During an open practice at City National Arena on Monday, June 8, Vegas Golden Knights head coach John Tortorella spoke about the connection between the franchise and its Las Vegas fan base. This was as the team prepared for Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Carolina Hurricanes. 

Tortorella's remarks came after a packed practice session. When asked what the scene at practice said about the relationship between the team and the Las Vegas community, Tortorella was direct.

"I think in both communities... they love their team," he said. "They show up to support them. They're reaping the benefit of watching the first three games of this series. To have them come out here today, there is a bond. We're kind of in the entertainment business here, and it's good to have people in the building."

John Tortorella is one of the most experienced coaches in the league. He won the Stanley Cup with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2004. He has also held head coaching roles with the New York Rangers, Vancouver Canucks, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Philadelphia Flyers. 

The Golden Knights brought him in on March 29, 2026. He is replacing Bruce Cassidy with eight games left in the regular season. Ever since then, he has guided the club all the way to the final. 

The atmosphere inside the arena gave a clear picture of how excited the fans are when a team is two wins from a championship.

Fans Hype the Practice Into a Playoff Event

City National Arena in Summerlin was packed with fans for Monday's open practice. Fans cheered when players first stepped onto the ice and kept chanting "Go Knights Go" multiple times during the 45-minute session. 

Forward Keegan Kolesar, a longtime member of the Golden Knights team, was asked what this situation meant for him and the other players.

"It's really cool; it's a passionate fan base, it's a loyal fan base, and you know what, they've gone through a lot with us, and honestly, it's hard to say really how much it means," he said.

The Golden Knights entered the league in 2017-18 and have built one of the NHL's strongest fan cultures in under a decade. Fan engagement has been a consistent thread throughout this playoff run, with coaches and players also appreciating the role supporters have played in this postseason’s push.

Read more at NHL Fan Central!

Written by

Aadhya Nalla

Edited by

Ankita Yadav