Akira Schmid returns to Vegas Golden Knights’ observe after Olympics with Switzerland | Golden Knights

Akira Schmid’s best enemy proper now isn’t a flying puck. It’s jet lag.

The Vegas Golden Knights goaltender continues to be preventing it after getting back from Italy for the Winter Olympics.

He awoke at 6 a.m. for a observe that didn’t begin till 11 a.m. Saturday at City National Arena.

“I’d rather do that than fall asleep at 6,” Schmid mentioned, laughing.

Schmid is the primary Olympian to return to Knights observe after representing Switzerland within the video games.

Tomas Hertl (Czechia) and Rasmus Andersson (Sweden) are anticipated to observe swimsuit Monday.

The Swiss had been eradicated within the quarterfinals in a 3-2 extra time loss to Finland on Wednesday. Schmid didn’t gown for that sport.

Schmid mentioned he wasn’t certain what to anticipate in Milan. He and the remainder of his Swiss teammates stayed within the Olympic Village. Think of it as a makeshift school ambiance the place athletes and coaches mingle in cramped settings.

Some gamers rode scooters across the village. Schmid was keen on the completely different lounges and the gaming room that was there.

“You just kind of try to soak everything in,” Schmid mentioned. “We had a great time. Our team was a very tight-knit group. We hung out a lot. Played a lot of card games. It was a fun experience.”

Schmid’s household was with him. They went into town a couple of instances, skilled the tradition and the meals.

“A lot of the same food,” he mentioned, “but it was good.”

Schmid solely bought one begin for Switzerland. It was a memorable one — a 5-1 loss to high-powered Canada on Feb. 13.

He made 34 saves, together with the save of the event — a scorpion cease on Canada captain Sidney Crosby.

“He held on so long to the puck, I thought, ‘He’s going to run out of real estate soon.’ But then he kind of dragged me all the way over,” Schmid mentioned. “He’s holding onto it, so I got to do something.”

Schmid did all he may to maintain his teammates within the sport, however the dam broke towards the Canadian tremendous workforce.

While there’s a way of disappointment he bought just one sport, Schmid was grateful for the expertise. It couldn’t have come towards a greater opponent.

“It was an exciting game. That’s probably the game you want to play as a goalie, and thankfully I got it,” he mentioned. “I believed I did a great job.

“There are maybe one or two goals I would like to have back if you want to win a game like that, but it was a great experience. I don’t know when I’m going to play a team like that again.”

Schmid, a winner of a career-high 16 video games this yr, is hopeful the expertise in Italy can propel him for the remainder of the Knights’ season. They’ll want him with how crammed the schedule is popping out of the Olympics.

The Knights play 18 video games in a month’s span with two back-to-backs. They have two days off between video games one time.

For as little a workload he had in Italy, it’s about to extend ten-fold.

“There’s just a pride playing for your team,” Schmid mentioned. “To experience that and feel it, I’m trying to bring that here.”

Contact Danny Webster at dwebster@reviewjournal.com. Follow @DannyWebster21 on X.

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