Must Watch: Powerful Opening Ceremony for New Las Vegas NHL Team's First-Ever Home Game

Guy Benson | October 11, 2017 4:15 PM

Last night, the Vegas Golden Knights -- a brand new National Hockey League franchise -- played their first-ever home game, less than two weeks after a sickening massacre rocked their city and horrified the country. What would have been a celebratory event was instead transformed into a stirring tribute to first responders and survivors, a moving memorial to the victims, and a powerful testament to Las Vegans' strength. This entire clip of the pregame ceremony is worth watching, but if you're pressed for time, I'll summarize the highlights below -- via the NHL:

1:31 - First responders take to the ice one-by-one, accompanied by members of the team. Eventually, the visiting Arizona Coyotes lined up behind each pair, in a show of solidarity.

10:00 - The packed house stands in darkness and silence for 58 seconds, one second for each murder victim, whose names are projected onto the ice. It's haunting.

12:15 - The entire arena sings the national anthem.

14:45 - Longtime Las Vegas resident and Golden Knights defenseman Deryk Engelland addresses the crowd:

Deryk Engelland had a special message for his neighbors – the people of Las Vegas – before the @GoldenKnights opener. #VegasStrong pic.twitter.com/pGGeg5gCyc
— NHL (@NHL) October 11, 2017

And how's this for drama? Engelland, who had only scored 23 goals over his entire multi-season NHL career, lit the lamp in the first period -- in which the Golden Knights were totally dominant, en route to an emotional victory. Listen to the place erupt: