SAN JOSE -- At this time last year, Mario Ferraro was surrounded by similar-aged players while starring at the University of Massachusetts. But for the last five months, he has been the Sharks' youngest player, nearly half the age of his eldest teammate.
From the way the defenseman has performed in his first NHL season, you would think Ferraro was a five-year veteran. But frequently, as it was after he scored San Jose's first goal in a 3-2 come-from-behind victory over the New Jersey Devils on Thursday night, his youthful energy is on display and infects all those around him.