The Vegas Golden Knights kicked off their 2025 “VGK Road Trip”—a community-focused, multi‑state initiative—on Saturday, July 12, in South Lake Tahoe, California. Presented by A1 Garage Door Service, the program runs through July 17, with stops across California, Nevada, and Arizona aimed at developing youth hockey talent and expanding the team’s fan base in new markets.
The Road Trip features free on‑ice hockey clinics for kids ages 5–13, with dedicated sessions in each host city. Clinics include skill drills in skating, shooting, stickhandling, and small-area games with guidance from VGK youth hockey coaches, team broadcasters, cast members, mascots—including Chance and regional favorites—and alumni players.
In South Lake Tahoe on July 12, an estimated 100 youth participants joined two on-ice sessions, coached by Sheri Hudspeth (VGK youth hockey director) and broadcaster Shane Hnidy. Additional help came from Tahoe Knight Monsters forward Anthony Collins. The following day, the team moved to Reno Ice, hosting NHL Learn‑to‑Play and skill clinics for 7–13‑year‑olds.
Arizona’s slate includes clinics in Chandler and Scottsdale on July 15–16, followed by Tempe’s Mullett Arena on July 17. Two separate youth ball‑hockey events are also set for Phoenix’s Sunny Slope Community Center and Chicanos por la Causa on July 16–17.
Each stop on the tour aligns with the team’s enhanced broadcast reach: all featured cities fall within markets now covered by Scripps Sports and the KnightTime+ streaming service. The broadcasting expansion, inked in early 2025, allows more fans throughout the West to watch VGK local broadcasts free over the air or via streaming.
“The VGK Road Trip is eagerly anticipated each year as we look forward to connecting in person with our fans across The Realm,” said VGK President and CEO Kerry Bubolz. “This is a great chance to celebrate our brand and the sport of hockey as we prepare for the 2025‑26 NHL season.”
The clinics are more than just fun events—they offer meaningful skills development and personal growth. For example, an international family attended the South Lake Tahoe clinic: parents Marco and Cici from London brought their son Michael to enhance his confidence, improve technique, and build teamwork—benefits Michael first discovered watching NHL highlights online.
These communal experiences underscore the Knights’ long-term involvement in youth hockey, both in the Vegas area and beyond. In Las Vegas, similar free ball-hockey clinics earlier this summer were held in partnership with Raising Cane’s and Green Valley Grocery aimed at introducing new families to the sport.
First organized in 2018, the VGK Road Trip is now a signature outreach effort. In 2025, it returns to familiar places—Northern Nevada has hosted the clinics for three consecutive summers—with the addition of expanded Arizona stops following that state’s recent inclusion in the broadcast region.
Beyond youth clinics, the tour enhances fan engagement through meet‑and‑greets with team cast, broadcasters, mascots, and alumni players, generating excitement and strengthening fan loyalty in non-Nevada markets.
As the VGK Road Trip wraps up, the team aims to carry its momentum into the 2025‑26 NHL season, which begins in October. With the expanded Scripps regional broadcast footprint and KnightTime+ streaming availability, the Golden Knights are betting that increased visibility and grassroots engagement will strengthen their presence across the Western U.S.
By merging skill-building youth hockey clinics with accessible broadcasting and fan events, the VGK Road Trip exemplifies the franchise’s multi-tiered growth strategy—leveraging community outreach to build future players, fans, and brand loyalty.
This year’s VGK Road Trip again highlights the Golden Knights’ commitment to expanding not only the sport of hockey but also their own brand. Through A1 Garage Door Service’s sponsorship, regional broadcast partners, and local communities, the initiative earns its place as a cornerstone of the team’s off-season strategy.
