Sharks at Halloween: Who Had the Best Costume?

There’s a San Jose Sharks Halloween party team picture somewhere.

But until that’s unearthed, so you can judge the best costume, here’s what the Sharks themselves thought.

To a man — I think I asked about half the locker room — everybody had high praise for Matt Benning’s turn as Shrek.

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A post shared by Matt Benning (@mattbenzzzzz)

That’s his wife Janelle as Princess Fiona and Luke Kunin as Donkey.

I asked Kunin how he got stuck being Donkey, he says it’s because his wife and PWHL player Sophia Shaver wasn’t around for a couples costume.

Unfortunately, Kunin didn’t draw any praise for his more Eeyore-looking costume, but hey, he was part of a critically-acclaimed ensemble.

After Benning, rookie Ty Emberson came through with a popular entry.

That’s Emberson’s fiancée Carolyn as Happy Gilmore and Emberson as Gilmore’s caddy, Otto.

That’s a pretty good callback for Emberson, born in 2000, to reference a 1996 movie.

Emberson was full of classic movie references this week. Handing out candy and toys at the Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara Pediatrics Unit on Halloween, he, Kyle Burroughs, and William Eklund went back to 30 years – or 65 million years ago.

Don’t see it yet?

What about Eklund?

That’s just perfect.

Naturally, Emberson and the 21-year-old Eklund have not seen “Jurassic Park”, originally released in 1993.

Burroughs credited San Jose Sharks employees for their inspired group get-up.

And yes, the 28-year-old defenseman has seen the movie.

Speaking of Burroughs, a self-professed movie buff, this is how he and fiancée Hayley went to the team Halloween party.

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A post shared by Kyle Burroughs (@kburroughs4)

Burroughs says it’s his favorite Batman flick, by far.

A bit more obscure but very underrated, Ryan Carpenter went as Darla from “Finding Nemo” and wife Alexis as the titular fish.

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A post shared by Ryan Carpenter (@carpydeuces)

Speaking of children’s movies, Tomas Hertl and wife Anet, and Jan Rutta and girlfriend Denisa, had a twisted take on “101 Dalmatians”:

Looking good, Tommy!

By the way, here’s a more wholesome Hertl Halloween pic, his family one!

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A post shared by Tomas Hertl (@hertlik48)

Anet also took a nice snap with Logan Couture’s wife Brielle and Kevin Labanc’s wife Kelly.

Notably, Couture, Hertl, and Labanc are among the longest-tenured San Jose Sharks, so it’s a picture of old friends.

And here’s Nico Sturm and girlfriend Taylor’s take on a newer relationship:

That’s it for pictures, until we get the team pic!

Personally, I’m looking forward to seeing Anthony Duclair’s Coach Prime costume.

In addition, Mackenzie Blackwood, who went as Ricky Bobby from “Talladega Nights”, liked his battery mate Kaapo Kahkonen’s get-up. Kahkonen and girlfriend Sallamari went as salt and pepper – not Salt-N-Pepa.

Givani Smith was a zookeeper, complete with an inflatable flamingo.

And finally, Mario Ferraro went as Stu from “The Hangover”.