Nate Schmidt Pens Heartfelt Note On ESPN.com

Throughout their careers, most hockey players live in many places.
Through the ranks, team to team, new contracts and city to city. For many players, this is such a routine, that even where they live isn't quite home.
Although for the Golden Knights, the hope is for the team's players to consider Las Vegas their home.
Not just the city they play in or the team they represent.
But home.
As in the place they identify with being from. Not as players, but as people.
Being an expansion team, all of the Golden Knights' players are new to this city. So for them, Las Vegas becoming home has been an ongoing process.
In a recent article he penned himself for ESPN.com, defenseman Nate Schmidt wrote about how in the aftermath of Sunday's tragedy, many members of the team have started to understand this community.
That away from the glitz and glamor, casinos and shows, this place has a heart. That while it isn't any of their long-term homes yet, they have begun identifying with this city.

Schmidt wrote:
"On Tuesday, we were part of that fabric. Vegas has been so good to us for the first couple weeks that we've been here. The moral support and the welcome and how excited people are to see us in town, it has been incredible. This is a part of who we are now, and we are a part of this. It's not like a situation where you hear about it on the news and send your thoughts and prayers. The actions of the people in this city -- whether it's us coming out or people at the blood drive where they had to turn people away because there were too many volunteers -- are what make Vegas the city that it is."
Schmidt continues about how he and his teammates hope to be part of the healing process:
Do you know what is the beauty of sports? It lets people step outside their daily routine, their daily stresses -- or in this case, their tragedy -- and lets them be normal again. When it comes to the home opener on Oct. 10, it's going to be a bittersweet night. We will have first responders and people affected by this out with us. We will continue to do that as the year goes on. That will always be a reminder of what this city has gone through.
To read Schmidt's full entry on ESPN.com, CLICK HERE.