Las Vegas Hockey: Jason Zucker and NHL Players Hit the Ice
Las Vegas native and Minnesota Wild left winger Jason Zucker was leading the rush. Real NHL ice hockey might be more than a year away but on Saturday some present and past NHL players were in Las Vegas for some ice time. It was the annual Las Vegas Valley Fire Fighters Charity Hockey Game.
In truth, the professional players were a little thin on the SoBe ice. Zucker of course, former NHL player and current Las Vegas Storm coach Gabe Gauthier put on the pads. Also , Calgary Flames defenseman Deryk Engelland played on.
DALLAS, TX – APRIL 14: Jason Zucker
CALGARY, AB – APRIL 5: Deryk Engelland
For a little beef former enforcer for the Anaheim Ducks George Parros spearheaded the groups of fire fighters and former minor league players in the annual fund raiser.
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Zucker Part Of A Hockey Community
From the outside it can be easy to forget that there actually is a healthy ice culture here in the desert. The SoBe center at the Fiesta Rancho and the Las Vegas Ice Center keep a busy schedule of hockey, ice skating and free skating. There is a nationally recognized ice skating school. Las Vegas hosts a number of Junior Hockey tournaments throughout the year, including the Las Vegas Hockey Festival coming September 22 – October 2.
It is easy to see why a lot of naysayers doubt local interest in ice hockey. After all, here in Las Vegas we are located in the hottest and driest desert in North America. This week the temperatures are dipping all the way down onto the 90’s. And Las Vegans like me are enjoying the “cool” weather.
But coming in early Saturday afternoon I was watching the flocks of kids buzzing and skidding around on free skate. Before the beefy hockey players took over the ice to a crowd of over 450. I thought to myself “Not bad for a barely advertised fundraiser held on a Saturday afternoon”. The fundraiser was held at the same time as Connor McGregor was fighting Nick Diaz at the home of the future Las Vegas NHL franchise, the T-Mobile Arena. With all the glitz and drunken crowds on the Strip, Las Vegas the hockey community skates on.
Easy to forget that Zucker emerged from free skates just like this one here in the desert.
The Las Vegas NHL franchise General Manager George McPhee knows this. He has stated several times that Las Vegas cannot depend on tourists to fill the seats. Love of hockey, love of Las Vegas hockey, has to grow naturally from the ice rinks where the kids and adult beer league hockey skates on.
It Is Fun to Dream
A successful hockey franchise will not come just from glitzy arenas, but from community interest in the sport. And back at SoBe. The proceeds from the more than 450 tickets sold were donated. Beneficiaries were Las Vegas Firefighter Youth Hockey and the family of Wesley Payton. Payton was a 7-year-old who recently passed away after a lengthy battle with Leukemia.
In a game with no checking and a lot of talents taking it somewhat easy. The “Red” team lead by Engelland and Parros built up a sizable lead before Zucker took off the breaks. He lead a furious five-goal third period come back that fell just short, 11-10. Good times, good fun.
Zucker is from Las Vegas. Engelland has a home here. Next year, we may have a whole lot more NHL players willing to skate out for the Fire Fighters Charity Game.
I can’t wait.