Cracknell: Nothing but love for Las Vegas

MONTREAL - Adam Cracknell isn't at all surprised to see that Las Vegans have wholeheartedly embraced the NHL's Golden Knights.

Back when the 32-year-old forward was plying his trade for the ECHL's Las Vegas Wranglers between 2006 and 2008, there was similar enthusiasm for the game in Sin City.
A decade later, Cracknell still fondly recalls playing in front of the Wranglers faithful at Orleans Arena, which is located just west of the Strip and only three miles from T-Mobile Arena.
"We always had such great support. They really love their hockey. They liked the speed. They liked the intensity. It was awesome playing at Orleans," said Cracknell, who was acquired by the Canadiens on November 30 and has since played with the Laval Rocket. "People even came out to our practices just to say hi. They were just really friendly. The town really rallied around us when I was there."

That was certainly the case when the Wranglers claimed the National Conference crown and advanced to the 2008 Kelly Cup Finals against the Cincinnati Cyclones, then a Canadiens' affiliate.
"We were selling out games at home. We even had a huge send-off. Our bus was late leaving because all the fans were at our rink," recalled Cracknell with a laugh. "Even when we got back [after losing in Game 6], they were so excited to have us there. Obviously, it would have been nice to bring the Kelly Cup home and have a championship party in Vegas, but it was still a great experience."
Even though Cracknell's campaign didn't end the way he hoped it would, it was still a memorable season for the Prince Albert, SK native, who finished second on the team with 29 goals and tied for second with 59 points in 61 regular season appearances, before pacing the Wranglers with a team-leading nine goals and 22 points in 21 playoff games.
Putting up numbers like that proved to be the springboard Cracknell needed to move up to the AHL ranks, joining the Quad City Flames the following year.
But the former ninth-round pick of the Calgary Flames will never forget that his first taste of real success at the pro level came in the desert.
"I went to play in Omaha (AHL) after Junior, but then the team moved to Quad City and I got sent down to Vegas. It wasn't a hard drive to make, but whenever you get sent down to a lower level, you feel like it's a bit of a kick to the stomach. But you have to take it as motivation," explained Cracknell. "I drove with my good buddy Ryan Donally, who had been sent down, too. We saw the trip like, 'We're in Vegas. Let's have fun. Let's play well.'"
And, that's exactly what Cracknell did, soaking up everything he could from then head coach Glen Gulutzan.

"I learned a lot from our coaching staff. We had a great veteran group. You kind of learned how to be a pro, so I really think going to Vegas made me the person I am today," said Cracknell, who boasts 17 goals and 28 points in 29 games with Laval. "I was given a lot of responsibility by the coaches, too. That really elevated my game. I knew that I had to be one of those guys who had to perform every night to help the team be successful. You learn a lot from those situations."
With that in mind, Cracknell couldn't be happier to see hockey thriving in his former hockey home - but it's safe to say he's still hoping for a Canadiens victory on Saturday afternoon.
"People see the quality of hockey that's come into that town, and it's great to see them rally around the team," concluded Cracknell. "It's great to see Las Vegas doing so well. It's great for the game of hockey,"