Gus Young is behind the bar serving drinks at Uno’s on a Saturday night. It’s not his usual gig, but it’s one of his duties as a Worcester Shark ~ to engage with the community and the team’s fans. Dressed in his No. 3 jersey, he’s shaking hands and in an especially good mood after a 5-2 win over the Providence Bruins, a game in which he clocked some decent ice time, impressive for a rookie on an AHL contract.

Young is one of the many new faces on this year’s Sharks team, which received a facelift in the off season. “My favorite part about this season is the group of guys,” Young said. “A lot of people didn’t think we’d have a strong team this year.”

The Sharks started the season red hot, racking up an 8-3-1 record before hitting a five-game skid in November. But the night’s lopsided victory over the Sharks’ longtime rivals seems to have everyone back on the winning track.

“The whole team is basically different this year,” said veteran forward Jimmy Bonneau, one of the few returning players from last year’s roster. “We have a different team identity. We’re faster, smaller, more skilled.”

Bonneau, who is making Worcester his home for the fourth consecutive season, was intrigued to see all of the changes and young faces. “It was a pleasant surprise,” he said. “They are young guys, but they are great players and all-around good guys. It’s been a really fun year so far.”

He’s been impressed with Young’s quick development. “Gus is a smart kid,” Bonneau said. “He has common sense, both in hockey and off the ice. As the season goes on, his ice time and knowledge will increase, but he’s already an important part of the team.”

Young is a local kid; he grew up in Dedham and attended Yale before signing an AHL contract with the Sharks last August. “I always dreamed of playing hockey, and being able to play this close to home is great,” he said, adding that his parents love it because they can watch him play.

And although he doesn’t remember it, Young’s dad used to take him to games in Worcester when he was younger. So it’s fitting his first year playing professional hockey is a year that’s dedicated to Worcester’s history.

“Lots of fans don’t realize hockey has been around Worcester for 20 years,” said Eric Lindquist, director of public relations and broadcasting for the Worcester Sharks. This season, the Sharks are celebrating 11 years of IceCats and nine years of Sharks hockey with a series of promotions, a fan-designed 20th anniversary logo and a Worcester Hockey History Game, featuring IceCats and Sharks alumni, on March 28.

“There aren’t many AHL cities that have hit the 20-year plateau, and it’s something the city should be proud of,” Lindquist said. “When we got here nine years ago, there were certain things we wanted to get done as an organization. For the first five of those, people were still calling us the IceCats. We’ve been able to check a lot off our list, so it’s time to reflect back a little.”

Lindquist said the Sharks “broke Scratch out of the Worcester Historical Museum,” and he will appear at every Sunday game this season alongside Finz. “It’s crazy to see a grown man or woman getting their picture taken with Scratch, but things like that stick with people. They like to go back to their childhood and get a piece of that.”

Although the rumors of a Sharks move to the West Coast looms like a white elephant in the arena, loyal fans are coming out to cheer on their team. “Our core group of fans … I’d put them up against any other in the AHL. They’re loud and proud,” Lindquist said.

Bonneau, who calls Worcester his favorite place to play, hopes the team stays forever. “We don’t know any more than the average fan, but what we do know is that we’re here for the full year, and the plan is to win while we’re here.”

As long as Young continues to help serve up wins as well as he serves up a drink, Bonneau’s prediction remains solid.

For more information, visit sharksahl.com.

By Kimberly Dunbar