![[original_title]](https://rawnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/90a9da1c78e0b2f295712c38db4c3fb6-1024x576.jpeg)
Sharks coach Warsofsky gives rec league goalie dream experience initially appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Editor’s notice: Sheng Peng is a daily contributor to NBC Sports activities California’s Sharks protection. You’ll be able to learn extra of his protection on San Jose Hockey Now, hearken to him on the San Jose Hockey Now Podcast, and observe him on Twitter at @Sheng_Peng.
NEW YORK — Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky gave a rec league goaltender the fun of a lifetime.
Goalie Harold Robinson was simply hoping to alter at his everlasting locker room stall at Chelsea Piers in New York Metropolis. San Jose, preparing for his or her observe, have been sharing the area.
“I got here out of the locker room as a result of I used to be heading over in the direction of Chelsea open hockey [at another rink], and one of many [Sharks] tools managers circled and mentioned to me, Coach needs you to get on the ice,” Robinson advised San Jose Hockey Now. “I checked out him, you gotta be kidding me?”
In order that’s how the 65-year-old netminder discovered himself taking photographs from an NHL crew on a random Wednesday afternoon.
Sharks are sharing Chelsea Piers locker room with grownup rec gamers, no non-public locker room right here, this goalie requested to return out and take a pair photographs from the massive boys pic.twitter.com/XTznpEzsxD
— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) November 13, 2024
That’s not all: Warsofsky additionally requested Robinson to say just a few phrases, introduce himself to the Sharks.
“I am standing right here with an expert hockey crew, speaking about myself,” Robinson mentioned. “And this is all these nice gamers on this up-and-coming crew.”
The Chelsea Fitness personal trainer — born and raised in New York Metropolis and a lifetime New York Rangers fan — has been goaltending at Chelsea Piers for 25 years.
“Once I was rising up, there’s that one man who decides that he is uninterested in his mates speaking about who’s going to play web. So I grabbed the tools,” he shared. “I went from road to flooring to ice.”
He’s additionally a giant fan of the Quebec Nordiques jersey and Iron Man, therefore his gear set-up.
This isn’t the primary time that Robinson has rubbed elbows with practising NHL groups. As a result of Madison Sq. Backyard normally is booked with different occasions, NHL groups frequently go to Chelsea Piers. The Sharks practiced there simply two years in the past.
“I keep in mind Roberto Luongo had kidding me about me going out to observe for him,” Robinson mentioned of the then-Vancouver Canucks netminder.
However that is the primary time that 5-foot-8 Robinson really practiced with an NHL crew.
“I skate with the NHL workers crew. They’ve had some high-level folks at their skates as properly. However at present, you perceive when somebody will get a puck on their stick, there isn’t any waste of time. They’re releasing the puck in the direction of the web,” Robinson mentioned, nonetheless overwhelmed by the expertise. “The primary two on the left hand aspect and the primary two on the best hand aspect, it simply took me a short while to be like, okay, you have to settle down.”
Notably, 18-year-old Macklin Celebrini didn’t have a lot mercy on Robinson, going bar down.
“When he let it go, I am like, oh, that is an NHL shot,” Robinson laughed. “I do not thoughts being challenged by these guys. That was a very good factor.”
Robinson mentioned that each San Jose goalies went out of their technique to make him really feel at residence.
Mackenzie Blackwood, the goalie on Robinson’s aspect of the ice, was searching for him.
“He made me really feel very comfy being on the market,” Robinson mentioned. “Have a look at the video, he is wanting over my left hand shoulder, taking a look at how I used to be standing and shifting within the web.”
Vitek Vanecek gave Robinson a fist bump.
It was a day that Robinson will always remember, and greater than anyone, he wished to thank Warsofsky for it.
“I have been having a tough previous couple of months, and at present actually made my day,” Robinson mentioned. “I inform my son, I inform my daughter, when you’ve got tough instances, you might battle, however you do not stop. You retain pushing on. In the present day was that reward for doing the best factor and hold your self pushing ahead, to maintain your head up.”
That feels like a message that any NHL head coach would respect!
“It was only a true honor, simply to be requested to be on the market,” Robinson mentioned. “After which to be on the market.”
