Golden Knights Fans Will Not Be At T-Mobile Arena Next Week, But ‘Golden Pipes’ Will Be There To Sing Anthem Before VGK Puck Drop
By Alan Snel of LVSportsBiz.com
There will be no fans to watch the Vegas Golden Knights play at T-Mobile Arena, but the fourth-year NHL team will have a familiar face — and voice — before puck drops at the home arena.
Carnell Johnson, known as “Golden Pipes” for his renditions of the American and Canadian national anthems before home Golden Knights games, will be inside the arena singing the Star Spangled Banner.
When packed with more than 18,000 fans, T-Mobile Arena is one of the loudest, most intense hockey barns on the NHL circuit. Though without fans because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the arena just won’t be the same without the VGK faithful.
That’s why VGK coach Pete DeBoer has held two scrimmages at the Knights arena, with music playing and videos on the center jumbotron scoreboard. That’s why Johnson will be there to sing the national anthem, to give the Golden Knights a sense of “home” in their home arena.
Last week when pro-Trump marauders stormed and damaged the U.S. Capitol, NBA coaches and players were outspoken about the hooliganism and destructive behavior after Wednesday’s infamous acts.
NBA coaches like the Spurs’ Gregg Popovich, the Warriors’ Steve Kerr and the 76ers’ Doc Rivers and players such as Lakers’ superstar LeBron James were outraged at the Trump supporters who assaulted the center of the U.S. democracy and government after the president gave them a pep talk only a few hours beforehand.
With that in mind, LVSportsBiz.com asked Golden Knights coach Pete DeBoer about his reaction after Sunday’s practice, but he did not feel comfortable answering the question and declined to offer a response.
LVSportsBiz.com has put in a request with the VGK PR staff to see if there any players who would like to respond to the Jan. 6 chaos at the U.S. Capitol. NHL players are not known for speaking out about social and political issues like NBA players, so we shall see if any Knights players will agree to talk with LVSportsBiz.com.
The Knights practiced Sunday at City National Arena. Not in attendance at practice — Alex Tuch, fueling speculation that Tuch has an injury. But forward Ryan Reaves was there.
For more training camp chatter, you can listen to this:
