Amador Valley Grad Plays First Game With San Jose Sharks

Matt Tennyson didn't spend his entire childhood in Pleasanton, but after first learning the sport of hockey in Minnesota he came west with his family at age 14 and graduated from Amador Valley High in 2008.

On Monday, Tennyson did what probably no Don has ever done before — played a game in the National Hockey League.

It was a successful debut too, as the 22-year-old San Jose Sharks defenseman assisted on a Joe Thornton goal to help his hometown team beat the Vancouver Canucks 3-2. About 10 of his high school buddies were in HP Pavillion to watch their former classmate, Tennyson said.

The Sharks signed Tennyson last year out of Western Michigan University and with Worchester, the Sharks minor league team, Tennyson scored five goals and had 22 assists in 60 games this season.

Tennyson also has the distinction of being the first player to be part of the Junior Sharks youth program and then play with the NHL team.

Watch Tennyson being interviewed after the Sharks victory at the top of this article.