Even in Vegas, hockey will come first
The bright lights, endless buffets and blackjack tables of the Las Vegas Strip get old pretty quick, according to Calgary Flames defenceman Deryk Engelland.
If anyone understands what the NHL might look like in the Nevada desert, it’s Engelland, who has lived in Vegas with his family the last 12 years.
Born in Edmonton but raised in a tiny northern B.C. town, Engelland got his first taste of Sin City as a 21-year-old playing for the now-extinct Las Vegas Wranglers of the ECHL. At first he was intrigued by the excitement of the city, and the Strip specifically.
“But you come here and (that part) gets old really fast,” said the 34-yearold Engelland. “You learn the city and places to go and places not to go. I think it’s just like any other city.”
Players will soon get a taste of Vegas life with the league’s board of governors expected to approve an expansion team for the city Wednesday.
Engelland met his wife while she was studying there. They now have two young boys, who were both born in the city. To him, Vegas is a lot like a small town once you venture beyond the casinos, restaurants and attractions of the Strip.
“It’s a small town in a big-city type of thing,” said Engelland, who grew up in Chetwynd, B.C., which has a population of about 3,000.
Equally attractive were the sunny, dry climate, outdoor lifestyle and proximity to the West Coast. Housing is also affordable in a market that was hit hard by the recession.
Ryan Mougenel, who was the head coach of the Wranglers for four seasons, says many former players, NHL or otherwise, have settled in Vegas for similar reasons.
“I’ll tell you this — it is a special place,” said Mougenel, now an assistant coach for the San Jose Sharks AHL affiliate. “It was very special for me. I had an amazing experience there. We loved the community, we loved the people.”
The Toronto native said he remembers a passionate “well-educated” fan-base, mostly encountering East Coast transplants and Canadians during his time with the Wranglers, a club that ceased operations in 2015 when they could not secure a new arena.
Engelland already has a sense for the excitement news of an NHL team has brought. At a recent visit to his local gym, all anyone wanted to talk about was the new team.
“Even if people aren’t hockey fans I think they’re just excited to have a professional team that they can follow,” said Engelland.
He doesn’t expect the allure of Vegas to be troublesome for players. There’s opportunity to play poker or hit the roulette wheel almost anywhere, including in Calgary.
“During the season, it doesn’t matter what city you’re in, if you want to go out (you can) go out,” he said. “Obviously it’s a little more accessible here, but I don’t think it’s any different than New York City or a place like Miami. “I think it’ll definitely wear off.” He and the family view trips to the Strip almost like a chore. They go only for special dinners or visits with friends and family. Much like Times Square for New Yorkers, it’s mostly a place to avoid.
Mougenel was initially concerned about the effect of the nightlife on players, but found it was hardly a problem. While he acknowledges ECHL players aren’t paid the millions of today’s NHLers, he still doesn’t think it will be an issue.
“I think the biggest thing is at the NHL level, guys understand the ramifications of not looking after yourself,” Mougenel said.
He hopes the venture will be a success and is most excited by the potential effect on minor hockey. “It’s a unique spot,” Mougenel said. “We really fell in love with Las Vegas and we miss it all the time.”