(11/21/07)

(Note: The following is the fifth chapter of my new, still-untitled Sharks Fan's Journal. It describes the Sharks Store's recent Meet-and-Greet session.)

One is a 2004 fourth-round draft pick, and the other is a 2005 first-round draft pick. One made his National Hockey League debut first, and the other scored his first career National Hockey League goal first. Two gentlemen who have not yet been linemates comprise the San Jose Sharks' newest dynamic duo.

Center Torrey Mitchell - the 2004 fourth-round draft pick who made his NHL debut first - and right wing Devin Setoguchi - the 2005 first-round draft pick who scored his first career NHL goal first - are not only rookies filling roster spots that Mark Smith (center) and Bill Guerin (right wing) held last season, but they are also talented, young hockey players whose recent on-ice play have made an impact. Two games - November 10 versus the Phoenix Coyotes at the HP Pavilion at San Jose, and November 14 versus the Dallas Stars at the American Airlines Center - have featured both Mitchell and Setoguchi scoring goals; both those games were wins. Mitchell already has one goal per game (2) versus the Anaheim Ducks; and I still remember when he blocked a Mike Modano slapshot when the Sharks visited Dallas earlier this month (November 14). Setoguchi's first two goals made him the first Sharks player to accomplish that when making his NHL debut, and he is the twelfth Sharks player to score his first career NHL goal in his first NHL game. I still remember how Setoguchi's first two goals helped the Sharks earn a huge victory versus the Stars at Dallas last month; that win was a much-needed positive to end a frustrating October (6-5-1). And I'd be remiss if I didn't acknowledge the November 14 game versus the Stars when Setoguchi's shootout goal (and Patrick Marleau's shootout goal, which clinched the shootout victory) helped the league's worst shootout team beat the league's best shootout team.

Those early-season accomplishments are strong evidence proving that both Mitchell and Setoguchi are "doing good" or playing well. Torrey and Devin continued their "doing good" ways when they were the recent Sharks Store Meet-and-Greet feature players. On Tuesday, November 20, 2007, Torrey Mitchell and Devin Setoguchi gave an hour-and-a-half of their six-day no-games-Thanksgiving-week break to meet and greet fans, sign autographs, and let fans have their picture taken with them individually.

Either a 3:00PM-3:10PM arrival time is considered "arriving late" when the Sharks Store hosts these Meet-and-Greets that begin at 4:30PM or both players' individual on-ice contributions, when combined, created an attention-getter that resembles Smackdown! superstar The Great Khali's mere presence, if not both, explains why I held the 104 th spot in the waiting line. What I cannot dispute is the 104 th spot explaining the 60-70 minute waiting time I endured beginning at 4:30 PM and ending when I approached the probably-granite-top, bar-level table where only Torrey Mitchell was seated. While Mitchell autographed my "When I Don't Have Anything That A Player Can Autograph" shirt, I said my usual "Thanks for coming out and doing this" and, because it's currently hockey season (along the lines of), "You're doing a great job this season. (My player-and-fan photo is then taken; this time, it's a Sharks representative snapping a photo that will be e-mailed). Good luck the rest of the season." I said the same thing when I approached the probably-granite-top, bar-level table where Devin Setoguchi was seated. And when I said the "You're doing a great job this season" part, it wasn't patronizing both Mitchell and Setoguchi because their numbers warrant the compliments.

Both players placed their autographs on the jumping, hockey-stick-eating shark's body. And when I complimented the players, both gentlemen replied kindly. I know it sounds repetitive, but it must be said: "That's the hockey player character I admire and it never ceases to bring me back for more. Once again, as usual, I am reminded how cool it is to be a hockey fan." I also want to add an "I'm grateful that my favorite sports team has players who actually care about their fans." Using my Five-Fins scale that measures how favorite a Sharks player is, Torrey Mitchell and Devin Setoguchi would each earn three-and-a-half fins; it's still a great score considering that both are rookies or "New Blood."

My player-and-fan photos have not yet been sent to me. I am eagerly anticipating those photos' arrival so that Torrey Mitchell and Devin Setoguchi can officially join my "Have A Photo With Him" Sharks team. Mitchell will be the nineteenth player to join, and Setoguchi will be the twentieth player to join. These new additions mean that my "Have A Photo With Him" Sharks team will need to become two separate teams. Mitchell is the sixth center, and six centers comprising the traditional 23-man roster set-up are a bit much. I like to give my "Have A Photo With Him" Sharks team players the numbers they wore when they were San Jose Sharks players; and if I do that, then Setoguchi and Mark Smith - both wore #16 and only that number - cannot be teammates. I will handle this business later.

I did not buy the new, black t-shirts that feature the current Primary Crest logo on the front and either "Mitchell 17" or "Setoguchi 16" on the back. I believe that I do not need to buy the player t-shirts because I already appreciate both Torrey and Devin not only for making this recent Meet-and-Greet another memorable one, but also because they are San Jose Sharks players. I am now more anxious to see what these "young guns" will do to continue their already-great rookie seasons.