Top 5 things you didn't know about the Golden Knights
1) Shea Theodore Was Saved By a Random Drug Test
Shea Theodore was surprised to be called back for a second drug test at the 2019 World Championships. He wasn't expecting to get tested for the hormone hCG, which is commonly seen in pregnant women, he told The Player's Tribune months later. It might also be a sign of testicular cancer. Theodore had testicular cancer, but because it was caught early, the treatment and rehabilitation were simple.
Who knows when it would have been noticed if the Golden Knights blueliner had not been in the tournament. The silver medal with Team Canada was really Theodore's second best result from the World Championships.
2) Max Pacioretty Has a Legendary Appetite
Despite his �Wolverine' moniker, Max Pacioretty isn't a comic book aficionado. Instead, it's a testament to his speedy healing abilities, or perhaps his ravenous hunger. When he was captain of the Montreal Canadiens, he told the Montreal Gazette, «I had 12 pancakes for breakfast, two sandwiches for lunch, and seven tacos for dinner.» 5 unknown facts about Max Pacioretty (Montreal Gazette, 9/18/15)
3) NHL Dreams Came Very Early for Chandler Stephenson
Every hockey player started as a young lad dreaming of playing in the NHL. But there was no other choice for Chandler Stephenson. Stephenson began pursuing his NHL ambition as the youngest and tiniest player on his ringette squad at four years old, as he was too young for hockey.
Stephenson, C. VGK
«When I grow up, I want to play in the NHL, and have a large old house, and a huge old bank account,» wrote Stephenson, then 11, in a school essay.
4) Alex Pietrangelo Got His Head Shaved to Support His Niece
Alex Pietrangelo's worst haircut may have been his best. In 2014, Ellie Kannel, Pietrangelo's five-year-old niece, had Wilm's Tumor, a rare form of paediatric kidney cancer. To cheer her up, he had his head shaved. The NHL's Hockey Fights Cancer campaign has been a major source of funding for Pietrangelo.
5) Robin Lehner Suffered a Panic Attack During a Game
Robin Lehner had his first huge night in Vegas before being traded to the Golden Knights. The Swedish goalie won the Bill Masterton Award for daring and endurance, and the William M. Jennings Trophy for the league's best GAA.
Credit: TheHockeyWriters
