Sheng Peng
LOS ANGELES — Ethan Cardwell isn’t trying to take Joe Thornton’s job.
But as an alternate captain and four-year veteran of the Rookie Faceoff, he’s taking it upon himself to be a, let’s say, junior director of vibes for the San Jose Sharks’ young, sometimes teenage, tournament roster.
“I think that’s Jumbo’s job,” Cardwell laughed, “but I’m trying my best to make everybody feel included, make sure guys know where to go, make sure they’re going out and having fun. I know when you’re young, it’s tough. Sometimes you just find yourself maybe hanging out at the hotel and stuff, but it’s fun to get out and have dinners with the guys and really explore the area.”
It took a little time, but Cardwell says that he’s learned everybody’s name.
“I got them all down pat,” he said. “At the start of camp, it’s tough, but I think I’m on a nickname basis with the most of them [now].”
What are some of those nicknames? And what other fun things is the Rookie Faceoff roster getting into?
From Cardwell to Macklin Celebrini to Will Smith to Kasper Halttunen to more, here’s some of the behind the scenes about the San Jose Sharks at Rookie Faceoff.
Sharks at the Beach
San Jose Sharks players have definitely taken advantage of the location: Toyota Sports Performance Center in El Segundo, where the Rookie Faceoff is being held, is literally minutes away from the beach.
The players have checked out, among others, Manhattan, Hermosa, and Venice Beach.
Cardwell shared that 6-8 players got into some beach volleyball during some time off.
“Hache is a nice player. He’s a big boy. He can get up there and spike it at the net,” Cardwell said of 6-foot-4 San Jose Barracuda defenseman Braden Hache.
Beach volleyball isn’t necessarily Cardwell’s favorite side sport though: “That’s my biggest pet peeve, sand in my shoes and stuff.”
The 5-foot-11 winger also admitted to another reason why volleyball might not be for him: “I got to really tap into my vertical if I want to get up there.”
He joked, about his height, “I’m set up for golf, yeah. Beach volleyball, maybe not, but I can jump high enough to make it work.”
During Rookie Faceoff, San Jose Hockey Now learned that Quentin Musty’s parents, Mike and Missy, were college volleyball players.
However, Musty was not present during the Sharks’ beach volleyball excursion. So looks like the Sharks need another beach volleyball game before they leave El Segundo!
Sharks on the Course
Speaking of golf, Cardwell says the boys have the hook-up at Santa Teresa Golf Club in Santa Clara, which they enjoyed before leaving for LA.
According to Cardwell, one perhaps surprisingly good golfer on the Sharks’ Rookie Faceoff roster?
Filip Bystedt.
It looks like Cardwell hasn’t played yet with Smith or Celebrini.
Cardwell said of Smith’s golf game: “Smitty talks a big game. Hits a nice, long ball off the tee, so I’ve heard.”
A big group golf game might be in the works on Tuesday, an off-day before training camp.
Cardwell shared that last year after Rookie Faceoff, the big outing was redwoods and ziplining and rope courses.
Nicknames?
So what are some of the nicknames flying around the San Jose Sharks locker room during Rookie Faceoff?
Cardwell’s favorite is “Tuna” for Kasper Halttunen, a play on his last name: “I think Todd Marchant started that one.”
Marchant confirmed that he was the originator and the full moniker is “Big Tuna”, also after, of course, Halttunen’s 6-foot-3 frame.
No word on if Marchant is a fan of “The Office” — “Big Tuna” was what Andy Bernard dubbed Jim Halpert.
Macklin Celebrini, naturally, is “Mack”…but also popular is “Celly”.
I guess Celebrini is that good, his nickname is literally celebration.
We joked that Cardwell was only excited that the Sharks got the first-overall pick because that essentially guarantees a big-time guest for his podcast “Showbound”: “Yeah, just looking for views, right? He’s not a bad player too.”
For Smith, it looks like everybody has settled on “Smitty”.
Cardwell is just “Cards” or “Cardsy”.
Maybe one day, it’ll be Captain Cards.
“It’s just about acknowledging everybody and making sure everybody feels like they’re a part of it. I know, as a young guy, like I was saying before, you can find yourself on your own, trying to avoid being a distraction to anybody else, or just kind of wanting to do your own thing,” Cardwell said. “But I think it goes a long way when the older guys make them feel included, or just go up and ask them how their night was, even if I didn’t see them.”