LAS VEGAS -- When Golden Knights star Jack Eichel takes the field at Las Vegas Ballpark for the annual Battle for Vegas charity softball event, it always holds a little more special meaning for him.
Saturday will be no different at the star-studded charity softball game, where proceeds from the event will be directed to the Vegas Golden Knights Foundation, which in turn will make donations to selected beneficiaries, including: Mayor’s Fund for Las Vegas LIFE, Make-A-Wish Nevada and Assisting Lives in Las Vegas.
For Eichel, though, it's Best Buddies International he holds close to his heart.
"I had the opportunity to attend a Best Buddies event in 2017 back in Boston, I just really like the mission," Eichel said via phone conversation with The Hockey News, after making an appearance at a hockey camp in Vermont. "It's all about inclusion and helping people, it's about creating relationships and friendships, and helping people with intellectual and developmental disabilities."
The nonprofit organization pairs volunteers with a buddy who has an intellectual and developmental disability, giving them a friend or mentor.
Inspired by his sister, Jessie, who studied special needs education in college, and helped those with medical disabilities upon graduating, Eichel was introduced to handfuls of community organizations after turning pro in Buffalo. That's where he met Anthony Shriver, president of Best Buddies and became enamored with the organization.
"It's something that I gravitated towards, and it has really grabbed my heart," Eichel added.
Which is why being a part of the Battle for Vegas event was a no-brainer upon arriving in Las Vegas.
"I feel like the community of Las Vegas, and Nevada, they give us so much in terms of their support, and everything they do for the team that makes it such a special place to play," he said. "I just feel like our position as athletes and hockey players, we have such an opportunity to make an impact on people in a positive way. And I've always just been a big believer in doing that."
Eichel was a participant when Reilly Smith originally captained the Golden Knights squad that annually plays a team representing the Las Vegas Raiders. But when Smith was traded to Pittsburgh in 2023, Eichel was contacted by event creator James Sullivan, who asked the star center if he wanted to be more involved by captaining the Knights squad.
"It's such a first-class event, and to be able to do something like that and enjoy it ... raise a lot of money for so many great causes and being able to have a positive impact, on not only the organizations around Las Vegas, but all over the world ... to be able to do that, to be able to be a part of it, it's something that I take a lot of pride in," he said. "Just trying to make a positive influence on our community. It's a great event, it's something I really enjoy."
The initial event launched in 2019 and to date has raised over $1 million for several nonprofit organizations.
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