Kids Back In School; VGK Boys Back On Ice In Las Vegas

By Alan Snel

LVSportsBiz.com

 

The coach is relaxed, but still not too chatty about the juicy stuff like identifying which Vegas Golden Knights prospects have caught his eye. VGK defenseman Jon Merrill enjoyed spending time in Denver during the summer. And the Golden Knights flagman is back waving his beloved VGK flags.

 

The boys of hockey are back on the ice at City National Arena, where VGK players with familiar names like Jon Marchessault, William Karlsson and Alex Tuch joined several dozen other players in a scrimmage on the day before the Golden Knights play their first of seven preseason games.

 

The Vegas Golden Knights’ 2018-19 season ended painfully and in a bizarre manner in April when the Knights blew a 3-0 lead in Game 7 of the first round playoff series to the San Jose Sharks thanks to a five-minute major penalty in the third period. The Sharks poured in four power play goals during the five-minute major before beating the Knights in overtime, 5-4, and sending the VGK home after the expansion team reached the Stanley Cup Finals in its inaugural season the year before in the 2017-18 season.

 

These days, ticket sales are strong and VGK merchandise is being sold around the planet as owner Bill Foley has the lofty goals of winning multiple Stanley Cups and making the Knights a worldwide brand. Fans are hungry to return to T-Mobile Arena on the Strip, with four preseason games serving as rejuvenation for many South Nevada residents to don their jerseys and VGK accessories.

 

And naturally, superfan Matt Helfst — the famed Flagman — returned to the Knights’ training center/headquarters at City National Arena in Summerlin with his flags. He was given a spot in the stands where Helft was allowed to wave his Golden Knights flags.

 

“They’re being much nicer to me today,” Helfst said of receiving permission to engage in his flag-waving activities.

After the late morning scrimmage, VGK coach Gerard Gallant declined during his comments to say which youngsters caught his attention.

Marchessault said that teams were ready for the Knights in season 2 last year. “It was hard last year. There are no excuses,” he said at his post-practice locker.

LVSportsBiz.com returns to its “Top of the Escalator” pregame spot before the Golden Knights-Arizona Coyotes 1:30 p.m. preseason game. Stop by and say hi. Our Top of the Escalator segment is presented by AdoreOil.

 

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