Deryk Engelland, Vegas' de-facto first captain, officially retires

This just in, veteran defenseman Deryk Engelland has announced his retirement from professional hockey.

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For your service on the ice. For being a hero in our community.

Congratulations on your retirement and thank you Deryk Engelland for a great hockey career! #VegasBorn pic.twitter.com/hsQr16Kass
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) December 22, 2020

Additionally, the team announced that Engelland will be joining the team's front office staff and will serve as a special assistant to owner Bill Foley.

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We are thrilled to have Deryk remain with the organization as the Special Assistant to the Owner! Deryk will remain active in the Las Vegas community working on various charitable initiatives for Bill Foley and the Golden Knights ? #VegasBorn
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) December 22, 2020

While Engelland was a rugged, tough as nails defenseman in the NHL for 10 seasons, most hockey fans likely remember him most from the stirring speech he gave to the crowd at the Golden Knights' very first exhibition game just days after the horrific 2017 massacre on the Las Vegas Strip.