but we can't judge that until next spring. Right now, with the raw talent on this roster, you have to give him the benefit of the doubt.

Thanks to Phillip for sending in the link.

[Update] Sports Illustrated ranks the San Jose 8th overall, and SI writer Yi-Wyn Yen previews the Sharks individually.

By emphasizing speed and puck possession in 2003-04, San Jose jumped from worst to first in the Pacific Division, set a franchise record with 104 points and reached the Western Conference finals, losing to the Flames in six games. With a young team, Sharks G.M. Doug Wilson saw no reason to overhaul his roster. "The biggest thing for us is continuity," he says. "Some teams have 11 or 12 new players. We kept all our players. We're coming into our prime, and we're ready to play."

Jonny Moseley's Icer Air 2005

Jonny Moseley's IcerAir 2005 big air ski/snowboard jump finally received a green light from the San Francisco Entertainment Commission late Tuesday evening. 10 top snowboarders and 10 top skiers will launch off the urban Fillmore street ski jump for over $100,000 in prize money.

A press release from ICERair.com:

ICER AIR 2005

The notoriously steep streets of San Francisco will become the site for the first of its kind urban big-air competition. 10 top snowboarders and 10 top skiers will compete in the 1 day event for over $100,000 in cash and prizes.

If you are in the San Francisco area, come check out the competition. The event is free, and there will be lots of entertainment, raffles, and free stuff from our sponsors. If you cannot make it, stay tuned as the event will be broadcast several times on television.

EVENT INFORMATION
Location: Fillmore Street at Vallejo.
Entrance: Please enter from Webster Street onto Vallejo Street
Time: Noon - 4pm
Security provided by: SFPD and Shaw Management

SCHEDULE
Thursday - September 29, 2005
12pm: Pro Round 1
1pm: Pro Round 2
2pm: Exhibition
3pm: Pro Round 3 - Finals
4pm: Awards Ceremony
9pm - 2am: AFTER PARTY / CONCERT

FORMAT
10 Skiers, 10 Snowboarders
Grand Prize snowboarder
Grand Prize skier
3 rounds - 1 jump per round, 2 lowest scores dropped
Skiers and snowboarders jump alternately
Jump order drawn out of a hat

PRIZE MONEY BREAKDOWN
1st $6,000.00 Cash + Grand Cherokee (2 year lease)
2nd $3,000.00
3rd $1,500.00
4th $500.00
5th $250.00
6th $250.00
7th $250.00
8th $250.00
9th $250.00

RIDERS CONFIRMED
SKIERS: TJ Schiller, Kye Petersen, CR Johnson, Sean Field, Rory Silva, Tanner Rainville, Andy Mahre, Simon Dumont, Mickael Deschenaux. SNOWBOARDERS: Brent Meyer, JJ Thomas, John Jackson, Aaron Biittner, Jimi Tomer, Chris Rotax, Yale Cousino.

That's snow business Tons of snow falls on Fillmore Street for ski jump today -- promoters of disputed event have links to S.F. City Hall - SF Chronicle.

[Update] Photos of the snow on the slopes of Fillmore street, from SFist.com and Bill Jennings. Full disclosure: I went off a ski jump on an inflatable mattress at one of the early Lollapalooza concerts, long after the snowboard/ski jump exhibition had finished. The "snow" was nothing more than chunks of ice. It made for a painful landing. It looks like the consistency of the Fillmore snow will be a little more forgiving.

[Update2] ABC7 reports that at 85 degrees, it was the second warmest day of the year for San Francisco. 15,000 spectators showed up to watch the free event, previous estimates predicted as many as 5,000 would attend.

Bonus Shark Head photo

SHARK HEAD AT HP PAVILION

Bonus shark head photo by request, for Karen.

Taking a look at the new-look NHL.com

Making its rounds through the league, NHL.com posted a preview of the San Jose Sharks last week. Phil Coffey focused on San Jose's promotion from wit