Courtesy of Stephen R. Sylvanie
For the first time in franchise history, the Vegas Golden Knights are Stanley Cup Champions. Since the team’s first NHL season in 2017-18, they have made the playoffs all but one season, and this year they were able to take it all the way and bring home the Cup. Their monumental win came off of a tough series with the Florida Panthers, who they ended up defeating 9-3 in the fifth game of the Final. The new reigning champions have much to celebrate, and have already begun some of the festivities.
Milestones
As always with Stanley Cup winners, the Vegas team and organization hit many milestones on June 13. They had multiple players win their first ever Cup, but veteran player Phil Kessel raised the cup on Tuesday for his third time, twice before with the Pittsburgh Penguins. As for their coach, Bruce Cassidy, it was his first year with the team and his first time raising the Stanley Cup. This win is not only huge for the franchise because of how new to the league it is, but so impactful to all of the individuals on and off the ice who made it possible.
Courtesy of Richard Rodriguez
Celebration
As is to be expected from any winning team, let alone a first time champ, the Knights have been celebrating hard. First, they took to the streets of Vegas for their championship parade, where they were greeted by the cheers of fans down the Las Vegas Strip. William Karlsson gave a hilarious and sentimental speech to introduce the Conn Smythe Trophy winner Jonathan Marchessault, during which he praised his teammate and took a dig at the Arizona Coyotes.
The players clearly had a very good time partying together, and the fun of their post season is just beginning. Jack Eichel, for example, has already gotten this victory memorialized on his body with a new tattoo on his leg, featuring the Stanley Cup itself as well as the Golden Knights logo.
The Golden Knights recently tweeted that for the upcoming 2023 - 24 season they will be unveiling their Championship banner on October 10. It is set to be raised before their home opener game against the Seattle Kraken at T-Mobile Arena. Fans and players alike will be looking forward to this ceremony in the fall, but until then we can anticipate many photos and videos of where the Stanley Cup will be spotted this summer.
Courtesy of Revolt Tattoos
Comments