| The Salsa Sharks are an international street hockey team and a proud member club of the VASHL.
The franchise was added as part of the 2016 expansion, which also included the Golgothans and the SModawa 37’s. The team is based on a scene in Kevin Smith’s movie Clerks, where Randal Graves (Jeff Anderson) takes a chip and stirs salsa as if it was a shark while commenting: “Duh duh… duh duh… duh duh duh duh duh duh duh duh duh duh duh duh duh duh… Salsa shark! We’re gonna need a bigger boat! Man goes into cage, cage goes into salsa. Shark’s in the salsa. Our shark.” The scene is a nod to one of Kevin Smith’s favorite films, Jaws. They are also one of the six VASHL franchises that have participated in the Walter Gretzky Street Hockey Tournament, as well as the September Classic. In their inaugural year, the Salsa Sharks captured the Kevin Smith’s Buddy Christ Memorial Heart Trophy in 2016. With their cinematic roots, spirited gameplay, and league-wide recognition, the Salsa Sharks remain a fan-favorite franchise in VASHL. Contents |
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2025 WGSHT Roster
| # | Nat | Player |
|---|---|---|
| 10 |  |
Brad Bomberry |
| 11 | |
Alex Speers |
| 12 | |
Ethan Adams |
| 15 | |
Kyle Demaria (A) (Goalie) |
| 22 | |
Jordan Tolton |
| 69 | |
Chris Beaton |
| 77 | |
Jody Simpson (C) |
| 00 | |
David Wright |
| 00 | |
Drew Howes (Goalie Backup) |
| 00 | |
Jakob Bomberry |
| 00 | |
Steve Walker |
| 00 | |
Dawson Montague |
Team Captains
- Jody Simpson, 2016-present
WGSHT Team MVPs
| YEAR | PLAYER |
| 2025 | TBD |
| 2024 | Rob Tamilia |
| 2023 | Caleb Scicluna |
| 2022 | Kyle Demaria |
| 2019 | |
| 2018 | Rob Tamilia |
| 2017 | |
| 2016 |
Photos
Team Logos
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| Team logo used from 2016-present |
Shoulder patch 2016-present |
Alternate logo 2016-present |
Games
WGSHT Record
| YEAR | GP | W | L | T | OTL | GF | GA | PLACE |
| 2025 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | TBD |
| 2024 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 21 | 4th |
| 2023 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 41 | 5 | 3rd |
| 2022 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 26 | 3rd (tie) |
| 2019 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 16 | 12th |
| 2018 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 53 | 12 | 2nd |
| 2017 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 17 | 2nd |
| 2016 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 20 | 11 | 5th |
| TOTAL | 35 | 21 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 154 | 114 |
September Classic Record
| YEAR | GP | W | L | T | OTL | GF | GA | PLACE |
| 2022 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 15 | 19 | 3rd |
| 2019 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 11 | 3rd |
| 2018 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 15 | 4th |
| 2017 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 18 | 17 | 2nd |
| 2016 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 23 | 14 | 1st |
| Total | 20 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 78 | 76 |
Team History
Founded in 2016 by former LA Mings players Jody Simpson and Rob Tamilia, the Salsa Sharks quickly established themselves as a competitive force in VASHL’s tournament scene, blending street hockey, fandom, and cinematic absurdity into a one-of-a-kind franchise.
A founding member of the Salsa Sharks, Kyle Demaria was recruited to the team by his best friend, Rob Tamilia, and has since become one of the franchise’s most elite and versatile players. For over a decade, Demaria has been a key force on the rink, bringing both skill and leadership to the Sharks. His ability to seamlessly shift positions—even stepping in as goalie when needed—has proven invaluable, showcasing his depth and adaptability as a player. Since the team’s inception, Demaria has also served as an assistant captain, a trusted right-hand and advisor to longtime Sharks captain Jody Simpson, helping shape the team’s identity and competitive spirit in the VASHL.
The Salsa Sharks take direct inspiration from a memorable scene in Clerks, where Randal Graves (played by Jeff Anderson) stirs salsa with a chip, mimicking a shark’s movement, a nod to Kevin Smith’s deep love for Jaws, this moment became an iconic piece of Clerks humor, eventually inspiring the creation of a VASHL franchise that captured the essence of View Askew nostalgia.
The Salsa Sharks sport a vibrant and dynamic color scheme: blue teal, orange, grey-black, and white. Their imagery is directly inspired by Randal Graves’ parody of Jaws in Clerks, where he mimics a shark’s movement in salsa, leading to the team’s name and theme. The Salsa Sharks’ jerseys prominently feature shark motifs, reinforcing their connection to Kevin Smith’s humor and cinematic references. Their distinctive aqua color make them one of the most recognizable teams in VASHL.
Since 2019, the Salsa Sharks and the Bethlehem Buddies have been locked in one of VASHL’s most intense rivalries, sparked by the departure of Maxx Duda, a founding member of the Sharks, who left to form the Buddies. His decision fractured the original Sharks core, creating lasting competitive tension between the two teams. While the Buddies forged their own identity, the Sharks remained resolute, determined to remind Duda of the franchise he left behind. His longtime friend and fellow Sharks founder, Chris Beaton, refused to follow him, further deepening the divide between former allies. Every matchup between the Sharks and Buddies is charged with emotion, with each team battling fiercely to assert their dominance. Over the years, this rivalry has evolved into one of VASHL’s most compelling clashes, with each game adding another chapter to their ongoing battle.
The Salsa Sharks are one of the few VASHL franchises to compete in both the Walter Gretzky Street Hockey Tournament and the September Classic, a testament to their dedication to the game and their lasting presence in league history. While the Sharks have claimed two silver and two bronze medals at the WGSHT, their biggest triumph came in 2016, when they secured the Kevin Smith’s Buddy Christ Memorial Heart Trophy at the September Classic, earning their first championship title.
Blending Kevin Smith nostalgia, hockey passion, and a touch of cinematic absurdity, the Salsa Sharks are a franchise like no other—where street hockey meets fandom in the most unexpected way.
WGSHT Player Appearances with Salsa Sharks
| Rank | Player | GP |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Kyle Demaria | 40 |
| 2 | Chris Beaton | 40 |
| 3 | Jody Simpson | 40 |
| 4 | Alex Speers | 37 |
| 5 | Thomas Penninga | 30 |
| 6 | Shane Micher | 29 |
| 7 | Rob Tamilia | 29 |
| 8 | David Findlay | 24 |
| 9 | Paul Carraro | 22 |
| 10 | Maxx Duda | 16 |
| 11 | Ethan Adams | 15 |
| 12 | Andrew Bolton | 15 |
| 13 | Tom Stright | 12 |
| 14 | Caleb Scicluna | 11 |
| 15 | Eric Dockree | 11 |
| 16 | Jaycee Gerow Demaria | 10 |
| 17 | Jordan Tolton | 10 |
| 18 | Shaun Gamble | 10 |
| 19 | David Wright | 6 |
| 20 | Drew Howes | 6 |
| 21 | Jakob Bomberry | 6 |
| 22 | Steve Walker | 6 |
| 23 | Dawson Montague | 6 |
| 24 | Brad Bomberry | 6 |
| 25 | Tyler Micher | 6 |
| 26 | Eric Schofield | 5 |
| 27 | Noah Bolton | 5 |
| 28 | Zachary MacIntyre | 4 |
| 29 | Robert Habza | 4 |
| 30 | Jordan Scragg | 3 |
| 31 | Phil Lamont | 3 |
| 32 | Anthony Corrado | 3 |