(The following is the newest chapter in my still-untitled Sharks Fan's Journal.)

This San Jose Sharks player was a narrowed-down candidate whom I thought could have earned the 2005-06 Sharks Rookie of the Year honor. I wrote in my original Sharks Fan's Journal that I could not make a guess and select the one player who deserved that season's honor the most, and that this player was a worthy candidate because I thought he "scored some big goals (that) season" (from the "Fan Appreciation Night" entry). Right wing Milan Michalek rightfully earned that season's team Rookie of the Year honor, but this other candidate probably would have won the Sharks Rookie award if that 2005-06 season had not also been Michalek's official rookie season (Michalek played in only two games during the 2003-04 season).

I can name one Sharks fan whom this player must have greatly impacted; it's the only way I can explain why Sharks Hockey Odyssey man Jess Knaster wore this player's jersey when attending every Sharks road game last season. I still remember Mr. Knaster's jersey having the white-colored six on the back of his jersey autographed. Now, I have this player's autograph; and when my player-and-fan photo reaches my e-mail inbox, this player will be the 22 nd player to join my "Have A Photo With Him" Sharks team.

"This player" is: Sharks right wing Steve Bernier. And Steve Bernier made a slightly-cold and foggy Monday, December 17 afternoon/early evening a pleasant one because he was this month's Sharks Store Meet-and-Greet feature player. Steve Bernier gave an hour-and-a-half of his personal time to meet and greet fans, sign autographs and allow a player-and-fan photo opportunity (again, a Sharks Store representative snapped the photo).

My sister and I held the waiting line's nineteenth spot. Our wait time starting at 4:30 PM and ending when we reached the probably-granite-top bar-level table where "Big Bear" was seated was twelve minutes. I have two program inserts featuring Steve Bernier, but could only get one item autographed; I decided to have "Big Bear" autograph the insert from the February 10, 2006 game versus the Dallas Stars. While Bernier signed my insert, I said my usual "Thanks for coming out and doing this." I then said that Bernier was doing a great job this season; I believe it was deserved and warranted because these free-of-charge-with-no-purchase-necessary Meet-and-Greet sessions are not the place to express disappointment that the team's play does not meet the fans' expectations, which has been this season's new custom. Perhaps I will always say that a player is "doing a good/great job this season" because these gentlemen do not play the easiest sport. I did, however, change things up when I wished "Big Bear" a Merry Christmas; yes, I realize that I abandoned political correctness. The "Merry Christmas" greeting signifies my start to find other farewell messages because I don't feel comfortable saying "Good luck the rest of the season" when I am someone who doesn't believe in or possess "good luck charms." When I said my three sentences, Bernier kindly replied; that's the hockey player character that I admire and appreciate.

Using my Five-Fins Scale, Steve Bernier earns three fins. What is more important is that I appreciate "Big Bear's" on-ice contributions. Bernier was the one who convinced me that the Sharks have a fruitful prospects farm.

I did not buy a "Bernier 26" jersey-like t-shirt or a Bernier puck, but I do find it cool that "Big Bear's" birthplace and hometown is Quebec City, Quebec. I have noticed that "Big Bear" does have a French-Canadian accent, and that makes Mr. Bernier "bear-y" unique, eh.