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Yesterday (2026 January 3rd), I attended my first ever NHL game in person, and probably my first ever SPORTS game ever? Growing up in the Bay means I'm no foreigner to the SAP Center, not when Disney on Ice is bait for every child within driving proximity, but the last time I had been here was the SuperM concert that happened right before the COVID-19 shutdown. I went with my friend and parking was crazy. By the time we'd gotten in, it was 20 minutes until 1PM, in the middle of warmups. I was watching Mack toss pucks to children on a side completely lined with Macklin posters. Amazing.

When warmups ended, they started lowering the shark. I don't know if it was right after, but it doesn't matter. See, I've seen then skate out of the mouth on broadcast, but watching them lower it in real time was hilarious. Less fun watching them skate out of it because I was looking at it from behind, so I guess my goal is to earn enough money to buy more tickets to get a different angle of this view. Or make sure to get those Costco package deals. Then, THEY BROUGHT CHILDREN OUT ONTO THE ICE!! I think they were the … California Cougars? From Cupertino. Very cute, and later on, when they were announcing the kids' names, I realized over 50% of them were Chinese, which checks out considering they're from Cupertino. Not to mention, both of the kids they did introduce were both Chinese. One of them even shared that their favorite subject was ENGINEERING. Can't get more Chinese than that when you're raised in Silicon Valley During the first intermission, they brought out the California Cougars children and had them attempt a shot. Very cute, and I took a video of it because I thought it was adorable.

As for the actual game, there were some noticeable differences watching live versus on broadcast. The biggest one was following the puck. I often find it hard to spot the puck on broadcast, and I think it's because you have to follow the puck as the camera moves, whereas in person, the camera isn't interfering with the path your eyes should be following. It was so much clearer and brighter in person. The only time it's hard to see the puck is when there are too many people scrambling for it, but that's a given I feel. The other thing was witnessing the line changes, which aren't always shown on camera. I'm not sure if other people care, but I find it fun to see them! Hockey is a lot more fluid sport than other sports I have watched, and the smooth line changes really adds to it. The funniest thing though was when the away team's player went into the penalty box. They put chomping shark teeth graphics over the player!! It was super funny, and cute to see everyone making chomping shark teeth hand movements.

The Sharks lost 7-3, but I think it was a fun game for me! Witnessed some crazy fights, and the one where the entire 4th line was getting into the penalty box is something I will always remember. It had happened so fast, and as soon as I sent a snippet to my friend, I was given a rundown of the broadcast version. Insane on many accounts, and I must say, witnessing Sharks' POWER OF FRIENDSHIP arc live is an irreplaceable moment. I've watched a handful of games on stream, but I don't think I've yet to see a fight like this? Ekky/Mack for Will during that Pens game is one for the books but that feels more RPF-heavy to me in terms of WHY I WOULD REMEMBER. Anyway. I have a chopped video of it sitting in my camera roll because, once again, crazy thing to witness live…

The best thing to come out of this game was obviously Regenda's hatty! Unfortunately, I did not bring a hat but even if I did, I really have 0 throwing power and I probably would have hit someone's head in the lower sections…Seeing all the deflated soccer balls on the ice was so funny though, and I want to think that counts for a once-in-a-lifetime experience?

Also, I got randomly bitter because a girl in the row behind me got a SIGNED Will Smith jersey, but I can't actually complain because I wasn't even sitting next to the aisle.

Anyway, super fun experience, and the fact that I might be attending another NHL game live this season has me excited!! And if not, I am definitely looking to see how I can affordably attend more Sharks games next season. In the meantime, I will be showing up to their open practices when I get the chance.