San Jose Sharks Apologize for Pro-ICE Message During Hispanic Heritage Night

During the San Jose Sharks' ninth annual Los Tiburones Night celebrating Hispanic heritage, an offensive scoreboard message reading "SJ SHARKS FANS LOVE ICE!! GET'EM BOYZ!" was displayed, causing public outrage. The phrase was interpreted by many as a pro-U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) slogan, which was especially controversial given San Jose's large Latino population and its location in a California sanctuary region. The Sharks apologized, stating the message was externally submitted through a fan-message portal and inadvertently displayed, failing to pass through the team's content review process. The team condemned the message as inconsistent with their values and promised enhanced review mechanisms for future submissions while investigating how the message bypassed filters. This incident overshadowed the intended celebration of Latino culture and drew sharp criticism from fans and community members alike. The Sharks' leadership expressed disappointment both in the message slipping through internal controls and in the sentiment behind it.