LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — When tragedy hit the Las Vegas community four years ago, the Vegas Golden Knights were there with a helping hand. The team's inaugural season began in 2017, and they had a magical run to the Stanley Cup Finals, helping the city find strength.
VGK players Reilly Smith, Jonathan Marchessault, and Brayden McNabb each sit down with Tina Nguyen one-on-one to reflect on 1 October.
You can watch the Vegas Golden Knights' preseason game against the LA Kings tonight at 7 p.m. on Channel 13.
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Jonathan Marchessault: I remember everything we had like the meetings and the staff and everything telling us that it's more in hockey when we're doing tonight.
Tina Nguyen: What do you remember from that day?
Reilly Smith: We weren't too far we were at the Cosmo at a restaurant when everything happened in having the restaurant locked down and us waiting there for a couple of hours not really knowing what was going on which was pretty tough.
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Marchessault: One of my buddies, we went on the Strip the day before, so we're like let's just go at Red Rock Casino. We sat down at the bar, and I remember and we were watching TV and we're like “what is happening?” You're like watching Twitter and like there's so much weird stuff that happened that day like all there's multiple shooters and stuff like that so it was like it was a scary moment.
Nguyen: What was it like to see all the fans come together?
McNabb: That's another game I'll never forget how loud it was how well we played Derek's speech.
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Marchessault: To see like all the first responders coming on the ice and all that stuff like those are their real heroes.
Nguyen: How moved were you at that first game?
McNabb: It was very moving for sure. Just the way we responded in the first 10 minutes, I think was three to nothing and we didn't really know what to expect from it, but it was loud. You can see here feel the passion of the fans and it was very cool.
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Nguyen: That was the same year that you guys gifted the fans with a run to the Stanley Cup. What was that like to give this town that?
Smith: I mean, I don't know if we get the town or the town helped us really get there. It was a it was such a great atmosphere from day one. When we stepped on the ice and with so much support. So you know, calling Vegas home, it was really easy after that first year. It seemed like we were welcomed with open arms and for me and my family. It's a special place.
Those looking for support can call the Vegas Strong Resiliency Center at (702) 455-2433 or visit their website VegasStrongRC.org.
View the team's preseason game schedule airing on ABC 13 below.