Growing up a Vancouver Canucks fan, former Vernon resident Larry Mikalishen knows well the feeling of disappointment of his favourite National Hockey League team not winning a Stanley Cup.
It started in 1982, when the Canucks were swept in the final by the New York Islanders. Then came 1994, and a Game 7 loss to the Rangers in New York. And, of course, the Game 7 defeat at home to the Boston Bruins in 2011.
Fast forward 12 years. Mikalishen 91裸聊视频� firmly ensconced in Las Vegas since the new millennium, and a seasons-ticket holder with the Vegas Golden Knights since Day 1 in 2017 91裸聊视频� is in his seats Tuesday, June 13, in row 1 of the upper level of T-Mobile Arena that he considers 91裸聊视频榯he best in the house,91裸聊视频� between the two players91裸聊视频� benches. The Golden Knights are leading the Florida Panthers 9-3 and are a minute away from winning the Stanley Cup in just their sixth year of operation.
You91裸聊视频檇 think Mikalishen would be jumping up and down, and going nuts.
91裸聊视频淚 was in a state of, maybe a bit of shock? It wasn91裸聊视频檛 what I thought it was going to be,91裸聊视频� said Mikalishen, 61, a 1979 Vernon Senior Secondary School graduate and former lighting technician who travelled the world with various rock bands before settling in Vegas 23 years ago. He is now regional general manager of 4Wall Entertainment, a full-service lighting, video, and rigging company servicing all facets of the entertainment industry.
91裸聊视频淚 thought I91裸聊视频檇 be leaping up and down, crying and cheering. Instead, I was just sitting there, thinking, 91裸聊视频業 can91裸聊视频檛 believe this just happened.91裸聊视频� I was excited and I did cheer, but it was a different feeling than I thought was going to have.91裸聊视频�
The euphoria for the Golden Knights fan set in later Tuesday evening. He couldn91裸聊视频檛 sleep, repeating in his mind, 91裸聊视频榁egas Golden Knights: Stanley Cup champions. Did this really just happen?91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淗onestly, it was probably more exciting yesterday (Wednesday) because the game Tuesday was so draining, so tense,91裸聊视频� said Mikalishen. 91裸聊视频淎fter years and years and years of disappointment, I got to see my team win the Stanley Cup.91裸聊视频�
When Mikalishen arrived in the desert at the start of the 21st century, hockey, he said, was almost unheard of.
He91裸聊视频檇 go to a local watering hole, trying to find the Stanley Cup playoffs on a TV somewhere. ANY television in the joint. But no. While he could watch women91裸聊视频檚 college basketball and other NCAA sports to his heart91裸聊视频檚 content, there was nary an NHL game to be seen.
That didn91裸聊视频檛 really change until the nearby Los Angeles Kings won the Stanley Cup in 2012 and 2014, and then came rumblings that the first professional sports team to be based in Las Vegas would be an NHL franchise.
Mikalishen got in on the ground floor thanks to connections with the hockey team he still skates for in Sin City.
91裸聊视频淚 was among the first 50 people for season tickets,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淭he ticket drive was run by MGM and a guy on my hockey team (which includes Canadian Football League Hall of Fame receiver Ray Elgaard of the Saskatchewan Roughriders, and the former all-time penalty minutes leader with the Pittsburgh Penguins when he left the team in 1990, Rod Buskas), his wife was heading up the drive for season tickets.
91裸聊视频淚 put a $600 deposit down even before knowing the team was going to be awarded.91裸聊视频�
Mikalishen originally signed a five-year contract for his seats, then re-upped for another three years at the end of last season. In the team91裸聊视频檚 first six years, he has attended all but a handful of regular-season and playoff games.
91裸聊视频淭he first season was amazing,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淭here were a lot of bandwagon fans who are heavily intense hockey fans. People want to grow and evolve the sport, and we welcome the band-wagoners. Go see the Vegas Golden Knights. You91裸聊视频檒l be a fan.
91裸聊视频淚n Year 1 there were so many people who didn91裸聊视频檛 know what offside was. Now, they know the rule book inside and out.
91裸聊视频淢ost of the players, I91裸聊视频檇 never heard of and I91裸聊视频檓 a hockey fan.91裸聊视频�
Mikalishen recalls the team91裸聊视频檚 first-ever regular-season home game. It came weeks after a mass shooting Oct. 1, 2017 at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino that resulted in 58 deaths. Mikalishen had been at an exhibition game at T-Mobile that night. He missed the massacre by five minutes as he drove home past the resort following a boost to his Jeep battery, which wouldn91裸聊视频檛 start.
91裸聊视频淭he team and the city rallied together with the shootings as one,91裸聊视频� said Mikalishen. 91裸聊视频淚t was the first time since I lived in Vegas that it felt like a community. The Knights were more than just a hockey team. They were part of the healing process of the city, they brought everybody together.91裸聊视频�
The inaugural season saw the Knights go all the way to the Stanley Cup final with 91裸聊视频渁 bunch of misfits,91裸聊视频� a nickname bestowed upon them by the media. They would lose in five games to the Washington Capitals.
On June 13, when they won the Cup, nine original Golden Knights were still with the team, much to Mikalishen91裸聊视频檚 delight. His favourite player is misfit William Karlsson.
91裸聊视频淭he team usually starts the fourth line, and when they announced 91裸聊视频榮tarting on wing, Riley Smith,91裸聊视频� I thought, 91裸聊视频極h, they91裸聊视频檙e starting Karlsson91裸聊视频檚 line,91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频� said Mikalishen. 91裸聊视频淭hen they announced Karlsson. And Jonathan Marchessault. And then I realized they were starting the original misfits, with Shay Theodore and Brayden McNabb on defence. That was the most moving thing about Game 5. It got you right in the heart.
91裸聊视频淭hose players worked year-after-year for the team. To see them hoist the Cup was really something.91裸聊视频�
Mikalishen will watch the Golden Knights celebrate one more time with the team91裸聊视频檚 victory parade Saturday. Then, in true, season-ticket-holder-fan fashion, he said he91裸聊视频檒l 91裸聊视频渄rop a couple of thousand dollars91裸聊视频� on Knights91裸聊视频� Stanley Cup swag and gear.
91裸聊视频淵ou know, stuff I91裸聊视频檒l never wear but have to have,91裸聊视频� he laughed.
roger@vernonmorningstar.com
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