With a new season comes new hockey hope. Even more so for a certain group of players.
Brendan Leipsic is one of the Winnipeggers who will try out for the expansion Vegas Golden Knights this season. For a guy who’s only played six NHL games, it’s a chance to become a big leaguer full time.
“It’s 12 more forward spots and six more defenceman spots,” Leipsic said. “It’s just more opportunity. I think this is a better situation for myself to see my full potential as a NHLer. I think Vegas is going to be a good starting point.”
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A place to build a career for some while for others, continue it. After three seasons with the Colorado Avalanche, goalie Calvin Pickard is packing his pads for Vegas.
“Every year there’s those training camp jitters but I think it will be a little more this year,” Pickard said.
“Everything is new. New team, new staff, new players, new everything.”
Luckily, there’s a few familiar faces. Among the players Vegas is gambling on are five Manitobans.
“They’ll make sure I’m not lonely there and make sure I’m not out of place,” forward Keegan Kolesar said. “It’s nice to have guys like that because it’s a brand new team.”
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Most of the players will spend the next few days at home, skating with other local NHLers before heading to Vegas to prepare for next month’s training camp.
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