The mysterious (and adorable) appearance of a black cat running onto the ice at San Jose’s SAP Center before Friday’s game will have a happy (and equally adorable) ending.
“Joe PAW-velski” became an instant celebrity when he ran onto the ice just before warmups ahead of Game 1 between the San Jose Sharks and Nashville Predators.
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But you da real MVP, #BlackCat
He was safely captured by arena staff after his five seconds of ice time.
The small cat became an instant fan favourite, with many fans making inquiries about adopting him.
The Sharks received so much interest that they sent out a press release about their newest celebrity:
“The amount of interest generated by ‘Joe’s’ appearance and those wishing to adopt him has been overwhelming,” Sharks Chief Operating Officer John Tortora said in the release. “We want to make sure the cat is safe and healthy and returned to its rightful owner, in the event it has a microchip. If he is indeed a stray, our goal is to find the best home for him with the support of our local animal shelters.
“If families are interested in adopting ‘Joe’ but unsuccessful, we strongly encourage you to consider adopting another animal in need of a good home from one of our terrific local animal shelters.”