Golden Knights forward Ryan Reaves shows Javon Williams, 9, how to celebrate after scoring a goal during a youth street hockey clinic at Doolittle Recreation Center in Las Vegas on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
Eight-year-old Desmond Hester, left, plays with Golden Knights forward Ryan Reaves during a youth street hockey clinic at Doolittle Recreation Center in Las Vegas on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
Eight-year-old Kimora Stewart, center right, celebrates after a goal during a youth street hockey clinic at Doolittle Recreation Center in Las Vegas on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
Golden Knights forward Ryan Reaves is surrounded by children during a youth street hockey clinic at Doolittle Recreation Center in Las Vegas on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb, left, and forward Ryan Reaves participate in a youth street hockey clinic at Doolittle Recreation Center in Las Vegas on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
Nine-year-old Javon Williams, left, shoots as Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb watches during a youth street hockey clinic at Doolittle Recreation Center in Las Vegas on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
Golden Knights forward Ryan Reaves, left, helps lead a youth street hockey clinic at Doolittle Recreation Center in Las Vegas on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
Golden Knights mascot Chance bites the head of Javon Williams, 9, during a youth street hockey clinic at Doolittle Recreation Center in Las Vegas on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
Golden Knights forward Ryan Reaves helps lead a youth street hockey clinic at Doolittle Recreation Center in Las Vegas on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
Nine-year-old Te’ric Williams chases after a ball during a youth street hockey clinic at Doolittle Recreation Center in Las Vegas on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
Five-year-old Penelope Henriquez-Ayala participates in a youth street hockey clinic at Doolittle Recreation Center in Las Vegas on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb, center, helps lead a youth street hockey clinic at Doolittle Recreation Center in Las Vegas on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
Eight-year-old Kimora Stewart, center, celebrates after a goal during a youth street hockey clinic at Doolittle Recreation Center in Las Vegas on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
Children vie for the ball during a youth street hockey clinic at Doolittle Recreation Center in Las Vegas on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
Ryan Reaves and Brayden McNabb don’t get to show off their stickhandling often, but they were happy to do so Thursday.
Reaves and McNabb participated in a youth hockey clinic at Doolittle Recreation Center in honor of Black History Month. The two showed more than 30 kids ages 6 to 11 how to stickhandle and shoot while displaying their own skills.
“It was kind of fun to play a little offense today,” McNabb said. “Maybe it’ll translate tomorrow (against the Buffalo Sabres), who knows?”
The two imparted lessons for about 45 minutes before leaving their eager pupils with autographed pictures and shirts. Reaves spent his time showing students how to grip a stick and move a ball around with it, while McNabb set up kids for one-timers by a net with a Marc-Andre Fleury shooting target.
Reaves, who participated in a Black History Month video for the NHL last year, said it’s important to him to continue to grow hockey in Las Vegas. He and McNabb did their part Thursday.
“This is always fun,” Reaves said. “I made it a point in my career that anything with kids is a top priority.”
