Schedules are rolling out, but they are not for our big debut. While multiple sports seasons are starting back up again, we’re calling our cable providers and making sure we have the best wifi possible; since it turns out we’re all still using it as much as we were ten months ago, if not more. However, as weird as it may sound, in those ten months, we have also worn our jerseys more, drank more (not over-priced) beers, and cheered just as loud, if not louder than before, all while in the comfort of our own homes. Amidst a pandemic, we were hanging up larger televisions, and as disconnected as that may seem, it was because we were yearning to feel a sense of community again. Take right here, in sunny Las Vegas, Nevada, where our Boomer Naturals headquarters is located and where the Vegas Golden Knights (NHL) team resides and plays. The team’s inaugural season began back in 2017 but don’t be fooled by the boys showing up late to the party; I mean league. Since bringing hockey to the desert, the Knights have given the Vegas community what it was always missing. In almost every sprawling metropolis, you can go to cheer on a major league sports team. Here in Vegas, the only thing people cheer for is a jackpot. That is, before the Knights. You can be anywhere and hear the chant of “Go Knights Go!” gameday or no, and this city showed its’ appreciation for the Knights from the first puck drop. And though games still look like they did back during the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the team needs us now more than ever. On a typical game (k)night, T-Mobile Arena will be blowing the top off in the third period with over 18,000 of the cities flashiest misfits. The “Golden Misfits” is a nickname given to the team during their first season because they were seen as the underdog team; especially, since it was primarily composed of players whose last teams were ok parting with them. A city no one thought would benefit from a hockey team, with players who had to prove everyone wrong not only in this city but from where they just left. They showed up on October 10th, 2017, and again for the next game and every game after that. It felt like we all took a slap shot to the face when they announced the season’s return and that the boys would get to play at home, but they weren’t allowing fans back into The Fortress quite yet. Even though this season has not started as we hoped, imagine skating onto your home ice, only to hear 18,000 pre-recorded fans cheering, “Woooo!” Our question to all of you, not just our community, is, did you show up for your team on their last homestand? We have a little quiz for our VGK fans (far and wide) to see how many of you have been cellying alongside VGK this season and who is just a pretty head of lettuce. Just to clear up any confusion thus far,
Hockey Lingo 101:
Celly - celebration following a goal
Chirp - to trash talk the opposing team
Gino - a goal that is scored
Lettuce - hair, on the head and the face
Top shelf - the upper section of the goal’s net between the crossbar and the goaltender’s shoulder pads or “where grandma keeps the good stuff”
Alright, quiz time… For those of you who say you are “true” fans out there.
The Vegas Golden Knights named their first captain in what year?
A.) 2017
B.) 2019
C.) 2020
D.) 2021
Who was their first captain?
A.) Fleury
B.) Marchessault
C.) Stone
D.) Schmidt
How many regular-season games will the Vegas Golden Knights play in the 2021 season?
A.) 41
B.) 56
C.) 82
D.) 70
Who is the newest player to join the Vegas Golden Knight’s roster this season?
A.) Alex Pietrangelo
B.) Wayne Gretzky
C.) Alexander Ovechkin
D.) Sidney Crosby
Which team has the best fans in the NHL?
A.) Vegas Golden Knights
B.) Vegas Golden Knights
C.) Vegas Golden Knights
D.) Vegas Golden Knights
E.) All the above
We’ve put the key with all the answers at the bottom but before you go scrolling to see if you got them all correct, we want to leave you with one more tidbit before you go off to perfect your celly. You know what kind of celly I’m referring to. The kind of celly one only does after putting the puck top shelf, at the end of the third, to win your team the game. And while we’ve all had a lot of free time at home, to also work on our chirps and beautiful heads of lettuce, watching re-runs of sporting events from years ago, just to feel something…
Too far? In all seriousness, sports are a huge tie among most of our communities; the values and morals sports taught us first are what we must revert back to in our dusty 'ol play books. No matter who you are cheering for this season, they all need our help.
In order for us to still be able to have live sports in 2021, safety measurements have been taken to a new level to ensure the players, coaches and staffs’ health is being put first. In efforts to
keep traveling to a minimum, every team will play divisional games this season. Meaning, whatever division your team is in (East, Central or West), they will only play other teams in their division. Also meaning, teams could face each other up to ten times! In efforts to minimize travel and potential COVID-19 exposure, we will also see teams play several games in a row against a particular opponent.
Longer home stands, mean more time on the road for the teams. Not physically on the road or traveling but more time away from family and friends, quarantined to hotels. What 2020 taught us is that having our loved ones around did more for our mental stability than all the TikTok’s in the world. At Boomer Naturals, we hope you keep masking up (sport VGK or your favorite team on your mask) and cheering loud so we can rejoice and join as a community. Whether you’re a sports fan or not, it turns out we’re all pretty big fans of social interaction and nothing feels better than high-fiving the stranger next to you after your team gets a gino. Until we can go back to our home [away-from-home] arenas here are some ways you can support your team through your community:
• Dine out- no matter the capacity your local restaurants are at, ask a couple of your line mates to get out of the house for a little to grab some beers
• Take out- if you’re not into eating out, business are doing what they can to give you the same, great experience in your home (throw your own watch parties at home!)
• Engage online- social media is the best and fastest way to spread news and show your support nowadays, show your locals love by giving their business a repost to keep your friends and families in the know too
• Gear up- store fronts are still open but have altered the way we shop to make it more convenient and safe, no need to body up against other shoppers anymore
• Shop small- people are discovering their hidden talents everyday, pair those set skills with a beloved communities team emblem and you’ve got your new game day lucky charm
KEY: D, C, B, A, E