The Las Vegas Veteran

Daniel Hayes grew up playing hockey in Las Vegas, Nevada. Before he left home for the U.S. Navy and then the Army, he grew his passion for the sport. When Hayes medically retired, he returned to his hometown and continued pursuing hockey. He found a camaraderie with teammates that reminded him of his days in the military, leading him to join teams like The Vegas Veterans Hockey Foundation. Recently, Hayes started his own team with close friends called The Fury.

Hayes created the team to bring together a group of people he thoroughly enjoyed being around. Additionally, he wanted to create an environment that allows teammates to practice their skills and get playing time on the ice. The group prioritizes character over hockey skills in potential teammates in an effort to keep the team enjoyable and laid-back. The Fury hopes to find more hockey players that work well with others, on and off the ice.

The team’s inaugural game was held in September at the Las Vegas Ice Center. Although The Fury lost 1-2, Hayes was excited to share the ice with his friends. “In the locker room, the guys just clicked. It was great seeing everyone having fun and joking around,” he said. “And even while losing the game, the guys didn’t give up. As veterans, we depend so much on each other in the military, and you can see that translate into the game.”

The Fury plans to continue growing by adding another team to their roster as well as a veterans-only team. They are also planning to attend the Las Vegas Adult Classic tournament in March 2023. Until then, The Fury hosts games and practices every Sunday. They encourage those that would like to play to reach out to their Facebook page and contact their team captains.

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