Golden Knights mark one-year anniversary of mass shooting by lending hand

LAS VEGAS -- The Vegas Golden Knights took part in several community initiatives Monday on the one-year anniversary of the shooting at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival that killed 58 people and injured more than 800 others.

Among the events were a blood drive, a ceremony honoring 21 first responders who were on scene near the Mandalay Bay hotel during the Oct. 1, 2017, mass shooting, and visits to hotel employees and dispatch centers.
"With everything that happened last year," said defenseman Deryk Engelland, "you want to keep supporting everyone that was affected, come out and just be a part of everything."
Engelland, a longtime Las Vegas resident, became the unofficial ambassador for the Vegas Strong movement, in part because he ended his moving speech before the Golden Knights' home opener Oct. 10 against the Arizona Coyotes by saying, "We are Vegas Strong."
"I wasn't expecting how much (the speech) meant to so many different people," Engelland said. "It's probably going to be the biggest thing I do in my career. Even if I win the Cup, it's got to be right up there."

The Golden Knights continuously honored those affected by the Oct. 1 mass shooting throughout their inaugural season. They had a Vegas Strong Hero of the Game for every home game, honoring a survivor or family members of someone impacted, and retired No. 58 in honor of the 58 people who died.
"It's unprecedented what the Knights have done for this community," Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval said. "When they raised that 58 to the rafters that night and the way they brought the community [together] and the support they've shown … I've never seen anything like it."
The blood drive, which stretched multiple rooms in the Las Vegas Convention Center, was nearly filled to capacity with residents, visitors, family members and Golden Knights donating as much blood as they could.
"It's just special to be a part of it. Just to see all these people rallying together," defenseman Jon Merrill said. "Vegas Strong is a real thing. People in this community are resilient and tough."
The Golden Knights begin their second season against the Philadelphia Flyers at T-Mobile Arena on Thursday (10 p.m. ET; NBCSN, SN360, TVAS, NBCSP, NHL.TV).
"I'm thankful to the Knights, the entire organization, and the willingness of the players to be out here and give blood three days before their opening game," Sandoval said. "That's as amazing as it gets. My heartfelt thanks goes out to them because they truly are amazing representatives of this community."