{ "blocks": [ { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "NHL referee Jordan Samuels-Thomas was the man to signal goal on San Jose Sharks rookie Collin Graf's first career tuck, and the two share a connection to Quinnipiac University." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Graf skated in his 18th career NHL game last night and his 11th this season. He finally broke through with his first career goal with a terrific shot over the glove of Montreal Canadiens and 4 Nations Team Canada goalie Sam Montembeault. " } }, { "id": "3nf9mrxg-7wtx0khj", "type": "embed", "data": { "service": "twitter", "source": "https://twitter.com/NHL/status/1887007509233238406", "embed": "https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?id=1887007509233238406", "caption": "" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Graf told reporters after the game that his parents were in town as part of plans for the upcoming break and that his dad flew in on Tuesday." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": " \"It's a dream come true. I was fortunate enough for my parents to be here. My dad called me when he landed, and he was like, if I flew all the way out here, you better score. I made sure that his trip out here was worth the money,\" Graf joked. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "But what made the goal even more special was Graf and Samuels-Thomas' connection to Quinnipiac. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Samuels-Thomas, the first African American referee in NHL history, also attended Quinnipiac. He scored the opening goal in the 2013 Frozen Four semi-final and assisted on the game-winning goal, which sent Quinnipiac to its first-ever National Championship game. " } }, { "id": "8duuuq6i-4an0nw9a", "type": "embed", "data": { "service": "twitter", "source": "https://twitter.com/thereynoldswrap/status/1887017069675470956", "embed": "https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?id=1887017069675470956", "caption": "" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Graf was part of Quinnipiac's first-ever National Championship win as he was the man who got the \"third assist\" on the overtime winner against Minnesota in 2023. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgNabkBeRJs[/embed]" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "The Montreal Canadiens won 4-3 over the San Jose Sharks last night. In a game that didn't make many national headlines, a story like this can show how closely the sport of hockey and the people who play in it are connected in so many ways." } }, { "id": "gam1qhv8-ty0spxy5", "type": "embed", "data": { "service": "twitter", "source": "https://twitter.com/JamesMurrayECH/status/1887260201478242613", "embed": "https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?id=1887260201478242613", "caption": "" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "\"[My parents are] everything. You look back on it, all those practices where it's after work and [my dad had] to work a whole day. My mom helped, too, but my mom would spend a little bit more time with my brother. My dad was mostly with me. [It's] just the way it worked out in timing and stuff,\" Graf said. \"He drives me to practice for all those years when I couldn't drive, and he drives me back. As a young kid, games are not at good times on the weekend. It's 8 a.m., and he's worked a hard, long week, and he's waking up at 6 a.m. and making sure I have breakfast. He's making sure that everything is ready for little 1012-year-old me and making sure that I can go out there and keep getting better at hockey.\"" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Stay updated with the most interesting San Jose Sharks stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Make sure you bookmark THN's San Jose Sharks site for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "NHL's Calder Trophy Favorites Face Off For First Time" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "BREAKING: Sharks Recall AHL's Leading Scorer" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Yaroslav Askarov & Former Sharks Hometown Hero Goalie Entertain During AHL All-Star Weekend" } }, { "type": "list", "data": { "style": "unordered", "items": [ "Follow Max on Twitter: @Real_Max_Miller" ] } } ] }

NHL Referee & Sharks Rookie Share Special College Connection With Collin Graf's First NHL Goal