Working in partnership with The Mayor's Fund for Las Vegas LIFE and the City of Las Vegas Parks and Recreation Department, the Golden Knights, ESPN and NHL will build the rink in a community that currently has no ball hockey facility, increasing access to the game. The Mayor's Fund is a vehicle for corporate and philanthropic partners to support programs that advance City priorities and improve quality of life.
"We have seen the importance of building rinks to help grow the game and encourage kids to fall in love with hockey," said Kim Frank, President of the Vegas Golden Knights Foundation. "The City of Las Vegas has been a great partner over the past few years, and this new rink will allow us to engage even more in an area that reflects the diversity of the Las Vegas Valley. The Golden Knights are grateful to work with the NHL and ESPN to make this happen and look forward to our continued engagement with the City of Las Vegas for years to come."
To celebrate the announcement, dozens of boys and girls from Matt Kelly Elementary School were invited to visit NHL Fan Fair™ and participate in a ball hockey clinic hosted by Vegas Golden Knights forwards Jack Eichel and Keegan Kolesar, Golden Knights alumnus Deryk Engelland, and Stanley Cup champion and current NHL Director of Social Impact, Growth & Fan Development Andrew Ference.
The ball hockey clinic was also the first look at NHL STREET™, the League's new era in street and ball hockey programming focused on increasing opportunities for boys and girls to play hockey.
"From building character to teaching values and creating unbreakable bonds, ESPN understands the impact the power of sports can create for an individual and community," said Kevin Martinez, Vice President of ESPN Corporate Citizenship. "We are thrilled to team up with the NHL and the Golden Knights to kick off the NHL STREET initiative in the Las Vegas community. This is only the start of how we can expand hockey for youth in underrepresented and diverse communities that deserve more access and crave more opportunities to participate in this wonderful game."
"A pillar of 'Hockey Is For Everyone' is ensuring the game becomes more accessible, affordable and culturally relevant for today's youth," said Kim Davis, NHL Senior Executive Vice President of Social Impact, Growth Initiatives and Legislative Affairs. "Projects like this, that embed hockey into non-traditional hockey neighborhoods, not only offers children new opportunities to play, but invites them to co-create the future of the sport."
The Legacy initiative is an ongoing philanthropic endeavor through which the League and the local Club support community organizations in the host city of an NHL Event. Since 2003, the League, its Clubs and partners have donated more than $6 million to communities across North America. Legacy projects have aided thousands of hospital patients in recovery; helped at-risk youth and families gain better access to educational and vocational training; and provided greater access to people of all ages to learn and play hockey.
