2017_04_10CravenGameXXX

Not many floor hockey games feature 200-plus career NHL goals.
What the Vegas Golden Knights began on Monday, however, wasn't most floor hockey games.
With senior vice president Murray Craven - with 266 career NHL goals in 18 seasons to his name - leading activities at the Hollywood Recreation Center and the Desert Breeze Community Center, the Golden Knights afforded several hundred local children the opportunity to play hockey for the first time.
It was the first day of the team's Spring Break Street Hockey Tour, which will continue with activities throughout this week (list below).
"Most of these kids have never picked up a hockey stick before," Craven said. "I asked for a show of hands and maybe 10 percent (had picked up a stick). It's just a chance for them to pick up a try. This is the first step for them in whether or not they want to pursue it.
"Three hours today, street hockey I'm tired!"

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Craven, who at 52 hasn't played an NHL game in 17 years was joking, of course. Although if he was winded it would have been hard to blame him, as throughout the day he was on the floor playing hockey with the children.
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"All the kids had such a good time," Clark County Parks and Recreation Secretary Catherine Benson said. "They got to learn a lot about the sport, and they were just really thrilled. It's not something we've been able to offer before.

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"I think that we wanted to offer the kids an opportunity to learn about hockey. Not many of us from the desert grew up in real big hockey families. Now that we have a team, it's really an awesome opportunity to have the experts come share the realities of the sport and the different fundamentals."
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As the Golden Knights continue to try to establish the team throughout the region, these sorts of initiatives will become commonplace. Especially as the team hopes to build a strong, passionate fan base before the team's inaugural 2017-18 season.

The next stop on the team's Spring Break Street Hockey Tour will be on Tuesday, when director of hockey operations Misha Donskov will step in for Craven at the Lied Clubhouse. Donskov will again represent the team's hockey operations staff on Wednesday at the Walnut Recreation Center.
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Please note that these events are only open to registered participants at the facilities (not open to the public).
The next youth hockey initiative the team will participate in will be Try Hockey For Free Day, which is this Saturday at Las Vegas Ice Center.
More information about this event and participation signup information is available HERE