Look at this logo. See it? It’s reminiscent of hockey’s past, where the Phoenix/Arizona Coyotes played. They moved to Salt Lake City and became the Utah Hockey Club. With new ownership and a burgeoning franchise, there may be hope for a renamed team that once went bankrupt. Finally! A viable hockey team that doesn’t have to deal with relocation rumors (at least for now). That sounds like a good copywriting headline if you shorten it.
With that in mind, the Vegas Golden Knights announced on Monday that they will participate in this year’s Rookie Faceoff Tournament. They will play against teams like Utah, Seattle and San Jose in the tournament, which runs from September 13-16. The action will take place in El Segundo, California at the Toyota Sports Performance Center, providing Golden Knights fans with some early hockey action.
So what does Vegas’ schedule look like? Will we see more action against the Sharks before the preseason begins? What about the newest NHL team in Utah? Will fans see action there? Hockey is coming quicker than anyone thought, and the tournament is no different. Here’s what the Golden Knights’ schedule looks like before the matchup.
The Vegas Golden Knights kick off their tournament against the Los Angeles Kings on September 13. Vegas will be familiar with their Pacific Division rivals, having faced them once in the playoffs (a 4-0 win in the first round in 2018). The Kings have home-court advantage, which could help them on opening day. Action begins at 7:00 p.m. PST and takes place at NHL Rink 1.
On September 15th, the game will begin again against the Seattle Kraken, another opponent from the Pacific Division. Both teams know what it means to be the newcomers to the NHL block and thus give a glimpse into the future of both teams. The game will also take place in NHL Rink 1.
Finally, the Golden Knights will face the Utah Hockey Club on September 16th at 12:30 p.m. PST. The hockey team formerly known as the Arizona Coyotes will show hockey fans in Las Vegas what their franchise could do in the future. The game will take place at NHL Rink 2.
The good news is that Golden Knights hockey will happen sooner than anyone thinks. Fans can get a taste of the Rookie Faceoff Tournament and see the stars of tomorrow shine. Plus, there’s no point living in the past. If you do, there’s a chance Vegas could end up like the Coyotes in 15 years.
