On January 28, 2026, The Fin Factor co-hosts Paul Sunseri and Aaron Sholl joined Brian Watt on KQED, the Bay Area’s NPR member station, to discuss the San Jose Sharks’ impact on the upcoming Winter Olympics in Italy. The interview, recorded remotely via Zoom, was featured during Morning Edition as part of KQED’s local coverage of the Games.
Sharks on the Global Stage
With the NHL taking a break for the Olympics, Paul and Aaron highlighted the international talent currently fueling the Sharks’ roster. While no Sharks are representing Team USA this year, four players are set to compete for their home countries:
- Macklin Celebrini (Canada): Celebrini makes history as the youngest Canadian ever named to their Olympic team. He is expected to play alongside hockey legend Sidney Crosby, who specifically requested to play with the young star.
- Alexander Wennberg (Sweden): Fans are eager to see teammates become rivals when Celebrini’s Team Canada faces off against Wennberg and Team Sweden.
- Pavol Regenda (Slovakia): Regenda will represent Slovakia, a team the hosts described as a potential “Cinderella” story against hockey juggernauts like Canada and the USA.
- Philipp Kurashev (Switzerland): Prior to a recent upper-body injury in December 2025, Kurashev recorded 6 goals and 9 assists in 31 games for the Sharks. Although not mentioned in the interview, Kurashev was playing in a top-six role alongside Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith.
A Promising Season in San Jose
Beyond the Olympics, the conversation touched on the Sharks’ surprising performance this season. Paul and Aaron noted that the team is currently in the “playoff bubble,” a significant step forward from previous years.
The hosts credited much of this success to the rapid development of Macklin Celebrini, who has been “carrying the team on his back” with a staggering 40-point lead over the next closest player on the roster.
Listen to the Segment
You can listen to the full edited interview as it aired on KQED via the player below:
