Look at that logo. See that? It's a reminder of hockey's past, where the Phoenix/Arizona Coyotes used to play. They've relocated to Salt Lake City to become the Utah Hockey Club. With a new owner and a budding franchise, there might be hope for a rebranded team that once went bankrupt. Finally! A viable hockey team that doesn't have to deal with relocation rumors (for now, at least). That sounds like a good copywriting headline if it's shortened.
On that note, the Vegas Golden Knights announced on Monday they would participate in this year's Rookie Faceoff Tournament. They'll be playing with teams such as Utah, Seattle, and San Jose in the tournament, which goes from September 13 to 16. The action happens in El Segundo, California, at the Toyota Sports Performance Center, providing some early hockey actions for Golden Knights fans.
So what does the schedule look like for Vegas? Will we see more action against the Sharks before the preseason starts? What about the newest NHL team in Utah? Will fans see action there? Hockey is approaching quicker than everyone thought and that's no different with the tournament around the corner. Here's what the schedule looks like for the Golden Knights heading into the faceoff.
The Vegas Golden Knights will face the Los Angeles Kings, Seattle Kraken, and the Utah Hockey Club in the Rookie Faceoff Tournament
Starting off the tournament for the Vegas Golden Knights on September 13 will be the Los Angeles Kings. Vegas should be familiar with their Pacific Division rivals, having faced them once in the playoffs (a 4-0 first-round sweep in 2018). The Kings will have home-ice advantage, which could help them on opening day. The action starts at 7 PM PST and will happen at NHL Rink 1.
Then, the action will kick back up on September 15 against the Seattle Kraken, another Pacific Division foe. Both teams know a thing or two about being the newest kids on the NHL block, providing a future outlook into each team's respective futures. The game will also take place at NHL Rink 1.
Finally, the Golden Knights will face the Utah Hockey Club on September 16 at 12:30 PM PST. Formerly the Arizona Coyotes, the relocated hockey team will show Vegas hockey fans what their franchise could be about in the future. This game will happen at NHL Rink 2.
The good news is that Golden Knights hockey will happen sooner than everyone thinks. Fans can get a taste of the Rookie Faceoff Tournament while watching the stars of tomorrow shine. Besides, there's no point in dwelling on the past. If so, there's the chance Vegas would end up like the Coyotes in 15 years.