Grateful for the Golden Knights

I grew up in Boston as a die-hard Bruins fan, so I never thought I would embrace the Vegas Golden Knights. I thought I’d watch a game every now and then, but it would be more of a passing fascination than actual fandom.

Since our economy and society in Clark County hinge upon people coming to town and losing, it does not create a very positive, unifying culture. Then the Oct. 1 shooting became a unifying force for which we all had a common goal: to heal.

As the days passed, the emotional scarring of people who were at the festival, or knew someone who was injured, or were nearby in lockdown for hours, lingered for quite some time. As a teacher, the emotions we carry with and for our 200 students can be a lot to bear at times.

At the home opener, the Golden Knights honored the true heroes of Vegas: the first responders. It filled me with pride that my hometown team could be so classy. During the 58-second moment of silence, I finally lost it. The emotions of the week prior all finally came out in one uncontrollable cathartic cry.

My melancholy did not last long, as the Golden Knights scored four goals in 10 1/2 minutes, and I was hooked as my spirits were lifted. Emotionally and spiritually, I was forever connected to the Golden Knights for helping me process some of the darkest days of my life and take that first step out of the darkness toward a brighter tomorrow.

Whether the team gets swept out of the playoffs or wins the Stanley Cup, I give my heartfelt thanks to the Golden Knights. Tom Roddy, Henderson