Members of the organization spent their day at the center working with waves of kids from summer camps around the valley who ran through drills and learned the basics of hockey. As the game of hockey has trickled its way into the lives of kids in Las Vegas since the Golden Knights arrived in 2017, the interest in learning the sport at its most basic level has continued to grow through events like Wednesday's festivities.
The spark that a child feels the first time they take part in organized hockey activity can take a variety of forms as they grow accustomed to the sport. Whether it translates directly to joining programs like Learn to Skate and Learn to Play on the ice, getting out to City National Arena to watch a VGK practice, attending a Golden Knights game at T-Mobile Arena or just asking a parent about the sport, the team is dedicated to fostering the growth of the game in as many kids as possible.
"Seeing the game live and in-person makes a huge impact," said Brian Noonan, Manager of Marketing and Youth Hockey with the Golden Knights. "Hopefully they'll want to become hockey players, but at the very least, we want them to become hockey fans."
President of the Vegas Golden Knights Alumni Association Deryk Engelland was on hand to help teach the kids the basics of holding a hockey stick, passing and shooting. Engelland frequently attends the clinics to lend a hand with the growth of the game. The Golden Knights bring Engelland and current players to events to show kids that a career in hockey is less of an abstract concept than they think.
"Having a player there is inspiring for the kids," Noonan said. "It gives them a glimpse that they could make this a reality if they love the game. It also shows our community that when we put on events like this, we put in maximum effort and provide the kids with an experience they won't forget."
The growth of hockey in Nevada since the Golden Knights arrived has been no secret and it's events like Wednesday's that introduce the game to young fans where they're at and show them different ways to be a hockey fan.
"Before every event, we ask how many kids have played hockey in the past," Noonan said. "More and more hands go up when we ask that question. There's still a majority that have never held a hockey stick. It's cool to see them go from there to, by the end of the clinic, wanting play hockey more."
