The latest photo of Jo PAW-velski. Thanks @hssv for taking care of our kitty #SJSharks #SmashNash #sharksblackcat pic.twitter.com/gjBLiUIUuR
— Jim Sparaco (@JimSparaco) May 8, 2016
While they didn't walk away with the Stanley Cup this year, losing in the finals to Pittsburgh, one San Jose Sharks player did pick up a life-changing prize on the ice this season: An adorable stray black cat who scurried out onto the rink during Game 1 of the team's second-round playoff series.
Fox Sports covered the incident, observing that the cat became a sort of good luck symbol for the Sharks. To encourage a family to adopt the cat and others like it, a Silicon Valley humane society even set up a live-cam to watch it and others.
In the end, someone did step up: The San Jose Mercury News reports that none other than Sharks forward Patrick Marleau and his family adopted the kitty, whom the team named Jo Paw-velski after captain Joe Pavelski. In fact, Marleau and his wife, Christin, went so far as to adopt the cat's sibling, too.
It's true! Jo PAWvelski adopted by @SanJoseSharks forward Pat Marleau's wonderful family! Here she is w.Christina! pic.twitter.com/fNjzbpm50d
— Humane Society SV (@hssv) July 5, 2016
Previously: Watch A Stray Cat Slip And Slide On The Ice Before Sharks Game In San Jose