Newest Golden Knight gets out into Las Vegas community

By Ben Gotz

Las Vegas Review-Journal

2 years ago

Newly acquired Golden Knights center Jack Eichel, left, talks with David, 8, during a youth hoc ... — Newly acquired Golden Knights center Jack Eichel, left, talks with David, 8, during a youth hockey clinic at the James Clubhouse of the boys & Girls Club in North Las Vegas on Monday, Nov. 8, 2021. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto

Newly acquired Golden Knights center Jack Eichel puts on a jersey before participating in a youth hockey clinic at the James Clubhouse of the Boys & Girls Club in North Las Vegas on Monday, Nov. 8, 2021. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto

Newly acquired Golden Knights center Jack Eichel arrives for a youth hockey clinic at the James Clubhouse of the Boys & Girls Club in North Las Vegas on Monday, Nov. 8, 2021. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto

Newly acquired Golden Knights center Jack Eichel, center, prepares to drop the puck for face-off between David, 8, left, and Alexander, 9, during a youth hockey clinic at the James Clubhouse of the boys & Girls Club in North Las Vegas on Monday, Nov. 8, 2021. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto

David, 8, participates with others in a youth hockey clinic at the James Clubhouse of the Boys & Girls Club in North Las Vegas on Monday, Nov. 8, 2021. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto

Newly acquired Golden Knights center Jack Eichel, right, defends the net against Alexander, 9, in a scrimmage match during a youth hockey clinic at the James Clubhouse of the boys & Girls Club in North Las Vegas on Monday, Nov. 8, 2021. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto

Newly acquired Golden Knights center Jack Eichel, right, defends the net against Sahely, 10, in a scrimmage match during a youth hockey clinic at the James Clubhouse of the boys & Girls Club in North Las Vegas on Monday, Nov. 8, 2021. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto

Newly acquired Golden Knights center Jack Eichel raises his hand while participating in a youth hockey clinic at the James Clubhouse of the Boys & Girls Club in North Las Vegas on Monday, Nov. 8, 2021. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto

Newly acquired Golden Knights center Jack Eichel helps lead drills during a youth hockey clinic at the James Clubhouse of the Boys & Girls Club in North Las Vegas on Monday, Nov. 8, 2021. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto

Newly acquired Golden Knights center Jack Eichel, right, talks with Matthew, 14, during a youth hockey clinic at the James Clubhouse of the boys & Girls Club in North Las Vegas on Monday, Nov. 8, 2021. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto

Newly acquired Golden Knights center Jack Eichel reacts after a goal as kids participate in a shooting drill during a youth hockey clinic at the James Clubhouse of the Boys & Girls Club in North Las Vegas on Monday, Nov. 8, 2021. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto

Newly acquired Golden Knights center Jack Eichel (9) helps teach kids during a youth hockey clinic at the James Clubhouse of the Boys & Girls Club in North Las Vegas on Monday, Nov. 8, 2021. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto

Newly acquired Golden Knights center Jack Eichel talks with members of the media during a break in a youth hockey clinic at the James Clubhouse of the Boys & Girls Club in North Las Vegas on Monday, Nov. 8, 2021. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto

Newly acquired Golden Knights center Jack Eichel, right, plays with kids in a scrimmage match during a youth hockey clinic at the James Clubhouse of the boys & Girls Club in North Las Vegas on Monday, Nov. 8, 2021. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto

Jack Eichel didn’t waste any time showing his face around Las Vegas.

The newest Golden Knight, who was acquired in a trade with the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday, spent part of his second day in town at a ball hockey clinic at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Nevada’s James Clubhouse in North Las Vegas.

More than 30 kids were at the event learning how to stickhandle, pass and shoot. Eichel stuck to one corner of the rink for the shooting drill, shouting words of encouragement and tipping wayward shots into the net.

“The more people that are interested in hockey and the more people that enjoy our game, the better for us,” Eichel said. “It’s always nice when you can try and grow our sport.”

Contact Ben Gotz at bgotz@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BenSGotz on Twitter.