Mark your calendars, NHL All-Star Weekend will be held in San Jose next year.
Commissioner Gary Bettman made the announcement Saturday in Tampa, where the 63rd NHL All-Star Game will be played Sunday.
It will be the second time the Sharks have hosted the events, which next year are set for Jan. 25-27.
“We are thankful and thrilled the NHL has decided, once again, to bring one of its premier events to San Jose,” Sharks co-President John Tortora said. “NHL All-Star Weekend is for our loyal and outstanding fans, who have eagerly anticipated the return of this event, and for the city of San Jose as the hockey world descends to shine an international spotlight on our great city.”
The Eastern Conference beat the Western Conference 11-7 in San Jose in 1997. Late in the third period of that game, the Sharks’ Owen Nolan brought the house down when he pointed at Dominik Hasek on a breakaway and beat the Buffalo goalie for his third goal of the game.
The game’s format has changed since the Sharks hosted the 47th annual event 21 years ago. The televised skills competition will be held at SAP Center on Saturday, Jan. 26, and the All-Star Game itself — which has featured a 3-on-3 tournament between the league’s four divisions the past two years — will be Sunday, Jan. 27.
“All-Star Weekend brings the NHL family together in celebration of our sport,” Bettman said. “We’re looking forward to a terrific All-Star Weekend in San Jose.”
Sharks365 members for 2018-19 will have the first opportunity to purchase All-Star Weekend tickets. The Sharks will release more details in the coming weeks.
Ross McKeon is a freelance writer. Twitter: @rossmckeon