Local Hockey Fan Has New Book: ‘Vegas Hockey-Vegas Strong’

Author Mike O'Brian

February 29th 5:32 PM

A ref gets ready to drop the puck between two players

We have fallen in love with the VGK, but a local hockey fan has gone one step further and has a new book out, “Vegas Hockey-Vegas Strong”! Richard Gubbe, and his co-author Robert Lawson, have chronicled the game in Las Vegas for the past 60 years!

That’s right, before the VGK, before the Las Vegas Thunder or the ACES, hockey in our town actually goes back a ways. The Mike & Carla Morning Show had the chance to catch up with Richard to talk about the new book. Believe it or not, it’s a bit of history very few know about!

If You’re A Fan Of Hockey, You Will Love The Book

Richard Gubbe has been in town a long time and has seen a lot. Even more so, he’s been a fan of hockey even longer and truly loves the game. Having played the sport, being involved at different levels, he has a nose for the game.

So, it was great catching up with Richard, especially since he included Mike O’Brian in his book and a picture! Hey, believe it or not, as Gubbe puts in his book, even Mike had skills at one time!

But if you’re a fan of the game and a Las Vegas history buff, you’re not going to fine a better documented story of the sport than in this book. Featuring the game that started it all for the NHL here…the Los Angeles Kings and New York Rangers.

Even before we knew about the now famous “Winter Classics”, Caesars Palace constructed a hockey rink in the back of the resort. And they persuaded Wayne Gretsky and the Kings to come to Vegas to take on the Rangers! In fact, Mike O’Brian was there that night and even skated with the teams the night before!

It’s all in the book! “Vegas Hockey-Vegas Strong”! Listen to our visit, find out how you get the book, then enjoy!

Mike O’Brian is the Program Director and Morning Show host on 96.3 KKLZ in Las Vegas, along with Carla Rea. He has been with the Beasley Media Group for almost 23 years. Mike was named one of the “Best Program Directors In America” by Radio Ink magazine. Over the years, “The Mike & Carla Morning Show” have been presented with a number of proclamations for their work in the community and numerous awards. Having lived in Las Vegas for over 35 years, he writes articles on living in Las Vegas, sports, and odd stories happening within the state of Nevada. Mike is the host of the morning show and program director of 96.3 KKLZ/Las Vegas. He has been doing mornings in Las Vegas for the past 38 years. Over the years, he has hosted a numerous amount of community events and has been the P.A. announcer for a number of sports teams in Las Vegas. He has written on living in Las Vegas, the sports teams here, as well as odd & little-known facts about Las Vegas & Nevada.

Wacky And Weird Hockey Superstitions

I have weird hockey superstitions about where I watch the Vegas Golden Knights. Last Saturday afternoon, my wife and I were looking for a local tavern that might have an open table. We wanted to grab some dinner, drinks, and watch game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals.

My Wacky And Weird Superstition

The first place we stopped at was packed. No open tables. So, we were trying to decide where to go next. She mentioned a nearby tavern, but I nixed it. Why? Well, I told her every time we go there, the Golden Knights lose.

I know, ridiculous, right? After all, how can something like where we watch the VGK on television affect the outcome of an NHL game? I guess that’s why they call it a silly superstition. There’s no common sense involved.

My Hockey Playing Routine

Hockey players are notorious for being superstitious. Many have rituals such as putting on their equipment in a certain order. I don’t know if that is just a learned routine, or if it is a superstition. But, when I play hockey, I always put on my left skate, then my right skate, then my left shin pad, then my right shin pad, and so on.

If I don’t put on my equipment in that order, I just don’t feel right during the game for some reason.

Some Wacky And Weird Hockey Superstitions

I found an article on TheHockeyWriters.com which details wacky and weird hockey player superstitions by some of the game’s greatest. Greg Boysen’s article describes the pre-game ritual of one of the game’s great goalies. Glenn Hall used to force himself to throw up before every game. Evidently, it calmed his nerves.

Another Hall of Fame goaltender would threaten any player who touched his goalie equipment. We’re talking about threatening his own teammates! What is it about goalies? Netminder Jocelyn Thibault used to pour water over his head exactly six-and-a-half minutes before every game.

Scroll Down For More Weird Hockey Superstitions

Boysen’s article on TheHockeyWriters.com has plenty more wacky and weird hockey superstitions. Scroll down to see five great ones.

Wayne Gretzky Needs His Baby Powder
“The Great One,” Wayne Gretzky, would powder the blade of his hockey sticks with baby powder before each game. Some of his other superstitions include never getting his hair cut while on a road trip. In warm-ups, he would purposely miss his first shot wide to the right of the goal. Then, after warm-ups, he would always take drinks in this specific order: Diet Coke, water, Gatorade, and then he’d throw back another Diet Coke.

Michael Loccisano / Staff via Getty Images
Patrick Roy And His Goal Posts
This four-time Stanley Cup-winning goalie used to talk to his goal posts. Yup. Apparently, Roy felt that conversing with these inanimate objects would improve his play. And, the goal posts would be more apt to be on his side. Hard to argue with a Hall of Fame goalie.

Brendan Hoffman / Stringer via Getty Images
Brendan Shanahan Loves Madonna
This NHL Hall of Fame forward is now the President of the Toronto Maple Leafs franchise. Back during his professional career, he always wore the shoulder pads from his junior hockey days. He also made sure he listened to at least one Madonna song before each game. I guess he had to get “Into The Groove.”

Christian Petersen / Staff via Getty Images
Joe Nieuwendyk's Pre-Game Meal
Here’s another hockey Hall of Fame forward who had a weird hockey superstition. Before each game, Nieuwendyk ate two pieces of toast topped with peanut butter. Not one. Not three. Two. I wonder if he ate toast topped with jelly or jam after the game.

Alexey Koza via Getty Images
Sidney Crosby Says "Don't Touch My Sticks"
One of the most heralded draft prospects in NHL history, “The Next One” (in reference to being the next greatest player to Wayne Gretzky), or “Sid The Kid,” is no longer a kid. He’s 35-years-old now. He is a gentlemanly player, but if you touch his hockey sticks after he has taped them up before a game, he’s not going to be happy. In fact, he will take all of the tape off of the stick you touched, and re-tape it. He also has a superstition of NOT calling his Mom on game days.

Handout / Handout via Getty Images