Golden Knights sled team following lead of NHL counterparts

CHICAGO -- The Vegas Golden Knights sled hockey team is following the lead of its NHL counterpart.

The sled team, formed in November, won its first game at the 2019 Sled Hockey Classic, presented by the NHL, at MB Ice Arena, defeating the Minnesota Wild, 4-2 on Thursday.
The Vegas Golden Knights reached the Stanley Cup Final in their first NHL season in 2017-18. And the though the sled team has work to do before reaching the Tier III final of the Classic, which runs through Sunday, the players are certainly enjoying their first season as teammates.
"We're all doing great," forward John Paola said. "Everyone on the team has excelled so quick. For how hard of a sport this is and how physical, this group is talented, and I think we're showing it out there on the ice for how new we are. We're a force to be reckoned with in the sled-hockey world."

For Paola, the team has also been a blessing.
The 40-year-old, who lost both of his legs in a motorcycle accident in Joliet, Illinois, in July 2003 was looking for an athletic venture and something to distract him from the rare blood cancers he has.
"I'm waiting for a bone-marrow transplant. That's the only thing that can save me," said Paola, who hadn't played sled hockey before joining the Golden Knights team. "It's just the camaraderie and it helps keep me in shape, keeps my mind off the fight I've got going right now."
Ahmad Karimzada got a call from the Golden Knights Foundation, which was looking to create a team. The 38-year-old was born without a tibia in his left leg, which was amputated when he was 2 years old, and has played sled hockey for more than 15 years.

"I was practically the only sled hockey player in town and I was excited that they were interested, and they had full backing," said Karimzada, who scored all of Vegas' goals against Minnesota. "A lot of these guys haven't played until about nine months ago. They're coming along pretty well. It's more of a workload on me for scoring, but as they get better at shooting, skating, they'll continue to get better."
Dave Nicholls is another experienced player for the Golden Knights. The 55-year-old goaltender started playing about 10 years ago in Salt Lake City. Nicholls sustained a broken neck and back when a snowboarder collided with him in 2003. Nicholls said the Vegas team, which will play the Philadelphia Flyers sled team on Friday, has banded together quickly.
"From us not knowing each other to being able to come together and grow and have the camaraderie, it's been great," he said. "Everyone's been improving their skills; just from what I saw from the beginning until now, it's unbelievable the basic skills everyone's perfecting, working together as a team."

The sled team, which won three of four games at the Pacific Division Tournament in November, has weekly practices at City National Arena, the practice facility of the Golden Knights. Nicholls said there is also open ice 5:30 a.m. at the arena.
"We're thankful to have that opportunity because a lot of other teams don't," he said. "That helps, and it shows on the ice. Everyone coming together, using their skills and making it happen."