User:Ryankeilty/sandbox

= S.J. Sharkie = S.J. Sharkie is the current official mascot for the National Hockey League's San Jose Sharks. Sharkie, an anthropomorphic shark appears, at every home game in the Sharks home arena, the SAP Center. Usually dressed in his hockey equipment, Sharkie dons whichever color jersey his team is playing in that night and performs entertaining stunts such as rappelling from the roof or driving around on the ice between periods on an ATV. In 2012 Sharkie was selected as the "Most Awesome Mascot" in all of sports by the Cartoon Network at the second Hall of Game awards show.

Origins
S.J. Sharkie made his debut on January 28 1992, in a game against the New York Rangers at the former arena of the Sharks the Cow Palace, which housed the team from 1991-1993. As he was unnamed at the time there was a naming contest held subsequently after his appearance. The winning name "S.J. Sharkie" was announced on April 15, 1992. Sharkie is the only official mascot that the team has ever had and appears at every home game and over 450 events in the community each year.

The Rappel Incident
On March 12, 1999 the San Jose Sharks were on home ice for a game against the Detroit Red Wings. During the pregame festivities Sharkie attempted a stunt in which he would rappel down from the rafters of the arena into the ice surface. However as he was being lowered his equipment became entangled with the rope resulting in him becoming precariously suspended above the ice. As the game couldn't start with Sharkie hanging above the ice, the game was delayed for a full 12 minutes before rescue crews lowered a second rope to pull the mascot back up to the rafters. The Sharks went on to win the game 2-0 on goals by Patrick Marleau and Joe Murphy.