NEW YORK — The National Hockey League (NHL) and Vegas Golden Knights are celebrating the rapid growth of youth hockey in Southern Nevada with ice and ball hockey clinics throughout the Las Vegas Valley ahead of the 2024 NHL Awards and Draft of the 2024 NHL presented by Upper Deck in Las Vegas.
Since the Vegas Golden Knights’ first season in the NHL in 2017-18, the state of Nevada has seen growth in hockey participation, increased hockey programs, and expansion into new communities and new facilities to meet high demand. The arrival of the Golden Knights resulted in a 268% increase in the total number of hockey players, with 8U players experiencing the largest increase. To date, the NHL/NHLPA Industrial Growth Fund has invested $3.6 million to support the Golden Knights’ youth hockey programs. The team introduced extensive NHL/NHLPA learn-to-skate and learn-to-play programs, and built strong community partnerships with the Clark County School District, the City of Las Vegas and the Boys and Girls Club to create greater access to ball hockey. The Golden Knights also created LosVGK, a Hispanic/Latino community outreach program that introduces hockey to people of all ages who are new to the game.
In 2016, when the Golden Knights were awarded a franchise, Southern Nevada had three community ice sheets. Today, with the addition of City National Arena and the America First Center, there are seven sheets of ice, more than doubling ice access for the community.
Community events and initiatives include:
The best NHL prospects and the clinic to learn how to play on the ice
Wednesday, June 26 (2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.)
City National Arena, Court B (1550 S Pavilion Center Dr, Las Vegas, NV 89135)
Top NHL Prospects Zeev Buium, Macklin Celebrini, Artem Levshunov, Cayden Lindstromand Zayne Parekh; Vegas Golden Knights Alumnus Deryk England; and members of the NHL Player Inclusion Coalition Anson Carter, Julia Chu, Georges Laraque, Al Montoyaand Anthony Stewart will join approx. 45 youth hockey players, ages 5 to 10, for an ice clinic. The youth hockey players are from the NHL/NHLPA Learn to Play program, the 10U Girls Jr. Knights and Bauer Empowered Girls teams. Confirmation of attendance to the media: Jasmine Ghafour ((email protected))
Vegas Golden Knights Youth Ball Hockey Clinic
Wednesday, June 26 (16:30 – 17:30)
Veterans Memorial Community Center (101 Pavilion Center Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89144)
Vegas Golden Knights Alumnus Deryk England, mascot Chance and youth hockey coaches will host a clinic for approx. 50 girls and boys from 7 to 12 years old. This youth hockey group is supported by the NHL/NHLPA Industrial Growth Fund. Media RSVP: Nate Ewell ((email protected))
NHL Player Inclusion Coalition Ball Hockey Clinic
Thursday, June 27 (11:30 am – 12:30 pm)
James Boys and Girls Club (2530 E Carey Ave, North Las Vegas, NV 89030)
Defenseman for the Vegas Golden Knights and member of the NHL Player Inclusion Coalition Zach Whitecloud will be joined by other members. JT Brown, Anson Carter, Julie Chu, Mark Fraser, Jordan Harris, Georges Laraque, Al Montoya, Abby Roque, Anthony Stewartand Subban P.K.. The group is donating $20,000 on behalf of a coalition member. Ryan Reaves provide 10 Southern Nevada Boys & Girls Clubs with street hockey equipment and staff for two months of hockey programming. The group will also donate to create a 500-square-foot mural at the James Boys and Girls Club, leaving a lasting memory that will be a tribute to youth hockey. This will be the 11th community event hosted by the NHL Player Inclusion Coalition this season, celebrating hockey with hundreds of boys and girls across North America. Confirmation of attendance to the media: Jasmine Ghafour ((email protected))
These clinics are open to the media but closed to the public. Media are asked to RSVP.
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