The end of May signaled the ending of a long wait regarding the new AHL team in Nevada.

On May 28, the Henderson Silver Knights officially joined the league and became the top affiliate for the NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights. Black Knight Sports and Entertainment, LLC, which also owns and operates the Golden Knights, purchased an AHL membership in February, moving the San Antonio Rampage to Henderson.

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“Today is a momentous day for our organization, the city of Henderson and the entire Southern Nevada community,” said Silver Knights and Golden Knights owner Bill Foley. “After years of planning and preparation, we finally get to welcome the Henderson Silver Knights home. When we started our initial ticket drive to bring hockey to Vegas and create the team we now know as the Golden Knights, it was obvious this community had all the makings of a great hockey city. That being said, the passion and enthusiasm our fans have shown us over the past three years is greater than anything we could have imagined.

“Now our fans can watch more hockey right in their backyard and keep a close eye on our players’ journeys as they advance through our ranks with the intention of achieving the ultimate goal – becoming a Vegas Golden Knight.”

The Silver Knights will play their home games during the 2020-21 season at the Orleans Arena, located at the Orleans Hotel and Casino.

The Orleans Arena will be the temporary home for the AHL’s Henderson Silver Knights.

On May 19, the city of Henderson approved a project agreement with SK Arena, an affiliate of the Golden Knights, to advance the design and construction of an indoor event venue to replace the Henderson Pavilion. The reimagination of the Henderson Pavilion will serve as the permanent home of the Silver Knights once construction is completed.

The Silver Knights’ logo has a unique look and very interesting background.

In medieval civilization, the armored warhorse was synonymous with strength, endurance and fearlessness during battle. The armored warhorse helped establish knights as the undisputed epitome of the warrior class.

The knight on horseback is one of the most intimidating symbols of its time. A truly fearsome opponent, the knight on horseback embraced the mentality of always advancing and never retreating.

The horse played a vital role in a knight’s quest to become elite, assisting in the knight’s training, skill advancement and overall development. As the primary affiliate of the Golden Knights, the Silver Knights hold an identical position – assisting in every aspect of the knight’s quest to become an elite warrior.

If you look closely, one will see that the horse’s armor in the primary logo creates the letter “H” for Henderson, signifying the franchise will be the first pro sports team to call Henderson home.

The golden eyes pay homage to the parent club in Vegas. The eyes of the Silver Knights are always focused on advancing to the level of the Golden Knights.

There are 20 links of chainmail and 21 rivets on the horse’s armor, which represent the team’s inaugural 2020-21 season.

Flanking the Silver Knights wordmark are silver and golden spurs. The spur was gifted to the knight when he gained knighthood and was used to drive the warhorse forward into battle.

“The Henderson Silver Knights will embrace these noble qualities on and off the ice and positively represent the Henderson community,” said Foley.

Known as the Silver State, Nevada is home to the largest wild horse population in the United States. Both of these facts are referenced on the back of the state quarter.

“The enthusiastic response from local residents over the last six weeks has been remarkable, as we have received more than 7,600 season ticket deposits at the time of our unveil event,” said Foley. “We are committed to creating memorable, positive experiences for our fans and their families.

“We cannot wait to drop the puck.”

— Matt Mackinder

(July 5, 2020)