(All photos courtesy of Matt Fetinko, My PG Now)
What is an ideal way to spend a 21st birthday?
If you are a gambler and a hockey fan that enjoys the night life and the variety of entertainment that goes with it, a trip to Las Vegas is an excellent option.
Almost 40 million people visit Vegas each year, which is more than the population of Canada (36 million).
Matt Fetinko, reporter with MyPrinceGeorgeNow.com, wanted to usher in his 21st birthday with a bang.
To celebrate the occasion, Matt and his supervising dad, John Fetinko (56) of Calgary, traveled to Vegas to enjoy the fast pace of “Sin City.”
As big time hockey and sports fans, a chance to watch the Golden Knights in person was a must.
Vegas quickly became the darlings of the NHL with unprecedented success for an expansion team.
The Golden Knights won the Pacific Division in the regular season and followed that up by sweeping the Los Angeles Kings in first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Currently, they are locked in a battle with the San Jose Sharks, a best-of-seven Western Conference semi-final that is tied 2-2.
Matt and his Papa had no hesitation in paying $465.30 (American) for a pair of tickets for the April 26th opener, a convincing 7-0 Golden Knights triumph over the Sharks.
Their seats were second level, about 10 rows up, directly behind the Vegas net.
In reality, they got a bargain since scalpers were asking nearly double that amount for a pair in a similar area.
Watching the game, as part of an overflowing crowd of 18,444 at the T-Mobile Arena, was a spectacle unlike any other.
“I’ve never attended a sporting event that loud for that long. From the second you get near the arena you are embraced by the party culture and genuinely hardcore local hockey fans. The stars seemed to have aligned, the day after my 21st birthday, inaugural season, live music/festivities, walking into the arena and seeing escalators on both sides, sitting right below the castle, fans chanting ‘Go Knights Go!’ spilling out of the arena and back onto the strip.”
Matt is actually a Toronto Maple Leaf fan (poor soul), who has witnessed NHL games in four different cities (Toronto, Winnipeg, Calgary and Edmonton), but none compare to the atmosphere of Vegas.
“It was electric, a big-game feel right from the get-go. From the live entertainment, to the chanting and wave in the arena, to the enthusiastic fans spilling back out onto the strip afterwards, I’ve never been to a sporting event that has felt that huge.”
Naturally, with the home team scoring so often, it just added to the environment.
“It seemed to get louder and louder with each goal. Fans who dressed up in costumes and Knights gear were going nuts. Luckily, the party never stopped all night. Lots of people had their faces painted.”
(The team had face painting stations set up outside for kids)
Hockey, food and booze go hand in hand, but it doesn’t come without a price.
“We had a personal pizza plus a rum and coke each. The price of two rum and cokes was about $30, about the same as the ACC in Toronto. In addition, I bought a Pina Colada in a plastic cup that I brought home. It was $25 and worth every cent.”
With the Maple Leafs out of contention again, has Matt switched his allegiance to the Golden Knights?
“I am 100% cheering for Vegas in the Western Conference. They play tough and physical and fast. The great stories from “Vegas Strong” to emerging young stars, you can’t help but root for this team.”
Matt admits his gambling was unsuccessful but can’t wait to go back in the near future.
He found out that ‘What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas!’ is not always true, especially if one is quick to hop on the growing Golden Knights bandwagon.
FROM THE QUOTE RACK:
President Trump hosted the Army football team at the White House for the trophy ceremony. Trump loves football because the two-minute drill reminds him of his night with Stormy Daniels.
*Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon
One of the world’s top Donkey Kong players was stripped of his records for cheating: He was going to be sentenced to life, but turns out he doesn’t have one.
*Conan O’Brien of TBS
Danica Patrick says her first test run back in an Indy race had her asking “Where’s neutral?” To which the other drivers told her it’s where she usually is during a race.
*Comedy writer Jim Barach of WCHS-TV in Charleston, W.Va., http://jokesbyjim.blogspot.ca/
Masters Champion Patrick Reed has been spotted everywhere wearing his Green Jacket. So when does this show hit Saskatchewan?
*Comedy writer TC Chong of Vancouver
Spring in Canada is the time for falling Leafs. Some say Cubs winning World Series hastened coming of the apocalypse. Well, at least the Maple Leafs won’t do their part this year by winning the Stanley Cup.
*Comedy writer Janice Hough of Palo Alto, California www.leftcoastsportsbabe.com
A kid at Yankee Stadium caught a foul ball in his glove filled with popcorn, sending the white stuff flying. But it was a one-hop liner. Shouldn’t it have been a pop-up?
*Dwight Perry of the Seattle Times http://www.seattletimes.com/author/dwight-perry/
Houston Astros pitcher Ken Giles punched himself in the face after giving up a big ninth inning home run to the Yankees. So are Astros fans now going to create a “KO” Corner?
*Marc Ragovin of New York
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:
Reuters reports team Black Horse has won the World Toad Throwing Championships. Witnesses say the action was ribbiting.
*Comedy writer RJ Currie www.Sportsdeke.com
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Hartley Miller is the sports director and morning news anchor for 94.3 the GOAT.
He also is the 94.3 radio color commentator for P.G. Cougars home games.
His column appears Fridays on myprincegeorgenow.com.
Send along a quote, note, or anecdote to [email protected].
Follow him on Twitter: @Hartley_Miller.