Sharks coach Warsofsky provides dream experience for goaltenders in the rec league

Sharks coach Warsofsky gives dream experience for goaltenders in rec league originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Editor’s note: Sheng Peng is a regular contributor to NBC Sports California’s Sharks coverage. You can read more of his coverage at San Jose Hockey Now, listen to him on the San Jose Hockey Now Podcast and follow him on Twitter at @Sheng_Peng.

NEW YORK – Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky gave a rec league goaltender the thrill of a lifetime.

Goalkeeper Harold Robinson was simply hoping to change in his permanent locker room stall at Chelsea Piers in New York City. San Jose, getting ready for their practice, shared the space.

“I came out of the dressing room because I was on my way to Chelsea open hockey [at another rink]and one of the [Sharks] Equipment managers turned around and said to me, Coach wants you to get on the ice,” Robinson told San Jose Hockey Now. “I was looking at him, are you kidding me?”

So that’s how the 65-year-old netminder found himself taking pictures of an NHL team on a random Wednesday afternoon.

That’s not all: Warsofsky also asked Robinson to say a few words and introduce himself to the Sharks.

“I’m standing here with a professional hockey team and talking about myself,” Robinson said. “And here are all these great players on this up-and-coming team.”

Born and raised in New York City and a lifelong fan of the New York Rangers, the Chelsea Fitness personal trainer has been going to Chelsea Piers for 25 years.

“When I was growing up, there was that one guy who decided he was tired of his friends talking about who’s going to play on the net. So I grabbed the equipment,” he said. “I went from street to floor to ice cream.”

He is also a big fan of the Quebec Nordiques jersey and Iron Man, hence his gear.

This isn’t the first time Robinson has been exposed to practicing NHL teams. Because Madison Square Garden is usually booked out with other events, NHL teams regularly go to Chelsea Piers. The Sharks practiced there just two years ago.

“I remember Roberto Luongo joking with me that I was going to work out for him,” Robinson said of the then-Vancouver Canucks netminder.

But this is the first time 6-foot-2 Robinson has actually practiced with an NHL team.

“I skate with the NHL staff team. They have also had some high level people on their skates. But nowadays you understand that if someone gets a puck on their stick, there is no time wasted. They release the puck towards the net,” Robinson said, still overwhelmed by the experience. “The first two on the left and the first two on the right, it took me a while to think, OK, you need to calm down.”

It was striking that 18-year-old Macklin Celebrini did not have much sympathy for Robinson when he was given the bar.

“When he let it go, I thought, oh, that’s an NHL shot,” Robinson laughed. “I don’t mind being challenged by those guys. That was a really good thing.”

Robinson said both San Jose goaltenders went out of their way to make him feel at home.

Mackenzie Blackwood, the goaltender on Robinson’s side of the ice, looked out for him.

“He made me feel very comfortable when I was there,” Robinson said. “Look at the video, he’s looking over my left shoulder and watching me stand and move in the net.”

Vitek Vanecek fist bumped Robinson.

It was a day Robinson will never forget, and more than anyone else he wanted to thank Warsofsky for it.

“I’ve had a tough time the last few months, and today really made my day,” Robinson said. “I tell my son, I tell my daughter, when you have hard times, you can have a hard time, but you don’t give up. You keep pushing. Today was the reward for doing the right thing and making sure you keep moving forward, to keep your head up.”

That sounds like a message any NHL head coach would appreciate!

“It was just an honor just to be asked to be there,” Robinson said. “And then to be out there.”

Download and follow the San Jose Hockey Now podcast