“Stop, turn, take a look around, at all the lights and sounds….”
- Yellowcard
Unfortunately for sports fans across the globe, including the amazingly talented Yellowcard, we simply can’t. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic – you may have heard of it – professional sports and any other large gatherings have been shut down for the foreseeable future.
For Vegas Golden Knights fans, this means no Golden Pipes (Carnell Johnson) belting out the best rendition of the National Anthem to ever grace an ice rink. This means no DJ Joe Green and no Jake Wagner, blasting music throughout the T-Mobile Arena. No sword fights, no pageantry, and no borderline-crazy Brits screaming at hockey fans. It’s safe to say, a lot has changed in Las Vegas over the past month.
Golden Knights games are unlike most hockey games. The presentation rivals an upscale show on the Las Vegas strip. Sure, you get the kids playing during some intermissions, but in others there’s a full-on Cirque du Soleil act taking the stage...err rink. The music is louder – it is quite literally louder than any other arena – and those in attendance can tangibly feel the building shake beneath their feet.
A Golden Knights hockey game feels equal parts nightclub, sporting event, and family cookout. The uncanny camaraderie within the Vegas faithful is sight to see and the organization does a great job entertaining their family.
The cool feel of the ice, the sound of puck rubber transferring onto plexiglass, the all-too-familiar scent of hot dogs and popcorn.
All gone, all missed, for now.
Many people are affected by this global sports stoppage. Large numbers of part-time arena event staffers have been displaced due to the absence of events. Security officers, ushers, food servers, cooks, custodial personnel and the like are now out of work. These folks, each with their own stories and backgrounds, are now losing work. In a classy move, the Golden Knights have decided to financially support those displaced workers.
Max Pacioretty and Mark Stone celebrate (USA Today Sports)
Approximately 70 media members are in attendance each game. A majority of those are the Vegas-local media, who solely cover sports and/or the Golden Knights. TV stations, radio hosts and producers, newspaper staff, and web-based writers can be seen nightly in the press box, spanning blue line to blue line. Without sports, their jobs have been seriously impacted. Media members are not fans of the team, but they are feeling the stoppage on a similar level to the fan base. They have gone from watching hockey, breathing hockey, sleeping hockey to having no hockey at all. This stoppage is a culture shock and they have not been immune.
March 9 – the last time the Golden Knights played - seems further away than it truly is. A month hasn’t yet passed and still many people need their hockey fix. Everyone misses the game. Whether it’s the environment, the players, or the party, everyone has an empty feeling without the greatest game in the world being played. To fill that void, a few of your favorite media members and Golden Knights personalities were brought together – virtually, with social distancing – to share what they miss most during the stoppage. “We are all in this together” is a mantra seen regularly on social media and it rings no truer than in the sports world.
Justin Emerson, Las Vegas Sun:
Twitter
I miss being able to break down a hockey game. My favorite part of my job is looking at a game and finding that one play that made the difference, not just in that game, but in the season as a whole. Most of the time it’s a goal or save but when you can find the chemistry between linemates or the way a skater defended and start there and zoom out for a big-picture look, it’s great.
Watching a game and drawing my own conclusions about what happened and then talking to players to gain their perspective on it is really illuminating and what I miss most right now.
Lee Orchard, Golden Knight:
Twitter
Who would have thought that March 3 would have possibly been the last home game of the regular season? We were planning to do some brainstorming for the opening sequence for possible playoffs!
I miss the atmosphere, the noise, the passion from the fans, and of course I miss the hockey! As a local hockey player, it’s killing me not being able to get on the ice with my buddies. This is a horrible virus, but I know we are all looking forward to getting back to the normality of day-to-day and the possibility of finishing the season!
Ryan Quigley, SB Nation:
Twitter
What I miss most during this stoppage is HAVING SOMETHING TO DO. In a way I'm lucky, because I know there are a lot of other people who are dealing with much worse circumstances, so I'm grateful that I'm in a situation where boredom is my main issue, with the season's pause.
I'm just excited to start being productive again. I've missed watching and analyzing the game, and it's so unfortunate that the season *could* end without a Stanley Cup being awarded. That's by no means a guarantee, but it's a very distinct possibility.
Jesse Granger, The Athletic:
Twitter
I miss hockey, in all its forms.
My days usually consist of waking up and going straight to City National Arena for Golden Knights practice, coming home to write about hockey and flip on the TV to watch hockey around the league. Then, if it’s a game day, I drive to T-Mobile Arena for the Golden Knights’ game. If it isn’t, I drive to the rink to play men’s league hockey. When I get home I usually turn on the PlayStation and play NHL 20.
I’ve now been confined to only one form of hockey, and I’m already getting sick of that damn video game. This sucks, but the positive spin is that when we eventually return to normalcy — whenever that may be — I think hockey will be even better than it was before, at least for a while.
The first time the NHL players hit the ice. The first actual game. The first time us beer leaguers hit the rink. I can’t wait.
Ken Boehlke, SinBin.Vegas:
Twitter
What I miss most during the pause are the storylines that drive sports. The more I watch TV shows and movies the more I realize nothing compares to the drama created by sports. From the ups and downs of a season to the rivalries to the stories of each individual I miss the unpredictability that sports brings our lives. It truly is the best reality show ever created and without it we get to see how poorly everything else stacks up.
Chris Chapman, Fox Sports Radio 98.9FM:
Twitter
Obviously, the quarantine and suspension of the NHL season has been unique and at times difficult for a multitude of reasons. Trying to stay safe is the utmost priority, but I still miss so many aspects of the game.
I think the thing I miss the most is the fellas in the media, the jokes, the debates and seeing all of them at practices and games. I also miss having nonsensical conversations with the players about things like their favorite songs to listen to on game days or if this is finally the year Liverpool wins the (UEFA football/soccer) league. Hopefully we can return to normalcy soon and here’s hoping everyone stays safe!
Bryan Salmond, NBC 3 - Las Vegas:
Twitter
The Coronavirus is a huge monkey wrench in the lives of us all in the United States on a personal and professional level. Especially those involved in the media, specifically the sports media.
Thursday, March 12 is the day the sports world stood still. The 'pause' in the NHL season and the work stoppage in all sports has left a huge void in my life professionally and personally. With the Golden Knights, I miss going to games and absorbing the unmatched energy inside T-Mobile Arena. I miss the intensity of the playoff race and the way Las Vegas supports the bunch of 'misfits'. Most of all I miss the reason I got into this business, attending live sporting events and covering a winning program. Did I mention not being able to attend live sporting events of any kind, especially playoff hockey and March Madness.
Katie Leavitt, VGK Ladies:
Twitter
I miss the energy and excitement of the game. I miss the feel of the crowd cheering at T-Mobile, the surprise and excitement of the shot that finally goes in, the sound of a player being checked into the boards and the feeling I get when our team has done something great.
I miss (Marc-Andre) Fleury’s childlike joy of the game, (Nate) Schmidt’s smile, (Mark) Stone’s expressions, (Ryan Reaves) Reavo’s chirps, and (Reilly) Smith’s skill. I can’t wait to see (Jonathan Marchessault) Marchy be the first to defend his linemates after a bad hit again, or to watch (Alec) Martinez continue to prove his value to the naysayers.
From between-the-legs goals to ear tickles to game-winning goals with less than a second left in the game, the Golden Knights know how to bring the excitement and fun… and I miss it all.
Ben Gotz, Las Vegas Review Journal:
Twitter
There’s so much I miss right now. Obviously hockey, the snap of shots, the thud of hits, the roar of the crowd. But I think I just miss the thrill and unifying power of sports and I hope when everything’s safe, it comes back.
It is clear to see that everyone has been affected by the sports stoppage. Until players touch the ice, life will feel incomplete. As of now, nobody knows how long this halt in life will last. Furthermore, the 2019-20 season is in serious question. If professional sports leagues don’t return until the summer, would an immediate playoff occur? Will there be a mid-season training camp for the players? Currently, there are endless questions and very few answers. Amid the indecision and the unknown, there is one absolute: We the people, NEED hockey.
Remember you can catch me daily on the Twitter and don’t forget to make your votes tomorrow for Round Three of the Vegas Golden Knights Player Bracket!!
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