Rookie Face-Off: Sharks and Ducks Showcase Top Prospects
The San Jose Sharks and Anaheim Ducks kicked off the Golden State Rookie Face-Off on Friday in Irvine, CA. The tournament provides a valuable opportunity to evaluate NHL prospects against their peers, showcasing talent and organizational depth.
Sharks vs. Ducks: A Prospect Preview
The Golden State Rookie Faceoff is underway at Great Park Ice in Irvine. The tournament began Friday evening with a matchup between the San Jose Sharks and the Anaheim Ducks. The Kings and Ducks get a prospects preview this weekend.
Fans got to see top prospects from each organization on display.
Sharks Lineup and Key Players
The San Jose Sharks showcased several of their top prospects, including Michael Misa, Quentin Musty, Igor Chernyshov, Sam Dickinson, and Josh Ravensbergen. Coach John McCarthy emphasized the importance of effort and intention over structural perfection in these early games.
Projected lines for the Sharks included:
- Musty-Bystedt-Lund
- Chernyshov-Misa-Graf
- Wetsch-Mutryn-Halttunen
- Torrance-Heise-Houben
Defense pairings included Dickinson-Furlong, Wang-Cagnoni, and Hache-Havelid. These combinations provide a glimpse into the Sharks' future and player chemistry.
Ravensbergen Gets the Nod in Goal
Goaltending prospect Josh Ravensbergen started for the Sharks and was expected to play the entire game. McCarthy praised Ravensbergen's size and composure. Matt Davis and Christian Kirsh are expected to split time on Saturday against the Kings.
“It’s good. Big frame, or I should say, tall,” McCarthy said. “[He] takes up a lot of space in there. [He’s a] good kid. Calm. I like to see that in a goalie, and he doesn’t seem to get rattled.”
Spotlight on Haoxi (Simon) Wang
Defenseman Haoxi (Simon) Wang, the 33rd overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, is under close scrutiny. Known for his elite skating and edgework, Wang is paired with Luca Cagnoni. Wang's performance against other top NHL prospects is a key storyline for the Sharks.
Ducks Lineup and Key Players
For the hosts, two 2024 first-round draft picks are featured in forward Beckett Sennecke and defenseman Stian Solberg. Tim Washe and Ian Moore are also in the mix.
Tournament Schedule and Information
The Golden State Rookie Faceoff continues with the following schedule:
- Saturday, 1 p.m.: Kings vs. San Jose Sharks
- Sunday, 1 p.m.: Kings vs. Ducks
Tickets are available for $15 per game at anaheimducks.com/GoldenStateRookieFaceoff.
Ducks Fall to Sharks in Spirited Opening Game
The **San Jose Sharks** defeated the **Anaheim Ducks** in a spirited opening game of the **Golden State Rookie Faceoff**.
Will Francis, a Ducks sixth round draft pick in 2019 and a three-time cancer survivor, played in his first NHL rookie tournament game. The **Ducks** play the final game of the tournament Sunday at 1 p.m. against the Kings.
