Las Vegas Hockey: Golden Knights host “Try Hockey for Free Day”

By Jesse Granger

Saturday, April 15, 2017 | 6:35 p.m.

The Vegas Golden Knights partnered with USA Hockey to host “Try Hockey for Free Day” Saturday afternoon at the Las Vegas Ice Center.

Kids ranging from ages 4-9, many of whom had never stepped on ice before, were given skates and hockey sticks and set loose on the rink.

Most of the younger children used metal support aids to keep them from slipping, but 4-year-old Logan Bailey wasn’t having it.

Just give him a stick and a puck and he heads straight for the goal, albeit slowly.

“He’s gone through six weeks of ice skating lessons and he’s not bad,” Logan’s mother Megan Bailey said as she watched her son through the Plexiglas boards. “Hockey day is good for him because he likes to experience hockey versus just the skating portion. He really goes for it.”

Suited in a New York Rangers jersey and a neon helmet, Logan’s eyes would light up through his black-framed glasses with every slap shot or ice-shaving stop by one of the on-ice instructors. Even during his private skating lessons, he must be bribed with hockey.

“His coach learned that the only way to get him to move is to throw a puck 20-30 feet in front of him so he will go and get it,” Megan Bailey said.

Logan met Golden Knight’s Senior Vice President Murray Craven during the 24-hour open house at T-Mobile Arena on Feb. 21, and ended up playing against the retired 18-year-NHL veteran one-on-one on the arena floor.

“(Logan) couldn’t believe he met a real hockey player, and went up to him afterwards and asked to take a picture with him,” Megan Bailey said. “Ever since then he’s Murray’s number one fan and has been a hit with all of the people at the Golden Knights.”

As partial season ticket holders, Megan and Logan will be cheering on the Golden Knights from the stands this fall – and will likely be joined by many of the 60-plus children that attended the hockey event on Saturday.

“These kids are obviously able to learn now at a young age, and our hope is that in 10-15 years these will be our biggest fans,” said Keith Veronesi, hockey operations assistant for the Golden Knights. “We want these kids to grow up with a team.”

Veronesi laced up the skates himself and showed the kids a hockey more or two. He and the Golden Knights have been hosting hockey events at schools and parks around the Las Vegas valley all week.

Saturday was the seventh event hosted by the team, and brought the number of children that participated to nearly 1,000.

“The turnout has been unbelievable. I pulled up and there was a line out the door so I knew we were in for another good day,” Veronesi said. “I think the buzz is definitely here. The fans in the community have shown that time and time again. Our goal now is to teach the game of hockey. We have a lot of kids that I don’t think would ever tried the sport of hockey without a little bit of help, or without us giving them the push to get out here on the ice.”

Boys and girls of all skill levels took to the ice Saturday. Kids from the Las Vegas Storm youth hockey program – which recently partnered with the Golden Knights – helped teach the basics of the game to the more inexperienced kids.

“It’s a chance for the kids to get out, learn the game, fall down, get back up, tell mom and dad they had a good time and hopefully continue to play,” Veronesi said. “As a former player myself, this is where it all starts. You have people that take the time and are really passionate about teaching kids how to play hockey and do it the right way. Who knows, we could be looking at kids out here that could be getting drafted in 10-15 years.”

When the Golden Knights open their practice facility this August in Summerlin, their youth hockey involvement is expected to drastically increase. The facility will grow the city's sheets of ice from three to five, and will be the home of many youth and adult hockey leagues.

By then the Golden Knights will have players, and Logan will be able to trade in his New York Rangers jersey for a Vegas one.