TravelSports Blog

Some of my favorite childhood summer memories took place at camp. Learning new skills, making new friends from around the country, and all day dedicated to the gym and training.  

Today, sports camps often include professional athletes, state of the art equipment, and video feedback. Unfortunately, the one area they typically haven’t advanced is nutrition for youth and teen athletes.

Although there are a few that incorporate nutrition education into their schedules, many are still providing pizza, chips, and ineffective sports drinks as “fuel.” 

Yet, while we know nutrient-poor meals and snacks won’t provide adequate energy for the afternoon sessions- or recovery for tomorrow — knowing what to pack for a long, continual day of training can be challenging.

Since digesting a full meal takes about four hours, an assortment of fueling “mini meals” will help maintain their energy and focus throughout the day … and their bodies recover for the next day.

Investing in a good cooler bag, thermos, and/or portable blender provides even more fuelling opportunities. Consider cutting fruit/sandwiches in halves or quarters for quick grab n’ go between sessions to minimize waste.

Plan for 1-2 snacks for every scheduled break as well as a variety of colors and textures to accommodate various hunger patterns. An “emergency” packaged snack (Himalayan salted popcorn, Kind or Zbar) in their bag is helpful for days when their appetite changes based on various training intensity.

Consider these convenient fuelling options for all-day camp:

• Mini or half bagel with cream cheese
• Banana, pineapple, berries
• Non-dairy, non-refrigerated beverage (ex. Ripple)
• Small sports drink (6-8 oz) – look for one without artificial colors or synthetic sugars (acesulfame potassium, sucralose… stevia can also cause stomach distress) like Body Armor
• Chickpea or regular pasta salad with diced veggies
• Nut butter sandwich with banana, jelly, or a drizzle of honey
• Carrots, celery, cucumber, and or sliced red/yellow/orange bell peppers
• Chicken or turkey wrap with lettuce and sliced avocado
• Tortilla chips with salsa
• Chicken and rice/farro 
• Breakfast “cookie”
• Fruit & spinach smoothie (portable blender or reusable water bottle with a straw) 
• Air popped popcorn
• Z-bar or Kate’s bar 
• Salad with quinoa, diced veggies, and chicken
• Pancakes or waffle with small Greek yogurt to dip
• Pretzels and hummus

Since there’s typically only 1-2 hours between training sessions or activities, wait until the end of the day for slower digesting dairy and red meats.  

Wondering about your athlete’s individual nutritional needs? Looking for the breakfast “cookie” recipe? Reach out to me on RockPerformance.net.

Some of my favorite childhood summer memories took place at camp. Learning new skills, making new friends from around the country, and all day dedicated to the gym and training.  

Today, sports camps often include professional athletes, state of the art equipment, and video feedback. Unfortunately, the one area they typically haven’t advanced is nutrition for youth and teen athletes.

Although there are a few that incorporate nutrition education into their schedules, many are still providing pizza, chips, and ineffective sports drinks as “fuel.” 

Yet, while we know nutrient-poor meals and snacks won’t provide adequate energy for the afternoon sessions- or recovery for tomorrow — knowing what to pack for a long, continual day of training can be challenging.

Since digesting a full meal takes about four hours, an assortment of fueling “mini meals” will help maintain their energy and focus throughout the day … and their bodies recover for the next day.

Investing in a good cooler bag, thermos, and/or portable blender provides even more fuelling opportunities. Consider cutting fruit/sandwiches in halves or quarters for quick grab n’ go between sessions to minimize waste.

Plan for 1-2 snacks for every scheduled break as well as a variety of colors and textures to accommodate various hunger patterns. An “emergency” packaged snack (Himalayan salted popcorn, Kind or Zbar) in their bag is helpful for days when their appetite changes based on various training intensity.

Consider these convenient fuelling options for all-day camp:

• Mini or half bagel with cream cheese
• Banana, pineapple, berries
• Non-dairy, non-refrigerated beverage (ex. Ripple)
• Small sports drink (6-8 oz) – look for one without artificial colors or synthetic sugars (acesulfame potassium, sucralose… stevia can also cause stomach distress) like Body Armor
• Chickpea or regular pasta salad with diced veggies
• Nut butter sandwich with banana, jelly, or a drizzle of honey
• Carrots, celery, cucumber, and or sliced red/yellow/orange bell peppers
• Chicken or turkey wrap with lettuce and sliced avocado
• Tortilla chips with salsa
• Chicken and rice/farro 
• Breakfast “cookie”
• Fruit & spinach smoothie (portable blender or reusable water bottle with a straw) 
• Air popped popcorn
• Z-bar or Kate’s bar 
• Salad with quinoa, diced veggies, and chicken
• Pancakes or waffle with small Greek yogurt to dip
• Pretzels and hummus

Since there’s typically only 1-2 hours between training sessions or activities, wait until the end of the day for slower digesting dairy and red meats.  

Wondering about your athlete’s individual nutritional needs? Looking for the breakfast “cookie” recipe? Reach out to me on RockPerformance.net.

Being a hockey goaltender is probably the second hardest job in sports.

The first? Being a parent of a goalie.

It is not just the stress of watching your child perform as the last line of defense, its everything else that goes along with it.

What equipment do I buy? How much training is enough? How much is too much? How do I talk to them after a bad game? How much should I be involved with the coaching staff?

With so much to learn — especially if your family is new to the position — it is easy to make mistakes. Here are some that we have made in the past and why we realized that we may have been doing more harm than good …

Standing behind your kid when he is playing

Imagine working on a big project at your job. The company’s success rests on your shoulders and you can feel the pressure from your co-workers. Your boss can’t help you but they decide that standing directly behind you while you work is the best recipe for success. Does their presence help you do your job? Probably not. The same goes for goalie dads who stand directly behind their kid during games. Not only does the player feel even more pressure with you standing there, but you also can become a distraction as your goalie looks at you after every goal and every save instead of focussing on the next shot. They play the loneliest position on the ice and you can’t help no matter where you stand. Save the coaching until after the game and give your goalie some space.

Comparing your kid to their goalie partner

While inevitable — it will be done by you, the coaches, other parents and players — nothing good ever comes from comparing your child to their goalie partner. It is also inevitable that you will see your goalie through a different lens than everyone else. Almost every parent believes their player is better than they are in reality. It comes with the territory. But don’t let comparing the two goalies be your focus. Don’t use shot counts or goals against as a measuring stick. Those are meaningless stats as every shot, every goal and every game are different. Comparisons can lead to bitterness between goalie parents — the only other set of parents that understand what you are going through — and between the goalies themselves, especially if you vocalize your opinion on the matter. Stay positive with both goalies. Go out of your way to compliment or offer encouragement to other goalie parents on their kid’s performance. Always offer encouragement to BOTH goalies!

Not helping build a pre-game routine

Most goalies are creatures of habit. Routines can provide a calmness before a game and allow your goalie to relax and focus. They can start as early as breakfast and last right until the puck drops. So what can you do to help? First off, you know what makes your goalie tick better than anyone. Talk to your goalie and together start formulating a plan on what the goalie needs to be successful. Some goalies need to hear a specific music playlist on the way to the rink to signal its time to focus, some like to be alone before the game, some have superstitions that can’t be broken, some like to throw a ball against the wall. Most of this is psychological and often these routines build organically — “I did this before the last game and got a shutout so I am going to do it again” — but your job is to be supportive no matter how strange these routines may be. Don’t judge. Don’t be dismissive. Embrace it and you will find it actually strengthens your relationship with your goalie as they see you doing everything you can to help them be successful.

Putting pads on backwards

It’s early. You were up late and have taken only a few sips of coffee in the minutes between waking your child up and getting to the rink for an early ice time. You go through the routine of getting your young goalie ready, handing them one piece of equipment at a time as you chat with the parent beside you. Your child plunks down into their pads, waiting for you to do the buckles and straps like you have done dozens of times before. Finally your goalie is ready to go and you head to the stands. Suddenly you get poked as the kids skate their warmup laps. There are no words spoken, just a smile and a finger pointed directly at your kid. Your shoulders slump as you quickly see the problem — the pads are on the wrong legs. You begin the walk of shame back to the dressing room as several other people have made note of the pads. After finally reaching your goalie, you both work feverishly to make the switch. All finished, you send them back out on the ice as you haul your embarassment back to the bleachers.

Overreacting to a bad goal

Just because you don’t stand directly behind you goalie doesn’t mean that they can’t see you. It is guaranteed that every young goalie knows EXACTLY where their parents are in the rink. That means they can see every reaction you have to a goal against and a negative response can mean a loss of confidence for your kid. Most goalie parents can sense if their goalie is going to have a bad game just by watching warmup or seeing the first goal go in. Often this gives you time to prepare for a long day. Other times a bad goal comes out of nowhere or your kid fails to make a save at a crucial situation and you can’t help but to throw your arms up or storm out of the rink. Just remember that everyone is watching you — including your goalie — as you draw attention to the mistake and make yourself look foolish in the process. 

Not asking for goalie training

You are your goalie’s advocate when it comes to practise and training. Goalies need much different instruction obviously and often their needs are ignored. There is only so much improvement that can be made making save after save in repetitive practise drills, especially if no corrections are being offered. Talk to your team’s coaching staff about taking at least 10 minutes of practice to work on goalie-specific drills, with goalie skating as a priority. Hopefully there is someone on the coaching staff or parent group who has experience as a goalie and can supervise these drills. Coaches who understand the importance of the position to the success of the team, also use money from the team budget to send their goalies to special instructors outside of the team ice time. Many minor hockey organizations also offer goalie-specific training sessions. If that isn’t happening, find out why. Work with other goalie parents to put pressure on teams and organizations to prioritize goalie training. While many kids have goalie coaches outside of the team environment, that doesn’t mean you should foot the entire bill for your goalie’s development as well as paying team fees.

Blaming Other Players

Be careful with the words you use after a tough game when talking to other parents as well as your goalie. Blaming other kid’s mistakes for goals scored on your child will only build animosity between parents as news travels fast in hockey circles. Being a goalie parent is tough enough as it is without becoming an outcast in the parent group. It is even more important not to point out mistakes of other players to your goalie. Odds are your words will make it back into the dressing room and eventually the player in question. Pointing fingers can destroy a team and further deflate the confidence of the player who made the error. They know they made a mistake and it has probably been reviewed with a coach. No need to pile on. This approach can also build negative traits in your goalie, who may now look to blame someone else on every single goal. Your goalie needs to take ownership of each goal scored on them. It is their job to stop every shot, regardless if it comes off of a teammate’s gaffe. 

Making it a Job

Look, being a goalie is hard. There is a ton of pressure. It is lonely. Team practises are exhausting and boring. It is no wonder very few goalies want to play net on the pond or on the street. Acting like a drill sergeant who demands success at all costs is not going to make you kid want to be a goalie for very long. Playing the position has to be fun. Find a goalie trainer that your kid enjoys working with even if these means trying several different ones.

Ask if your child want to do extra sessions, don’t just sign them up. Keep the mood light on game days. Stay positive after bad games by focussing on the good saves rather than the bad goals. Create your own off-ice “games” to help your goalie improve or simply play catch to help their glove hand. Make equipment buying a fun process without complaining about the price. The goal shouldn’t be to play in the NHL but rather to play hockey for life. Remember nobody wants to work forever.

Dave Ashton is the Editor in Chief of Elite Level Hockey. He is a former goalie who has watched his oldest son play the position for the past 10 years.

Being a hockey goaltender is probably the second hardest job in sports.

The first? Being a parent of a goalie.

It is not just the stress of watching your child perform as the last line of defense, its everything else that goes along with it.

What equipment do I buy? How much training is enough? How much is too much? How do I talk to them after a bad game? How much should I be involved with the coaching staff?

With so much to learn — especially if your family is new to the position — it is easy to make mistakes. Here are some that we have made in the past and why we realized that we may have been doing more harm than good …

Standing behind your kid when he is playing

Imagine working on a big project at your job. The company’s success rests on your shoulders and you can feel the pressure from your co-workers. Your boss can’t help you but they decide that standing directly behind you while you work is the best recipe for success. Does their presence help you do your job? Probably not. The same goes for goalie dads who stand directly behind their kid during games. Not only does the player feel even more pressure with you standing there, but you also can become a distraction as your goalie looks at you after every goal and every save instead of focussing on the next shot. They play the loneliest position on the ice and you can’t help no matter where you stand. Save the coaching until after the game and give your goalie some space.

Comparing your kid to their goalie partner

While inevitable — it will be done by you, the coaches, other parents and players — nothing good ever comes from comparing your child to their goalie partner. It is also inevitable that you will see your goalie through a different lens than everyone else. Almost every parent believes their player is better than they are in reality. It comes with the territory. But don’t let comparing the two goalies be your focus. Don’t use shot counts or goals against as a measuring stick. Those are meaningless stats as every shot, every goal and every game are different. Comparisons can lead to bitterness between goalie parents — the only other set of parents that understand what you are going through — and between the goalies themselves, especially if you vocalize your opinion on the matter. Stay positive with both goalies. Go out of your way to compliment or offer encouragement to other goalie parents on their kid’s performance. Always offer encouragement to BOTH goalies!

Not helping build a pre-game routine

Most goalies are creatures of habit. Routines can provide a calmness before a game and allow your goalie to relax and focus. They can start as early as breakfast and last right until the puck drops. So what can you do to help? First off, you know what makes your goalie tick better than anyone. Talk to your goalie and together start formulating a plan on what the goalie needs to be successful. Some goalies need to hear a specific music playlist on the way to the rink to signal its time to focus, some like to be alone before the game, some have superstitions that can’t be broken, some like to throw a ball against the wall. Most of this is psychological and often these routines build organically — “I did this before the last game and got a shutout so I am going to do it again” — but your job is to be supportive no matter how strange these routines may be. Don’t judge. Don’t be dismissive. Embrace it and you will find it actually strengths your relationship with your goalie as they see you doing everything you can to help them be successful.

Putting pads on backwards

It’s early. You were up late and have taken only a few sips of coffee in the minutes between waking your child up and getting to the rink for an early ice time. You go through the routine of getting your young goalie ready, handing them one piece of equipment at a time as you chat with the parent beside you. Your child plunks down into their pads, waiting for you to do the buckles and straps like you have done dozens of times before. Finally your goalie is ready to go and you head to the stands. Suddenly you get poked as the kids skate their warmup laps. There are no words spoken, just a smile and a finger pointed directly at your kid. Your shoulders slump as you quickly see the problem — the pads are on the wrong legs. You begin the walk of shame back to the dressing room as several other people have made note of the pads. After finally reaching your goalie, you both work feverishly to make the switch. All finished, you send them back out on the ice as you haul your embarassment back to the bleachers.

Overreacting to a bad goal

Just because you don’t stand directly behind you goalie doesn’t mean that they can’t see you. It is guaranteed that every young goalie knows EXACTLY where their parents are in the rink. That means they can see every reaction you have to a goal against and a negative response can mean a loss of confidence for your kid. Most goalie parents can sense if their goalie is going to have a bad game just by watching warmup or seeing the first goal go in. Often this gives you time to prepare for a long day. Other times a bad goal comes out of nowhere or your kid fails to make a save at a crucial situation and you can’t help but to throw your arms up or storm out of the rink. Just remember that everyone is watching you — including your goalie — as you draw attention to the mistake and make yourself look foolish in the process. 

Not asking for goalie training

You are your goalie’s advocate when it comes to practise and training. Goalies need much different instruction obviously and often their needs are ignored. There is only so much improvement that can be made making save after save in repetitive practise drills, especially if no corrections are being offered. Talk to your team’s coaching staff about taking at least 10 minutes of practice to work on goalie-specific drills, with goalie skating as a priority. Hopefully there is someone on the coaching staff or parent group who has experience as a goalie and can supervise these drills. Coaches who understand the importance of the position to the success of the team, also use money from the team budget to send their goalies to special instructors outside of the team ice time. Many minor hockey organizations also offer goalie-specific training sessions. If that isn’t happening, find out why. Work with other goalie parents to put pressure on teams and organizations to prioritize goalie training. While many kids have goalie coaches outside of the team environment, that doesn’t mean you should foot the entire bill for your goalie’s development as well as paying team fees.

Blaming Other Players

Be careful with the words you use after a tough game when talking to other parents as well as your goalie. Blaming other kid’s mistakes for goals scored on your child will only build animosity between parents as news travels fast in hockey circles. Being a goalie parent is tough enough as it is without becoming an outcast in the parent group. It is even more important not to point out mistakes of other players to your goalie. Odds are your words will make it back into the dressing room and eventually the player in question. Pointing fingers can destroy a team and further deflate the confidence of the player who made the error. They know they made a mistake and it has probably been reviewed with a coach. No need to pile on. This approach can also build negative traits in your goalie, who may now look to blame someone else on every single goal. Your goalie needs to take ownership of each goal scored on them. It is their job to stop every shot, regardless if it comes off of a teammate’s gaffe. 

Making it a Job

Look, being a goalie is hard. There is a ton of pressure. It is lonely. Team practises are exhausting and boring. It is no wonder very few goalies want to play net on the pond or on the street. Acting like a drill sergeant who demands success at all costs is not going to make you kid want to be a goalie for very long. Playing the position has to be fun. Find a goalie trainer that you kid enjoys working with even if these means trying several different ones.

Ask if your child want to do extra sessions, don’t just sign them up. Keep the mood light on game days. Stay positive after bad games by focussing on the good saves rather than the bad goals. Create your own off-ice “games” to help your goalie improve or simply play catch to help their glove hand. Making equipment buying a fun process without complaining about the price. The goal shouldn’t be to play in the NHL but rather to play hockey for life. Remember nobody wants to work forever.

Dave Ashton is the Editor in Chief of Elite Level Hockey. He is a former goalie who has watched his oldest son play the position for the past 10 years.

Part 3 in our series on minor hockey in Las Vegas

“They’re learning offensive and defensive strategies, gap control, things to do with and away from the puck.”

Part 3 in our series on minor hockey in Las Vegas

“They’re learning offensive and defensive strategies, gap control, things to do with and away from the puck.”

Part 2 in our series on minor hockey in Las Vegas

There was already youth hockey in town when the Vegas Golden Knights launched as an NHL expansion franchise in 2017. Well, sort of.

The local youth hockey organization counted 100 kids in its 8-under age bracket. Based on analytics, studying the standard patterns of drop out rates in youth sports, by the time that group of kids were 12-13, there would have been barely enough of them still playing to assemble two teams.

In other words, youth hockey wasn’t exactly a growth industry in Vegas. The Golden Knights set out to change that dynamic. Four years later, by all measures, they have accomplished their goal.

At the start of the 2020-21 season, there were more than 800 kids registered to play youth hockey in Vegas in the 8-under division.

“To have it grow eight fold in four years is incredible, said former NHL goalie Darren Eliot, who serves as Vice President of Hockey Programming and Facility Operations for the Golden Knights.

To create a long-term NHL success story in a non-traditional hockey market, the Golden Knights recognized from Day 1 that winning on the ice was just one factor in the equation.

Convincing the community to embrace hockey as their game was going to be every bit as valuable as each win and all the playoff appearances the team could accumulate. Not that success between the boards was a bad idea, mind you. Winning is always helpful.

Eliot, as well as Misha Donskov, the director of hockey operations for the Golden Knights, worked together on similar programs in Atlanta when the Thrashers joined the NHL in 1999. But they never were able to create the same kind of environment that’s clicked from Day 1 in Vegas.

“It all goes together,” Eliot said. “They (Golden Knights fans) want to care about their team and they do here. But one advantage we have here that the Thrashers didn’t is that Atlanta never had a playoff run, so there wasn’t that bonding with the team.

“In Vegas, it’s the first pro team and a success all four years. It helps to really embed that kind of loyalty to the Golden Knights.”

Another factor is the team’s willingness to invest in infrastructure at the grassroots level. Bill Foley, owner of the Golden Knights, has put his money where his mouth is, displaying that the club really believes in growing the game and they’re willing to foot the bill to help make it happen.

The club built a practice facility for the Golden Knights with two ice pads that accommodate area youth hockey when not being utilized by the NHL team. They are building a second two-pad ice complex in nearby Henderson, Nevada that will serve as practice facility for the AHL Henderson Silver Knights, the club’s top farm club, and will also be accessible to the youth hockey programs.

“You’ve got seven sheets of ice (for minor hockey) if you add in T-Mobile (Arena, home to the Golden Knights) and the new one coming.”

“Bill Foley and his investors, they built City National Arena to be the Golden Knights practice facility,” Eliot said. “It’s state of the art, a 140,000 square foot two-rink facility. They’ve done the same thing for the American League team. they’re building an event centre where Henderson will play their AHL games. That’ll be open in March. So we built another 120,000 square foot bigger-than-you-need-to facility for youth hockey.

“They added four sheets of ice that we have complete control over and access to.

“There’s two other existing facilities that are pretty beat up but they’re benefiting from the Vegas Golden Knights coming here. So you’ve got seven sheets of ice if you add in T-Mobile (Arena, home to the Golden Knights) and the new one coming.”

Vegas ownership and management succinctly recognize that one of the benefits of building a strong youth hockey program is that through osmosis, it’s also building a bigger fanbase for the team with each passing season.

In these markets that are new to the game, strong youth hockey programs aren’t intended to build future NHL players.

“That’s the unicorn theory,” Eliot said. “It’s a long shot (to make the NHL) no matter where you grow up.”

What a growing youth hockey program will do, however, is build future NHL fans.

It’s a simple philosophy, really.

Take someone to the hockey rink to watch and you’ll make them a fan for a game. Teach someone to play hockey and you’ll make them a fan of the game for life.

“I’m coaching an 8-under youth team,” Eliot said. “We get on the ice once a week and it’s fun. It’s really fun.”

Part 2 in our series on minor hockey in Las Vegas

There was already youth hockey in town when the Vegas Golden Knights launched as an NHL expansion franchise in 2017. Well, sort of.

The local youth hockey organization counted 100 kids in its 8-under age bracket. Based on analytics, studying the standard patterns of drop out rates in youth sports, by the time that group of kids were 12-13, there would have been barely enough of them still playing to assemble two teams.

In other words, youth hockey wasn’t exactly a growth industry in Vegas. The Golden Knights set out to change that dynamic. Four years later, by all measures, they have accomplished their goal.

At the start of the 2020-21 season, there were more than 800 kids registered to play youth hockey in Vegas in the 8-under division.

“To have it grow eight fold in four years is incredible, said former NHL goalie Darren Eliot, who serves as Vice President of Hockey Programming and Facility Operations for the Golden Knights.

To create a long-term NHL success story in a non-traditional hockey market, the Golden Knights recognized from Day 1 that winning on the ice was just one factor in the equation.

Convincing the community to embrace hockey as their game was going to be every bit as valuable as each win and all the playoff appearances the team could accumulate. Not that success between the boards was a bad idea, mind you. Winning is always helpful.

Eliot, as well as Misha Donskov, the director of hockey operations for the Golden Knights, worked together on similar programs in Atlanta when the Thrashers joined the NHL in 1999. But they never were able to create the same kind of environment that’s clicked from Day 1 in Vegas.

“It all goes together,” Eliot said. “They (Golden Knights fans) want to care about their team and they do here. But one advantage we have here that the Thrashers didn’t is that Atlanta never had a playoff run, so there wasn’t that bonding with the team.

“In Vegas, it’s the first pro team and a success all four years. It helps to really embed that kind of loyalty to the Golden Knights.”

Another factor is the team’s willingness to invest in infrastructure at the grassroots level. Bill Foley, owner of the Golden Knights, has put his money where his mouth is, displaying that the club really believes in growing the game and they’re willing to foot the bill to help make it happen.

The club built a practice facility for the Golden Knights with two ice pads that accommodate area youth hockey when not being utilized by the NHL team. They are building a second two-pad ice complex in nearby Henderson, Nevada that will serve as practice facility for the AHL Henderson Silver Knights, the club’s top farm club, and will also be accessible to the youth hockey programs.

“You’ve got seven sheets of ice (for minor hockey) if you add in T-Mobile (Arena, home to the Golden Knights) and the new one coming.”

“Bill Foley and his investors, they built City National Arena to be the Golden Knights practice facility,” Eliot said. “It’s state of the art, a 140,000 square foot two-rink facility. They’ve done the same thing for the American League team. they’re building an event centre where Henderson will play their AHL games. That’ll be open in March. So we built another 120,000 square foot bigger-than-you-need-to facility for youth hockey.

“They added four sheets of ice that we have complete control over and access to.

“There’s two other existing facilities that are pretty beat up but they’re benefiting from the Vegas Golden Knights coming here. So you’ve got seven sheets of ice if you add in T-Mobile (Arena, home to the Golden Knights) and the new one coming.”

Vegas ownership and management succinctly recognize that one of the benefits of building a strong youth hockey program is that through osmosis, it’s also building a bigger fanbase for the team with each passing season.

In these markets that are new to the game, strong youth hockey programs aren’t intended to build future NHL players.

“That’s the unicorn theory,” Eliot said. “It’s a long shot (to make the NHL) no matter where you grow up.”

What a growing youth hockey program will do, however, is build future NHL fans.

It’s a simple philosophy, really.

Take someone to the hockey rink to watch and you’ll make them a fan for a game. Teach someone to play hockey and you’ll make them a fan of the game for life.

“I’m coaching an 8-under youth team,” Eliot said. “We get on the ice once a week and it’s fun. It’s really fun.”

Part 1 in our series on minor hockey in Las Vegas

When it comes to NHL success stories, few franchises can measure up to the instant winning formula that was concocted by the Vegas Golden Knights. They were winners from the moment they stepped on the ice.

Vegas finished in first place as a first-year expansion franchise. The Golden Knights established NHL records for the most wins (51) and points (109) compiled by a first-year franchise. They joined the St. Louis Blues as the only NHL teams to reach the Stanley Cup final in their first year of existence. Though they lost to the Washington Capitals in five games, the Golden Knights managed to win a game in the final series, something the Blues weren’t able to do when they were swept by the Montreal Canadiens in the 1967-68 final.

Into their fourth season, the Golden Knights are just one of 19 teams in NHL history to qualify for the playoffs in each of their first four seasons. They were an immediate smash hit and they are working hard to ensure that the future — both the short-term and long-term variety — will be equally fruitful.

“To see the excitement and the enthusiasm in this market has been really rewarding,” said former NHL goalie Darren Eliot, who serves as Vice President of Hockey Programming and Facility Operations for the Golden Knights. “Now we’ve got to keep on focusing.”

Certainly, the on-ice success story of the Golden Knights has helped to create a buzz about the game throughout the Nevada desert. But it’s not just about winning on the ice. From Day 1 for the Golden Knights, it’s been about winning over the people of Las Vegas, converting them into hockey lifers.

And that doesn’t start with a capacity crowd on game night. Sure, that type of environment develops excitement but it’s more of the instant gratification variety, getting caught up in the atmosphere and wanting to be part of that environment. But it’s a strong grassroots youth hockey program that creates hockey fans forever.

The Golden Knights recognized this fact of life from the outset.

“It’s really a long-term investment,” Eliot said.

“The parents are now hockey fans in the moment but their kid is the one who is playing hockey and has an affinity for the game.”

Over the course of his career, Eliot, 59, has frequently found himself situated in what would be termed emerging hockey markets. He tended goal for the Los Angeles Kings from 1984-87. In front-office positions, he’s worked for the Anaheim Ducks when they were still Mighty and for the Atlanta Thrashers.

“I never set out to get my doctorate degree in non-traditional hockey markets,” Eliot said. “ It’s just where the opportunity led me and kind of interested me and now this has become broad based for me.”

Misha Donskov, director of hockey operations for the Golden Knights, worked with Eliot in Atlanta.

“We had some really groundbreaking work done there,” Eliot said of his time in Georgia. “We did a ton of good things for youth hockey, hockey development, and brand extension.”

They also discovered that all of the hard work in a new market doesn’t add up to much if it isn’t backed up by the opportunity for kids to get out and play the game.

Eliot in particular remembered a conversation he had with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, who was leaving Atlanta and headed to Nashville while on a tour of NHL markets.

I said ‘Hey Gary do you ever drive to Nashville?’” Eliot recalled. “I said, ‘You know how many rinks you pass between Atlanta and Nashville? I’ll tell you the answer — zero.’

“Granting teams to these markets with no infrastructure, you just become an entertainment option, a novelty. In the 20 years since, (the NHL) has really recognized that you have to put in the money and the commitment.”

“It’s about building the infrastructure, because that’s the bigger piece. They’ve all figured that out.”

It’s hard to grow the game if the roots have nowhere to sprout and blossom.

In Vegas, youth programs such as learn to skate, learn to play and skills training are all designed to lead kids into playing organized hockey, whether that be house league or travel. Backing up these on-ice programs is a commitment from team ownership to provide the facilities and sponsors to deliver the financial wherewithal to make it all happen.

“It’s a long-term thing and it all has to come together and you don’t get that without putting in the effort to develop hockey programs in the area,” Eliot said. “That’s the bottom line.”

In the past, most youth hockey programs in non-traditional markets were generally started by Canadians who stayed in the area after their playing days, but there wasn’t any direct link to the team. They were blips on the radar that eventually faded away.

In Vegas, they recognize that long-term success for the franchise isn’t built merely around succeeding on the ice. By building a strong youth hockey program and investing in hockey futures, they are assembling a fan base for years to come. And if you get the kids on board, the adults are sure to follow.

“Seeing families and kids take to the game that we grew up with in Canada taking it for granted, I’m loving every minute of it,” Eliot said.

When it comes to NHL success stories, few franchises can measure up to the instant winning formula that was concocted by the Vegas Golden Knights. They were winners from the moment they stepped on the ice.

Vegas finished in first place as a first-year expansion franchise. The Golden Knights established NHL records for the most wins (51) and points (109) compiled by a first-year franchise. They joined the St. Louis Blues as the only NHL teams to reach the Stanley Cup final in their first year of existence. Though they lost to the Washington Capitals in five games, the Golden Knights managed to win a game in the final series, something the Blues weren’t able to do when they were swept by the Montreal Canadiens in the 1967-68 final.

Into their fourth season, the Golden Knights are just one of 19 teams in NHL history to qualify for the playoffs in each of their first four seasons. They were an immediate smash hit and they are working hard to ensure that the future — both the short-term and long-term variety — will be equally fruitful.

“To see the excitement and the enthusiasm in this market has been really rewarding,” said former NHL goalie Darren Eliot, who serves as Vice President of Hockey Programming and Facility Operations for the Golden Knights. “Now we’ve got to keep on focusing.”

Certainly, the on-ice success story of the Golden Knights has helped to create a buzz about the game throughout the Nevada desert. But it’s not just about winning on the ice. From Day 1 for the Golden Knights, it’s been about winning over the people of Las Vegas, converting them into hockey lifers.

And that doesn’t start with a capacity crowd on game night. Sure, that type of environment develops excitement but it’s more of the instant gratification variety, getting caught up in the atmosphere and wanting to be part of that environment. But it’s a strong grassroots youth hockey program that creates hockey fans forever.

The Golden Knights recognized this fact of life from the outset.

“It’s really a long-term investment,” Eliot said.

“The parents are now hockey fans in the moment but their kid is the one who is playing hockey and has an affinity for the game.”

Over the course of his career, Eliot, 59, has frequently found himself situated in what would be termed emerging hockey markets. He tended goal for the Los Angeles Kings from 1984-87. In front-office positions, he’s worked for the Anaheim Ducks when they were still Mighty and for the Atlanta Thrashers.

“I never set out to get my doctorate degree in non-traditional hockey markets,” Eliot said. “ It’s just where the opportunity led me and kind of interested me and now this has become broad based for me.”

Misha Donskov, director of hockey operations for the Golden Knights, worked with Eliot in Atlanta.

“We had some really groundbreaking work done there,” Eliot said of his time in Georgia. “We did a ton of good things for youth hockey, hockey development, and brand extension.”

They also discovered that all of the hard work in a new market doesn’t add up to much if it isn’t backed up by the opportunity for kids to get out and play the game.

Eliot in particular remembered a conversation he had with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, who was leaving Atlanta and headed to Nashville while on a tour of NHL markets.

I said ‘Hey Gary do you ever drive to Nashville?’” Eliot recalled. “I said, ‘You know how many rinks you pass between Atlanta and Nashville? I’ll tell you the answer — zero.’

“Granting teams to these markets with no infrastructure, you just become an entertainment option, a novelty. In the 20 years since, (the NHL) has really recognized that you have to put in the money and the commitment.”

“It’s about building the infrastructure, because that’s the bigger piece. They’ve all figured that out.”

It’s hard to grow the game if the roots have nowhere to sprout and blossom.

In Vegas, youth programs such as learn to skate, learn to play and skills training are all designed to lead kids into playing organized hockey, whether that be house league or travel. Backing up these on-ice programs is a commitment from team ownership to provide the facilities and sponsors to deliver the financial wherewithal to make it all happen.

“It’s a long-term thing and it all has to come together and you don’t get that without putting in the effort to develop hockey programs in the area,” Eliot said. “That’s the bottom line.”

In the past, most youth hockey programs in non-traditional markets were generally started by Canadians who stayed in the area after their playing days, but there wasn’t any direct link to the team. They were blips on the radar that eventually faded away.

In Vegas, they recognize that long-term success for the franchise isn’t built merely around succeeding on the ice. By building a strong youth hockey program and investing in hockey futures, they are assembling a fan base for years to come. And if you get the kids on board, the adults are sure to follow.

“Seeing families and kids take to the game that we grew up with in Canada taking it for granted, I’m loving every minute of it,” Eliot said.