Vegas Golden Knights: Hockey is (nearly) back and it is the tonic we need

The Vegas Golden Knights are on the cusp of a return and we need them more than ever.

We’re inching closer to hockey returning after the Vegas Golden Knights returned to their Training Facility on Monday, as per Phase 2 of the NHL’s Return To Play Plan.

Of course, only six players are allowed on the ice at one time until July when Training Camps are due to open, but just the sight of the Golden Knights back on the ice was heartwarming.

Because we need hockey back in our lives.

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We need it a lot.

You don’t need us to tell you how testing a time it has been recently, not only in America but throughout the world.

It of course started with the COVID-19 pandemic which wreaked havoc and pure devastation across the globe, claiming the lives of millions of people and leaving the economy in ruins.

With the world still grappling with COVID-19, the world was dealt more heartache following the shocking murder of George Floyd by Minnesota Police Officers.

The unlawful killing sparked protests around the world with the NHL and the rest of the sporting community throwing their support behind the Black Lives Matter Movement.

It has been a dark time for our country and for the world in general, with social media in particular a very gloomy and toxic place right now.

For those of you who visit this site on a regular basis, sports and hockey in particular can be an escape which is why we’ve tried to stick to sports and act as a distraction for you all.

After all, sports is a universal language and, at its best, it can bring people together, no matter their origin, background, religious beliefs or economic status.

Furthermore, sports can be a great healer and that’s why the NHL being on the precipice of a return is so important for so many.

With the Golden Knights now back on the ice, albeit in small groups of six, we have very real hope that this wonderful sport of ours will be back sooner rather than later.

And we need that hope.

For me, sports has always been a welcome escape from the pressures of daily life, as has writing so I’m incredibly lucky to be able to combine the two.

Hockey in particular boasts the unique trait of being able to transport you and instantly take your mind off the daily stresses.

It is so fast paced and delivers constant, in-your face action. It is exhilarating, breathtaking and the passion hockey fans have for their respective teams is unparalleled.

That last point can certainly be attributed to Golden Knights fans, who have emphatically proved that hockey in the desert can indeed go together like a fine PB&J sandwich.

Vegas has hit home run after home run out of the park when it comes to the success this franchise has enjoyed in their first three years in the NHL, and there is a reason why the Golden Knights are many people’s favorite to lift the Stanley Cup this year.

From the screams of “KNIGHT” during the National Anthem to the roars that erupt inside T-Mobile Arena when the lamp is lit, there is nothing quite like going to a hockey game to cheer on your team.

Now, disclaimer, I’m a Rangers fan and I wouldn’t change that for the world, plus watching a game at MSG is an absolute must for any hockey fan.

But the point I’m trying to make is no matter who you root for, hockey is our sport and it is incredibly special to all of us.

That’s why, with teams starting to get back on the ice, we can look forward and cling on to the hope that we will get to see our teams battle it out at some point this year.

And we all need that hope right now.