Eric Ruggiero always has been a fan of hockey and the city of Las Vegas even though he lives in Maryland and had no allegiances to any particular team.
That changed when the NHL awarded the city he calls his second home an expansion franchise.
“My wife and I’s first trip to Vegas was in 2004 and we’ve been there 53 times since and hockey is my life,” the semi-retired 53-year-old said by phone on Wednesday. “When they put those two things together, I was all in. I wanted to be a part of it from the ground floor.