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| Street hockey swims in to Coastside By Mark Foyer--[ markf@hmbreview.com ] Published/Last Modified on Wednesday, August 15, 2007 2:02 PM PDT It didn't take long for 7-year-old Luis Becerra to describe the best part of a street hockey game he played last week. "I liked it best when I passed it to a teammate," Becerra said. "We almost got a goal." Becerra was one of more than 100 children in the Coastside Children's Programs who played roller hockey last week. As part of the CCP's athletic week, the San Jose Sharks brought over its "Mobile Shark Tank," a truck carrying sticks, mesh jerseys of different colors, two goals, gloves and pads for the goalies and enough pads to create a two-foot high, rectangular wall. As one group of children played, others cheered them on. All the children had an opportunity to play at least one game, lasting about 10 minutes. All who played seemed thrilled with the experience. "I had a lot of fun," said Sean Donnellan, 9. "It was really nice of the Sharks to do this." The Sharks' Mobile Shark Tank is kept quite busy during the summer, said Jeff Cafuir, one of two fan development coordinators for the Sharks. "We go just about anywhere to expose people to hockey," Cafuir said. "This summer, we have gone as far north as Petaluma and as far south as Monterey." At each stop, they are greeted by children of various ages. And the kids have questions. "The kids want to know who taught me how to play hockey," said Erin Buchanan, the other fan development coordinator. "They also ask me for my autograph." The program is in its third year of existence. Some of the children are eager to play, while others are somewhat nervous. But that eventually changes. "When we start playing, the kids start to let loose," Cafuir said. "They also love the stickers and posters we give them." Joel Farbstein, a member of the North Coast Hockey League board of directors, contacted the Sharks to arrange the visit. "I hope to get more and more kids involved in hockey, whether it is street hockey or roller hockey," Farbstein said. Farbstein contacted the CCP site supervisors in Montara, El Granada and Half Moon Bay to gauge their interest. "It's really nice to have them here," said David Aliamus, site director at Hatch Elementary School. "The kids who were aware of hockey were very excited. To have the Sharks here is very special." |