[sixcol_five_last]
By Florence Blas

Josiah, Jayden and JT Sgro are proving that Guam roots can play the game of hockey. (courtesy photo)
The skating is fast and purposeful, as the Sgro brothers, JT, Josiah and Jayden play a sport relatively unfamiliar to their Guam roots! Dressed in layers of protective gear and helmet the boys skillfully glide across the ice dodging opponents in their quest for a goal. The three Sgro brothers all play hockey in San Jose, California, home to the National Hockey League’s San Jose Sharks.
JT, age 12 played on the PeeWee Yellow Hornet in-house team. He recalls that his interest in hockey began after a couple of years of “street hockey” with neighborhood friends. He traded in his roller skates for ice skates and the rest is history.
JT patiently explained his favorite moves on the ice. He loves the deke which is a technique where the player uses the stick to move the puck back and forth on the ice. “This is also a fake-out. It helps confuse the other team, so that a player can get the puck as close to the goal as possible.”
He further commented that “hockey is a great sport and my favorite sport. It is fast paced and you have to take some hits.”

7-year-old Jayden goes over drills with his youth hockey team in San Jose that is affiliate with the NHL’s Sharks. (courtesy photo)
The goalie in the group, Josiah, age 9, has continued to practice and improve his goalie position. He plays for the Mites Yellow Jackets, San Jose Sharks in-house league. He guards the goal and aims to prevent the other team from scoring. Keeping an eye on that little black disk requires keen concentration and quick responses. Josiah explained that his favorite move as a goalie is called the “butterfly”. “It’s when you drop down on your knees and utilize the goal pads to stop the puck.”
Josiah understands the importance of protecting the goal and has no hesitation about using every part of his body to do that! During one of Josiah’s game, he was scouted by one of the San Jose Jr. Sharks coaches and was invited to try out for the Junior Seals, coached by former NHL Sharks player Curtis Brown.
After his first tryout he was invited to join the team and will play in a spring tournament. At the end of April, this spirited 9-year-old will be heading to Vancouver, Canada. Josiah said, “I practice a lot and work hard”. At the end of a game, the entire team rallies around the goalie, shouting, hugging and simply saying good job. How does that make him feel? “Happy!”
Look out for Jayden, age 7. He is daring and fast on the ice. He practices hard and gets up every Saturday morning for a 7:30 am game. Clearly hockey has its own lingo. When asked about favorite moves, Jayden said, “I like the top shelf. That’s when you hit the puck with your hockey stick in a way that makes it hit off of the top of the net”.
Jayden is pretty proud that he has good control on the ice. “Stopping good and skating fast are two things I like”. He also likes checking opposing players. Jayden explains with a grin, “Checking is when you push a player on the other team against the wall.”
So who is left? Little sister Juliana is 4 and has started basic ice skating. The next big decision is will it be figure skating or hockey? The pressure is on, three whispers can be heard in the background, as her brothers all vote for “hockey”. Let’s wait and see what is in store for this spirited little girl.
John Sgro, FD Class of ’91 and former All-Island volleyball setter and basketball point guard, enjoys taking his boys to their games on Saturdays and Sundays. “I never imagined my kids playing hockey, but it is a great experience that I enjoy each time I watch them.”
From experience, if you plan to visit them over a weekend, be prepared to be watching hockey in Shark country and dress warm. Brrrr!
[fbshare url=”http://www.gspnlive.com/gspn/sgro-kids-shaving-the-ice/” type=”button”] [fblike url=”http://www.gspnlive.com/gspn/sgro-kids-shaving-the-ice/” style=”standard” showfaces=”false” width=”450″ verb=”like” font=”arial”]
[/sixcol_five_last]


GPS Sports Calendar
July 2025
- SU
- MO
- TU
- WE
- TH
- FR
- SA
Events for June
1st
FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
2025 PACIFIC MINI GAMES
Events for July
2nd
FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
2025 PACIFIC MINI GAMES
Events for July
3rd
FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
2025 PACIFIC MINI GAMES
Events for July
4th
FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
2025 PACIFIC MINI GAMES
Events for July
5th
FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
2025 PACIFIC MINI GAMES
Events for July
6th
FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
2025 PACIFIC MINI GAMES
Events for July
7th
FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
2025 PACIFIC MINI GAMES
Events for July
8th
FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
2025 PACIFIC MINI GAMES
Events for July
9th
FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
2025 PACIFIC MINI GAMES
Events for July
10th
FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
Events for July
11th
- 13
- 14
- 15
- 16
- 17
- 18
- 19
Events for July
12th
Events for July
13th
Events for July
14th
Events for July
15th
Events for July
16th
Events for July
17th
Events for July
18th
- 20
- 21
- 22
- 23
- 24
- 25
- 26
Events for July
19th
Events for July
20th
Events for July
21st
Events for July
22nd
Events for July
23rd
Events for July
24th
Events for July
25th
- 27
- 28
- 29
- 30
- 31
- 1
- 2
Events for July
26th
Events for July
27th
Events for July
28th
Events for July
29th
Events for July
30th

Pacific Mini Games
PMG DAY 4: BASEBALL DOWNS PALAU IN FRONT OF PACKED CROWD

Pacific Mini Games
PMG DAY 3: SANTOS LIFTS FIRST MEDALS FOR GUAM

Pacific Mini Games
PMG DAY 2: GUAM STILL SEARCHES FOR FIRST MEDAL

Soccer
MASAKADA DRAWS 0-0 WITH UAE

Basketball
GUAM BASKETBALL CREATES HALL OF FAME

Basketball
FD ALUMNI HOOPS OPENS WITH A BANG

Pacific Mini Games
PMG DAY 2: GUAM STILL SEARCHES FOR FIRST MEDAL
COMING SOON …
FD Alumni Basketball Tournament June 27-July 18
Pacific Mini Games June 29-July 9
QUICK HITS