Gustafson Shares Thrill From 1st Hometown Goal, What He Wants To Add to His Game

When Jake Gustafson was a kid, Danny Miller’s goal announcements were the accompanying soundtrack for every San Jose Sharks home goal.

class="wp-block-paragraph">Now, he has a goal of his own, announced by the iconic SAP Center public address announcer, at the Sharks Prospect Scrimmage on Thursday.

class="wp-block-paragraph">“It’s a pretty cool moment, pretty cool to hear it,” the 2026 San Jose Sharks’ sixth-round pick said. “I’ve heard it so many times, and then I’m hearing it for me. It was really cool.”

class="wp-block-paragraph">Gustafson, a San Jose native and son of SAP Center vice president Jon Gustafson, scored the opening goal of the Prospects Scrimmage.

Jake Gustafson with the shot block and a breakaway goal puts Team Marleau (White) up 1-0. #SJSharkspic.twitter.com/bQGIWu1ZFE

— TEAL TOWN USA – A San Jose Sharks Podcast (@TEALTOWNUSA) July 2, 2026Of course!

San Jose native Jake Gustafson gets the scoring started at #SJSharks Prospects Scrimmage. Gotta be a thrill to hear his name announced by Danny Miller too.

I'm sure @SHARKSICEGM is watching proudly somewhere in Tech CU Arena! pic.twitter.com/XDhCNROBkI

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) July 2, 2026San Jose Barracuda coach John McCarthy said it was pretty cool to see a former Jr. Shark get the first goal of the day.

class="wp-block-paragraph">“You can tell he’s smart, you can tell he takes coaching, applies it right away,” McCarthy said of the 6-foot-4 center, who’s headed back to the Portland Winterhawks next year. “He’s been good. For him to score, it’s cool, his family gets to watch it.”

class="wp-block-paragraph">Gustafson spoke about his Santana Row expertise, Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau, and his dad’s advice.

class="wp-block-paragraph">On the advice his dad has given him…

class="wp-block-paragraph">Just play, have fun. Game’s supposed to be fun. If it’s not fun, stop playing.

class="wp-block-paragraph">On what it has been like getting to know the other San Jose Sharks prospects…

class="wp-block-paragraph">Super cool. We got a bunch of great guys, all our first-rounders, all of our picks this year, picks in the previous years, all bunch of great guys, and it’s a really good core group here.

class="wp-block-paragraph">On scouts complimenting his defensive game and wanting to improve his offensive game…

class="wp-block-paragraph">I’m a forward, I love to score goals, that’s what I’m supposed to do. So I take pride in my defensive game, but next year I’m going to hopefully ramp up on the offensive side as well.

class="wp-block-paragraph">On what it was like to hear his hometown team San Jose Sharks had drafted him…

class="wp-block-paragraph">It was really cool. When I got the call, I kind of blacked out a little bit, and it’s coming back to me now, which is good. It was probably the coolest moment of my life, getting the call from Mike [Grier], and being a part of the organization I grew up loving is just a dream come true.

class="wp-block-paragraph">On his favorite local spots…

class="wp-block-paragraph">Since Eataly came in, I love Eataly. Pizza Antica is really good. Din Tai Fung in the mall is really good. Those are my three tops at the mall in the Santana Row area.

class="wp-block-paragraph">On fellow Sharks prospect Colton Roberts who plays for Colorado College, where Gustafson is committed…

class="wp-block-paragraph">Me and him had a couple chats, I got to know him really well this week, and he’s a really good guy, and hopefully will be playing with him soon.

class="wp-block-paragraph">On skating with Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau at Development Camp…

class="wp-block-paragraph">Dream come true. Those two are my idols. I grew up loving them, watching them, modeling my game after them. So it’s really just a dream come true.

The post Gustafson Shares Thrill From 1st Hometown Goal, What He Wants To Add to His Game  appeared first on San Jose Hockey Now.