Jon Gustafson enters his second season under the new title, Senior Vice President of SAP Center and Sharks Ice. For the previous eight years, Gustafson held the position of Vice President, Sharks Ice LLC, Sharks Minor Holding (San Jose Barracuda) & SSE Merchandise.

 

In his role, Gustafson oversees all venues under the SSE umbrellas including all areas of operation for the Sharks Ice family of ice rinks, including Solar4America Ice at San Jose, Solar4America Ice at Fremont and Oakland Ice Center, operated by Sharks Ice and the SAP Center.

 

Gustafson also acts as the Governor for the San Jose Barracuda and Executive Committee member for the AHL, serving as the liaison between the Barracuda and the league.

 

Since 2000, Gustafson, 52, has served as Vice President and General Manager of the family of Sharks Ice rinks. Under his leadership, the operation has grown from one facility with two ice sheets to three facilities with seven ice sheets and increased revenues ten-fold. Gustafson has also been instrumental in the 200,000 square-foot expansion of Solar4America Ice at San Jose which will include a 4,200-seat arena for the Barracuda and is expected to be complete by the summer of 2022. In June of 2013, the Jr. Sharks youth ice hockey program, which was founded by Gustafson and operates out of Sharks Ice, was named as a USA Hockey Model Program, one of only a handful of programs in the U.S. to receive the honor.

 

Gustafson, who serves on the board of directors for USA Hockey, works closely with organizations such as USA Hockey, USHL, NAHL, ISI and USF to bring national and world hockey events to San Jose. In April of 2016, Sharks Ice hosted the 2016 USA Hockey Boys Tier 1 U-16 and U-18 National Championships, the latest in a long line of national events to select the facility as the home for their events. In 2009, Gustafson was named the International Ice Skating Institute’s “Facility Operator of the Year.”

 

From 1996-99, Gustafson served as general manager and vice president of operations for the San Jose Rhinos of Roller Hockey International (RHI). The team, which played their home games at SAP Center at San Jose, won the Murphy Cup as league champions in 1995 and Gustafson was named RHI “Executive of the Year” in 1999.

 

A former goaltender, Gustafson spent five seasons playing with various teams in the AHL, ECHL, CHL, WCHL and IHL. On April 15, 1992, he dressed as the back-up goaltender to Grant Fuhr for the Toronto Maple Leafs at Maple Leaf Gardens in a 4-2 win over the New York Rangers. The Fort Frances, Ontario native also played collegiately for four seasons at Colorado College. of the Year” in 1999. A former goaltender, Gustafson spent five seasons playing with various teams in the AHL, ECHL, CHL, WCHL and IHL. On April 15, 1992, he dressed as the back-up goaltender to Grant Fuhr for the Toronto Maple Leafs at Maple Leaf Gardens in a 4-2 win over the New York Rangers. The Fort Frances, Ontario native also played collegiately for four seasons at Colorado College.

 

In this newly created role, Grundfast will oversee all aspects of the Barracuda’s business operations, including ticket sales, corporate partnerships, marketing, communications and fan relations. His immediate focus will be building out an expanded business staff dedicated to the Barracuda with a primary focus on the successful completion and launch of the new 4,200 seat Barracuda Arena, slated to open in August 2022 at Sharks Ice at San Jose.

A graduate of Eastern Connecticut State University, Grundfast, 35, has spent the last eight years with the AHL’s Iowa Wild, serving most recently as the team’s Vice President of Sales for the last four seasons.

During Grundfast’s tenure with Iowa, the Minnesota Wild’s affiliate organization was named as a model franchise with multiple awards for front office performance, including the AHL's Sponsorship Sales Department of the Year (2016) and Western Conference's Best Fan Experience Award (2015).

Prior to working in Iowa, Grundfast spent two and a half seasons with the AHL’s Providence Bruins, within the club’s sales department. The native of Saugerties, New York is a lifelong hockey fan and grew up attending men’s and women’s hockey games at Cornell University. His career in professional hockey began in 2008 with the AHL’s Albany River Rats as an account executive.

The future 4,200 seat Barracuda Arena is set to be complete in the summer of 2022 and is part of a 400,000 square-foot expansion of Sharks Ice at San Jose, which will make the facility the largest of its kind in North America. For more information, click here.

Email: egrundfast@sjbarracuda.com

What you love most about working for the Barracuda: Growing our fanbase and the sport of hockey in the Bay Area and beyond.

Best thing about your job: Building relationships with our fanbase and providing affordable family entertainment.

Hometown: Saugerties, NY

States (and provinces or countries) you’ve lived in: Dallas, TX, Ithaca, NY, Saugerties, NY, Willimantic, CT, North Providence, RI, and West Des Moines, IA

College degree/year/school: Bachelors of Science, Sport and Business Management

Sports idol(s) as a youth: Emmitt Smith

First job/your age: Old Navy (16)

Proudest professional accomplishment: AHL Team Of the Year 2018-19 (Iowa Wild)

Sports played growing up: Lacrosse/Basketball

Favorite spectator sports: Hockey, Golf

Favorite pro/college sports teams (excluding San Jose Barracuda): Dallas Cowboys, New York Yankees, Tiger Woods

In this newly created role, Davis will oversee all aspects of the Barracuda’s ticket operations, including ticket sales strategy and implementation, and individual, group and season plans. Her immediate focus will be on building out an expanded sales staff dedicated to the Barracuda with a primary focus on the successful completion and launch of the new 4,200 seat Barracuda Arena, slated to open in August 2022 at Sharks Ice at San Jose.

A graduate of Lynn University in Boca Raton, Fla., Davis has over 10 years of revenue generation experience in sports, most recently serving as the Sr. Director of Ticket Sales with the ECHL’s South Carolina Stingrays, affiliate of the NHL’s Washington Capitals.

Prior to her time in Charleston, Davis served as the Director of Ticket Sales for the AAA Oklahoma City Dodgers baseball team and before that spent time with BSE Global, the operator of the Barclays Center, home of the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets. In addition, Davis was also the Director of Group Ticket Sales for the AAA Charlotte Knights baseball team for two seasons.

The native of Morristown, N.J. also spent seven years as a group sales representative with the NFL’s New York Jets and NHL’s New Jersey Devils.

Email: sdavis@sjbarracuda.com

 

2021-22 will mark Jonathan Hernandez’s first with the Barracuda as a Ticket Account Executive.

 

The native of Orange Cove, Calif. graduated from Fresno State in 2018 with a degree in Kinesiology and in 2021 earned his Master’s in Sports Administration from FSU.

 

While still in school, Hernandez, 27, interned with the Fresno State Athletics Marketing Program and volunteered as a club member for the Kinesiology Club.

 

He’s also been a fitness trainer for the last five years.

 

His long-term goal is to own a sports facility to help all athletes develop their talent and to support their passion for sports.

 

Email: jhernandez@sjbarracuda.com

 

What you love most about working for the Barracuda: Helping fans!

Best thing about your job: Teamwork

Hometown: Orange Cove, Calif. (Fresno County)

States (and provinces or countries) you’ve lived in: Cali boy

College degree/year/school: M.A. - Kinesiology/ CSU Fresno

Sports idol(s) as a youth: MJ, Kobe

Personal/professional hero(es): My parents

As a child, you dreamed of becoming: A pro athlete

First job/your age: VF outdoors (17)

An interesting fact about you: Spend a lot of time in gym...so I can eat whatever I want!

Other sports teams you’ve worked for: 1st team!

Proudest professional accomplishment: Helping fans come to games

Favorite charities/charitable causes: K9's for warriors

Sports played growing up: Football & Basketball

Favorite foods: Steak

Favorite sports movie: The last dance (Not a movie but still counts!)

Favorite TV show: Anything on ESPN

Favorite subject in elementary school: P.E.

Favorite spectator sports: Barracuda hockey

Favorite pro/college sports teams (excluding San Jose Barracuda): LA rams, Lakers

2021-22 marks Daniel’s first season with the Barracuda as an Account Executive for team's business development.  A native of San Jose, Calif., Daniel attended multiple San Jose Sharks game as a child, and even attended Barracuda games while in college at San Jose State.

 

Daniel, 26, graduated from SJSU in 2021 with his degree in Kinesiology, concentrating in Sports Management and Culture.  While attending San Jose State, he interned in their Athletics Department as an Assistant Events and Facilities Coordinator for two years.

 

Before Joining the Barracuda, Daniel worked with the San Francisco 49ers in their Ticket Operations Department after graduation.  He also currently works at Sharks Ice San Jose, as a Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Junior Sharks Program.

 

Email: dfruzzetti@sjbarracuda.com

 

What you love most about working for the Barracuda: The energy of my coworkers and the fans

Best thing about your job:  Meeting new people

Hometown: San Jose

States (and provinces or countries) you’ve lived in: San Jose Born and Raised

College degree/year/school: Bachelors in Kinesiology/Sports Management class of 21’ San Jose State University

Sports idol(s) as a youth:  Daniel Cormier

Personal/professional hero(es): My grandfather

As a child, you dreamed of becoming: A veterinarian

First job/your age: Trainer at a YMCA (19)

An interesting fact about you: I played quidditch while attending SJSU

Other sports teams you’ve worked for: San Jose State University Athletics, San Francisco 49ers

Proudest professional accomplishment:  Getting to manage teams of student workers while interning at SJSU Athletics

Favorite charities/charitable causes:  Autism awareness, mental health awareness

Sports played growing up: Mixed martial arts, volleyball, cross country, track and field

Favorite foods: Lasagna, lemon pasta, taco salad

Favorite sports movie: Cool Runnings

Favorite TV show: The Last Ship

Favorite subject in elementary school: Science

Favorite spectator sports: Mixed Martial Arts, Hockey, Football, Basketball, Volleyball

Favorite pro/college sports teams (excluding San Jose Barracuda): San Francisco 49ers, Santa Cruz Warriors

2021-22 marks Jared’s first season with the Barracuda as an Account Executive for the team’s Business Development. Born in Orlando, FL., Jared moved to Grandview, Wash., along with his family when he was five and graduated from Washington State University with a bachelor’s degree in Sport Management in 2019.

 

While in school at WSU, he worked for the University of Idaho Athletics Department, primarily assisting in the ticket office during football and basketball gamedays. In addition, he worked with the WSU Woman’s Basketball team as an equipment manager.

 

In 2019, Johnson-Churchill moved to Green Bay, WI. for an internship with the Green Bay Booyah Baseball team (formerly known as the Green Bay Bullfrogs and Rockers). In 2020, he also spent a brief stint in Seattle with Sounders (MLS), assisting in the ticket office.

 

Email: jchurchill@sjbarracuda.com

 

What you love most about working for the Barracuda: Working with such a great team from the office staff, to the players, to the coaches

Best thing about your job: Getting to talk to and meet with some of the best sports fans in the world!

Hometown: Grandview, Wash.

States (and provinces or countries) you’ve lived in: Florida, Washington, Wisconsin, California

College degree/year/school: Sport Management/2019/Washington State University

Sports idol(s) as a youth: Tim Tebow, Michael Phelps

Personal/professional hero(es): My mom, dad, grandpa, and grandma

As a child, you dreamed of becoming: A paleontologist. I watched Jurassic Park too much as a child

First job/your age: Lifeguard (15)

An interesting fact about you: I represented the United States for swimming in Vienna Austria in a junior Olympics when I was 13

Other sports teams you’ve worked for: Green Bay Booyah (Now known as "Rockers"), Seattle Sounders (MLS)

Proudest professional accomplishment: Earning a promotion from an overnight worker to general manager of a gym club in less than a year.

Favorite charities/charitable causes: UNICEF, St. Jude's Children's Hospital, The Salvation Army, Feeding America

Sports played growing up: Baseball, Swimming, Football, Basketball

Favorite foods: Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich

Favorite sports movie: Moneyball

Favorite TV show: That 70's Show

Favorite subject in elementary school: History

Favorite spectator sports: Football, Soccer, Baseball, Hockey, Basketball, Rugby

Favorite pro/college sports teams (excluding San Jose Barracuda): Washington State University (Go Cougs!). I might get some hate from naming some of these buuuuuuuut Seattle Seahawks, Seattle Sounders, Seattle Mariners, Portland Trailblazers, New Zealand All Blacks Rugby, SAN JOSE SHARKS & Seattle Kraken:/

 

 

 

 

 

In her frist season, Hodgdon oversees all aspects of the Barracuda’s marketing and digital media efforts, including brand management, staffing, and recruiting, promotions, design, theme nights, specialty jerseys, and social media strategy. Hodgdon will work Director of Barracuda Business Operations Eric Grundfast and Sales and Service Manager Samantha Davis in the successful completion and launch of the team’s new 4,200 seat Barracuda Arena, slated to open in Aug. 2022 at Sharks Ice at San Jose.

Before joining the Barracuda, Hodgdon, 29, spent the last year working for Restoration Management Company based out of Hayward, Calif. Her responsibilities included marketing support, analytics tracking, advertisement strategy, giveaways, photography, videography, editing, and more.

Before working for the Restoration Management Company, the native of Salisbury, Maryland served as a Catering and Marketing Manager for Sodexo Quality of Life Services at Kansas State University Athletics in Manhattan, Kansas from Mar. of 2019 to Feb. of 2020. While she was in that position, she was quickly promoted to Field Marketing Specialist of 30 Northern California accounts for four months before the Covid-19 global pandemic began.

Hodgdon’s professional marketing experience started before she finished earning her degree at the College of Charleston in 2018 as she was part of the Charleston Wine + Food Festival Creative Team from 2017 through 2018.

Email: khodgdon@sjbarracuda.com

 

2021-22 will mark Rebecca’s first with the Barracuda. The native of Indianapolis, Indiana is a graduate of Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. While at IUPUI, she double majored in Journalism and Communications Studies, with a primary focus in broadcast and sports media.

 

Her career in sports began while still in school as she interned for both the ECHL’s Indy Fuel within the team’s digital media department and with the AHL’s Utica Comets as a video editor.

 

Following graduation, she served as a video producer with Joliet Slammers of the Frontier League as a video producer and then with the Charlotte Knights, AAA of the Chicago White Sox, as a video assistant.

 

Before being hired by the Barracuda, the 25-year-old, worked for Marquee Sports Network, TV home of the Chicago Cubs, as a Production Assistant.

 

Email: rkoscielniak@sjbarracuda.com

Garner returns to the Barracuda for her seventh season with the team in 2021-22 and her third as the club’s assistant game presentation manager. Garner originally started with the Barracuda as a part of the game promotional team, which sparked her passion for working in professional sports.

The San Jose native’s main responsibilities include managing and executing in-game promotions and driving the fan experience. During a shortened 2020-21 season, Garner ran the team’s game presentation operations when Daniel Bell was called up to the Sharks.

Garner is currently pursuing her degree from San Jose State University.

Email: egarner@sjbarracuda.com

Ethan started his first season with the team in December of 2021. He acts as the team's digital marketing coordinator and runs the team's social media accounts. Ethan found a love for sports marketing after helping grow the club hockey team just 30 minutes north at UC Berkeley. He's also had experience working with other sports companies such as CAA Sports and the new AHL team in Palm Springs. Before working with The Barracuda, Ethan spent the last year in San Diego working in Real Estate as a marketing coordinator for some of the top agents in the city. 

Originally from Calgary, Ethan moved to San Diego in 2008. He's played hockey for a majority of his life and his goal is to continue to work in sports professionally.

Email: ecrick@sjbarracuda.com

What you love most about working for the Barracuda: Helping grow the game of hockey in the Bay Area

Best thing about your job: Doing what I love everyday

Hometown: San Diego, Calif.

States (and provinces or countries) you’ve lived in: US and Canada

College degree/year/school: Pre-Law/ 2021/ UC Berkeley

Sports idol(s) as a youth: Marc Andre Fleury

Personal/professional hero(es): My Dad

As a child, you dreamed of becoming: A pro hockey player

First job/your age: Pizza Delivery Driver (23)

An interesting fact about you: I have a dog named Kiwi

Other sports teams you’ve worked for: Cal Hockey, Coachella Valley Firebirds

Proudest professional accomplishment: Getting this job

Favorite charities/charitable causes: Habitat for humanity

Sports played growing up: Hockey and Lacrosse

Favorite foods: Chick-Fil-A

Favorite sports movie: Moneyball

Favorite TV show: Futurama

Favorite subject in elementary school: History

Favorite spectator sports: Hockey and Football

Favorite pro/college sports teams (excluding San Jose Barracuda): The Sharks of course ;)

D'ntrell is from Fairfield California, graduated from San Jose State University and lived in San Jose ever since. He's new to the hockey scene but loving the intensity and competitive nature of the sport. D'ntrells favorite sports teams are the Cowboys, Lakers, and Sharks! When he isn't designing or watching sports you can find D'ntell catching up on the latest Netflix shows, or playing Chess!

What you love most about working for the Barracuda: The work environment, everyone is extremely friendly and wants to work together

Best thing about your job: Being able to create new designs everyday

Hometown: Fairfield, Calif.

States (and provinces or countries) you’ve lived in: California

College degree/year/school: Bachelors Degree Graphic Design San Jose State University

Sports idol(s) as a youth: Kobe Bryant & Derek Jeter. Two different styles of leadership but still both winners at the highest level

Personal/professional hero(es): My parents, I learned so many different life lessons from the both of them

As a child, you dreamed of becoming: Believe it or not ... A graphic designer!

First job/your age: Six Flags Magic Kingdom (18)

An interesting fact about you: Hand me rubik's cube and I can complete it

Other sports teams you’ve worked for: The Barracuda is my first

Proudest professional accomplishment: This job! First professional sports design job.

Favorite charities/charitable causes: Anything that helps children. The youth is our future and anything and everything helps shape a better future I can stand behind

Sports played growing up: Basketball and Track & Field

Favorite foods: Pineapple Pizza

Favorite sports movie: Space Jam & The Mighty Ducks

Favorite TV show: The 100 & Game of Thrones

Favorite subject in elementary school: Math!

Favorite spectator sports: World Cup & Olympic Soccer (Football)

Favorite pro/college sports teams (excluding San Jose Barracuda): Sharks, Lakers, Warriors, Cowboys, Yankees, and USC

 

Nick Nollenberger returns for his sixth season as the Media Relations and Broadcasting Manager for the Sharks top affiliate, the San Jose Barracuda.

 

A San Jose Jr. Sharks alum, Nollenberger was the Director of Broadcast and Media Relations for the Odessa Jackalopes of the North American Hockey League (NAHL) prior to joining the Barracuda.

 

Before Odessa, the 30-year-old served as the Assistant Director of Broadcast and Media Relations for one season with the Kannapolis Intimidators, Class ‘A’ affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. The Santa Cruz, Ca native graduated from the University of Arizona in 2014, earning a degree in Broadcast Journalism.

 

Nick can be heard throughout the Barracuda season on AHLTV, at sjbarracuda.com/listen and on the Sharks + SAP Center App.

 

Email: nnollenberger@sjbarracuda.com