Neal left out by Golden Knights teammates during meeting with singer Dion

LAS VEGAS -- James Neal isn't typically the quiet type, but this time he had no choice.

The Vegas Golden Knights forward went with three French-Canadian teammates, forwards Jonathan Marchessault, William Carrier and David Perron, to see legendary French-Canadian singer Celine Dion perform her critically acclaimed residency show at Caesars Palace on Friday.
Following the show, the Golden Knights players went backstage to meet Dion and take a picture with her, her son, Rene-Charles Angelil, who plays hockey in the Jr. Golden Knights program, and some of his friends.

The problem for Neal, a Whitby, Ontario native, is everyone was speaking French.
"Yeah, that was tough," Neal said with a laugh. "There wasn't much English being spoken around there. It was pretty cool to meet her."
Neal said he has had many encounters with celebrities this season, with the volume of famous people in Las Vegas and the huge interest the Golden Knights have drawn from the community. But he quickly listed meeting Dion as a highlight, even if he didn't really know what was being said most of the time.
"She's a Canadian legend," Neal said.
The encounter was set up through partnerships the Golden Knights have with Caesars Palace and AEG, which produces Dion's show. Dion, who routinely wears a Marc-Andre Fleury jersey at her shows, was also thrilled to meet the Golden Knights players.
"She was super pumped," a Vegas spokesperson who was coordinating on site said.
Dion previously met defenseman Deryk Engelland and Fleury in November, and Fleury went to see Dion perform Saturday too.
"Vegas is a crazy city," Neal said. "It's pretty cool to be at the front of everything, playing hockey and making it a hockey town."