Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Golden Knights to donate meals to Las Vegas healthcare workers

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Steve Marcus

Vegas Golden Knights center William Karlsson, center, celebrates with teammates after scoring during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas Friday, Feb. 28, 2020.

The Vegas Golden Knights Foundation and three players are partnering to donate more than 7,500 meals to Las Vegas area healthcare workers who are on the medical front lines of the coronavirus pandemic, the franchise announced today.

William Karlsson, Jon Merrill and Deryk Engelland are joining the foundation in donating money to provide meals to hospitals across the valley. Food will be made by chefs at MacKenzie River, the restaurant inside the practice facility City National Arena.

“Medical professionals throughout Las Vegas are battling this virus on the front lines in an effort to keep our families and community safe,” Vegas Golden Knights Foundation president Kim Frank said in a statement. “We’re proud to show our support for those working in healthcare across the Las Vegas Valley by providing thousands of meals over the coming weeks.”

Starting tomorrow, the team will provide 300 meals per day, five days a week, for five weeks to partner hospitals. While Karlsson, Merrill and Engelland are the players assisting now, more player donation could be announced at a later date, the team said.

On Friday, the team announced a $1 million donation to the Nevada COVID-19 Response, Relief and Recovery Task Force to purchase medical supplies.

The NHL postponed the remainder of its season on March 12 with the Golden Knights 11 games shy of a completed regular season. The regular season finale was scheduled for yesterday, with the playoffs set to begin this week.

As of now, no target date has been set for the NHL to return. All players have been instructed to self-quarantine through April 15, and the league said it will abide by the CDC’s guideline to not hold big events through at least the middle of May.