Engelland's Impact On Vegas Extends Beyond The Ice

His moment is the most impactful in the short history of the Vegas Golden Knights. And it is hard to imagine, even lifting the Stanley Cup in triumph, any act being more important in the history of pro sport in Las Vegas.
Deryk Engelland's speech on Oct. 10, 2017, in the aftermath of a mass shooting which killed 58 people and wounded hundreds more, brought the Golden Knights and their city truly together for the first time in a seminal moment.

It made Vegas Born a truism and a badge of courage and honor. Engelland made people cry. He filled people with pride and hope and defiance. At the end of the 2017-18 season he was awarded the Mark Messier Leadership Award. He could have received similar recognition from the city of Las Vegas.

Engelland was and is more than a hockey player to the people of Las Vegas. He's a sign of what Vegas has become and he's a beacon of community leadership. So while in some ways there is a sadness in knowing he won't be pulling on his No. 5 jersey anymore, the fact he's remaining with the Golden Knights organization provides hope and comfort. Deryk Engelland is a big piece of VGK past and he'll also have a hand in the club's future.
Special Assistant to the Owner will be Engelland's new title. He'll be involved in the organization's charitable efforts as well as lending his presence and expertise to both business and hockey operations. Engelland and his wife Melissa will continue their work with Engelland's Heroes, a charity which recognizes and supports the good deeds and community efforts of everyday Nevadans.
"Deryk took a long time to become an NHL player but blossomed into a good one. His hockey IQ was strong and he was a reliable player. He was also big and tough. We believed he would be a good fit for the VGK and he certainly was," said VGK President of Hockey Operations George McPhee, who along with GM Kelly McCrimmon selected Engelland from the Calgary Flames roster in the expansion draft.
"Over time, teammates were drawn to him for more than just answers to where to live. They respected him as a man and admired what he brought on the ice. And they just flat out liked him. On the ice, he munched a lot of minutes, became an excellent penalty killer and did whatever it took to win. He was a leader, our John Wayne. He was tough and our opponents knew it. He looked after his teammates and kept the flies off of the honey. We never named a team captain but among his teammates he was the de facto captain."
Engelland, as McPhee notes, was the dressing room boss during his three years with the Golden Knights
When the team needed a player to accept the Campbell Cup after winning the Western Conference Championship later that same season, the players picked Engelland.
When the players needed a day off, it was Engelland who approached the coaching staff. When the coaches needed a decision from the players on matters big and small, they went to Engelland.
Engelland was a major piece for the Golden Knights on and off the ice. He was an original Golden Knight, selected from the Flames in the expansion draft and played in 79 regular season games and 20 post-season matches that first campaign. He was excellent, playing his best hockey notching a career high 23 points.
Engelland fought his way to the NHL taking on whoever and whatever his teams needed of him. Climbing from the ECHL to the AHL and finally the NHL where he stayed for 11 seasons playing with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Flames and Golden Knights.
His pro career began and ended in Las Vegas. First with the ECHL's Wranglers and finally with the Golden Knights.
"His leadership was never more obvious than on the evening of our inaugural home opener," recounted McPhee. "At a difficult time for absolutely everyone in Vegas and the country, this blue collar hockey player took a microphone and in a short, simple speech helped thousands inch forward from grief to healing and perseverance. He was nervous and uncomfortable, and we were nervous for him, but the strength deep down in his soul welled up and allowed for perfect delivery - and gave strength and confidence to everyone who heard him. He became our captain that night. Mainstream knows what he did that night and in the coming weeks, months and years. What mainstream doesn't know is how much he's done and continues to do offline for so many in this community. We are delighted and blessed to have Deryk remain with the VGK in a new role that will bring much joy to our fans and members of the VGK."
Retirement for professional athletes is a mixed bag. Some don't want to go but are forced to leave. The lucky few go out as winners. Other retirements don't make sense from the outside and seem premature. Rarely, and as is the case with Engelland, the stars align to provide a seamless exit which all can get behind.
Engelland was always more than a player with the Vegas Golden Knights. He was a leader, a protector and in some ways the soul of the franchise. Having him leave the team on the ice is one thing and at 38 years old, the decision rings true. But to not be a member of the organization going forward would not be a fit for Engelland or the Golden Knights as a whole. He means too much to fans, the people in the organization and the owner. So he's not leaving and that makes Vegas and the Golden Knights stronger. Or to borrow from Deryk's memorable words, Vegas Strong.