By Alan Snel of LVSportsBiz.com
The Vegas Golden Knights finished their last practice at their training center Thursday morning and planned to jet to northern Nevada for the franchise’s first outdoor game Saturday at 12 noon Las Vegas time.
The Golden Knights play the Colorado Avalanche as an away game at an outdoor rink fabricated on the 18th hole fairway at Edgewood Tahoe Resort in Stateline. Nevada Saturday. Take a look at the fairway converted into a temporary NHL rink.
Most of the VGK players have memories of skating outdoors during pickup games on lakes and outdoor rinks.
“It was a big part of my childhood,” Golden Knights forward Cody Glass said.
He mentioned there could be adjustments needed for the outdoor elements like “Sun getting in your eyes.”
When I think of growing up during the winter months, I’d just come home from school, go right to the outdoor rink, play until my feet were frozen and then go home. — Nick Holden, Golden Knights defenseman
On Thursday, the team went through a round of drills at City National Arena in Downtown Summerlin.
The game on NBC will feature Ryan Reaves in a special intermission report.
The day included this announcement via a Golden Knights press release:
“Bridgestone, today announced it is committing $200,000 to the National Hockey League Foundation in support of diversity and inclusion initiatives that will create more access to the sport for children and youth in two cities that represent hockey’s growing reach.
“The donation, which is partially funded by the Bridgestone Americas Trust Fund, will help benefit the Vegas Golden Knights Foundation and the Nashville Predators Foundation and support new community outreach projects in Las Vegas and Bridgestone’s hometown of Nashville. The announcement coincides with the newly-created Bridgestone NHL Outdoors Saturday™ event between the Vegas Golden Knights and Colorado Avalanche that will be played in a unique outdoor setting in Lake Tahoe on February 20. “