The hockey trips are set and it's time to get my bags packed! We're heading to plenty of places for 2025-26 and experiencing different cities and cultures. That's the beauty of life, after all.
As a Vegas Golden Knights fan, I'm excited to see what each city can offer. What places will I see when I'm out and about? What makes each city unique as an NHL town? I'm already excited about hopping on a plane to check out the towns!
But the order has been set for my travels. The dates are as follows and will serve as a guide for any traveling Golden Knights fan looking to beat the heat.
- October 11: Tampa Bay Lightning
- December 23: Los Angeles Kings
- January 10: Montreal Canadiens
- March 22: Dallas Stars
Now, I tried my best to combine these dates with my work schedule. That way, I can fund these trips and continue delivering fun content to the masses. Therefore, I'm not seeing the Golden Knights in every match. However, I will give a preview that coincides with upcoming games.
So, let's look at what each city offers. Here's a little breakdown of what I'm looking forward to and the lessons I'm applying from previous trips.
1.) Los Angeles
Aside from having some belongings stolen on one trip, I always love going to Los Angeles during the Holidays. The food scene on Venice Beach is impeccable, compounding excellent food with scenic views of the Pacific Ocean.
Of course, I'm not going to make the mistake of wearing a Golden Knights jersey to Crypto.com Arena. That way, I don't have to deal with obnoxious drunk teenagers screaming throughout the game. The Tide Pods must be big among the Gen-Z kids in Hollywood these days.
2.) Dallas
Aside from going through Dallas on temporary layovers, I've never been to the Stars' home proper. However, I'm excited to see what the Lone Star State offers regarding its hockey scene. That means checking out Jake Oettinger, Mikko Rantanen, and Golden Knights 'pain in the patoot,' Wyatt Johnston.
Some things that I want to check out? For one, a Buc-ee's or a Whataburger is a must. When in Texas, you don't go to a National Park or an ocean for your stop. Instead, you experience what being a true Texan is all about with these two Lone Star gems. Plus, this.
3.) Tampa
The Tampa Bay Lightning have been one of the most successful NHL franchises in the past decade, winning two Stanley Cups and making another Stanley Cup Final. It's mandatory for a hockey fan to see what the buzz is all about in the Sunshine State.
Plus, there's also Raymond James Stadium, which is home to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They have cannons that fire off after every touchdown, so this is definitely a fun time.
4.) Montreal
Perhaps the most exciting of the four dates, I'm excited to explore Montreal's history as a hockey city. 24 Stanley Cups and legendary players such as Maurice Richard, Jean Beliveau, and Jacques Plante make this the ultimate hockey destination for a Golden Knights fan to check out.
Plus, I need to try some good poutine from Canada's Eastern part. The Western part of Canada had a nice twist to the guilty pleasure dish. I'm looking forward to seeing what this iconic city has to offer.