Hockey Great Luc Robitaille Dishes on The NHL Awards in Vegas

Where: 4321 Flamingo Road [map], 89103

June 10, 2009 at 12:33 PM | by Erika Pope | 0 Comments

We were stoked to have a chance to speak with famed hockey player (and future Hall of Famer) Luc Robitaille about the upcoming NHL Awards ceremony taking place in Vegas on June 18. He�ll be presenting the Calder Memorial Trophy � the same one he won back in 1987 � at this year�s awards, and was only too happy to wax poetic about how Vegas and the NHL are a great matchup.

VegasChatter: Did you ever think the NHL Awards would come to Las Vegas?

Luc Robitaille: As far as I know, it�s the first time that they�ve been held outside of Canada. Having them in Vegas is a great thing for the NHL. What better way for hockey to make an imprint in the U.S. than by throwing as big an event as possible? And if you�re going to make it big you have to do it in Vegas.

VC: What makes a Vegas awards ceremony different from a Canadian one?

LR: There will be a different crowd. Because Las Vegas is so close to LA, it�ll be a much more entertainment-driven group. I know lots of actors and singers who are hockey fans, and it�s hard for them to fly five hours to Toronto for something like this. In Vegas, it�s easy access and it�s always a good time, so it just makes sense for them to fly over for the night.

VC: What celebrities are expected to participate in the event?

LR: There are number of entertainers who are planning to attend. I know Robin Thicke is performing at the awards on Thursday [Chaka Khan is also confirmed to perform], and Gavin Rossdale has signed on to perform at my charity event on Friday night [June 19] at the Palms Sky Villa. It�s for Echoes of Hope, which helps emancipated foster kids get started with their lives and 150 or so players are expected to attend. My son will also be performing.

VC: Can members of the general public go to your charity event, too?

LR: Sure. Go to www.EchoesOfHope.org to purchase tickets. They�re limited.

VC: How many awards are given during the ceremony?

LR: There are 10 or 12 awards given, including, MVP, leading scorer, coach of the year and rookie of the year. It�s really a special night, because every star in the league is there�200 or 300 players will be there for the weekend. Everyone�s really gung-ho about the event and there�s no other awards ceremony like it in any other sports league. Anyone who loves hockey and wants to get close to the sport should go.

VC: What are the after parties typically like? Total mayhem?

LR: There are a few after-parties I think. There�s one at Rain after the ceremony and I�m pretty sure there�s an after-after-party after that. I hope it doesn�t get too wild, because I�m not getting any younger!

Tickets for the NHL Awards, which include access to the after-party at Rain, are $504 a piece and can be purchased at Ticketmaster.

[Photo: Sektormedia/aaron haley]

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