The memories of everything that led up to that day, the early morning practices and the long bus rides taken as a kid, bubble to the surface.
Slava Demin was like most teenagers in that sense when he was chosen by the Vegas Golden Knights as their fourth-round pick, 99th overall, at last month’s NHL draft. But he was unlike the majority of future NHL players in reflecting on his hockey development. While most prospects rise through youth leagues in Canada or Europe, Demin, 18, remembered cutting his teeth in Orange County, in a high school league that began with one team 11 years ago.