VGK Fan Makes Connections To Golden Knights Players Through Artwork
By Alan Snel of LVSportsBiz.com
Sure, she’s a big Vegas Golden Knights fan. But when Sandra Zalewski gives her paintings to VGK players, she doesn’t ask for an autograph.
“I’m shy around most of these hockey players,” Zalewski said. “But through artwork, you can communicate with them without talking.”
The 36-year-old who has seen her income cut because she works only two days a week at a Grimaldi’s pizzeria in Las Vegas because of the pandemic finds that painting Golden Knights players like Max Pacioretty helps her cope with the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the VGK’s maiden season in 2017-18, a floor manager at Grimaldi’s suggested to Zalewski that she do paintings of VGK players, with her first artwork portraying Knights goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury. Zalewski’s most recent painting depicted Knights winger Max Pacioretty and his hat trick in the VGK 5-4 shootout loss to the St. Louis Blues Jan. 26.
“Fleury saw his at practice and me holding it at the stop sign outside, so he pull over his Jeep and called me over,” Zalewski said. “I went to every signing that was free at dealerships to present others their paintings. I had friends with kids and would go in the kids zone with the kids to give players paintings. Alex Tuch got his second painting at a toy drive. I ran into the family of players and the dad of players helped me.”
She figured she has done probably about 50 paintings since Season 1 and spends about $80 at a Michaels art supply store every time she visits the shop. Over three years, the painting costs have probably piled up to a couple thousand dollars.
Zalewski has painted just about every player. She still needs to paint Knights defensemen Alec Martinez and newcomer Alex Pietrangelo. She mentioned she sold three player paintings for $300 to a friend. (Update: Zalewski just posted her Pietrangelo painting on Facebook Thursday).
Back in the good, ol’ pre-pandemic days when fans were allowed to attend VGK practices at City National Arena in Summerlin, Zalewski used to display her paintings on the glass to show them to the players.
She enjoyed seeing their reactions, especially the response from former defenseman Nate Schmidt, who was traded to the Vancouver Canucks to create salary space for Pietrangelo last year.
“Nate Schmidt was like a kid at Disneyland,” Zalewski said. “He was grinning from ear to ear. I think I did it more for their reactions. I also wanted to give them the artwork in person.”
Pacioretty told her he wanted a painting for each of his kids’ bedrooms. “I dropped off two new paintings I finished for Max Pacioretty since he is the one who told me at a signing when I presented his second painting of his All Star performance that he wanted a painting for each of his kiddos bedroom. I only gave him two before the shutdown and pandemic came. Now he has four. But he got five kids so I still owe him one more. I have been creative with ways I give players my paintings.”
On Facebook, Zalewski wrote:
For the past years I attended signings, practices, and brought my paintings to surprise each hockey player with one. I got help from the security guard at CNA to give them paintings. I even got a job at McKenzie River pizzeria for a short time and got help from VGK cooks to give paintings to players. It was a big part of my life and I am still trying to give them paintings even during this pandemic. I live to see their reaction, but I know since this pandemic I might not get to see them in person but I still want them to have my artwork. During my the time of the shutdown I paint to keep from crying.
One time, VGK Ryan Reaves told his linemate, Tomas Nosek, that Zalewski had a painting for Nosek.
“Tomas Nosek had to be told by Reaves a painting was of him at practice and he stopped to get it from me after practice,” she said.
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The Golden Knights are scheduled to play the Los Angeles Kings Friday at T-Mobile Arena and then on Sunday before the Super Bowl. The Knights had three games postponed (one vs. St. Louis and two against San Jose) because of COVID-19 problems.
As of Wednesday, Pietrangelo was on the NHL COVID protocol list.
Here’s why a player would make this list:
