58 stars are on the "Vegas Strong" banner as well as the name of each shooting victimGETTY IMAGES
The Golden Knights have "unveiled a banner" honoring the 58 victims of the Oct. 1 shooting on the Las Vegas Strip and have retired the No. 58 from ever being worn, according to Steve Carp of the LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL. The “Vegas Strong” banner has 58 stars and the "name of each victim." It was "hoisted to the rafters after a video tribute" prior to Saturday's game against the Sharks. Golden Knights Owner Bill Foley and GM George McPhee "were on the ice, along with the family of shooting victim Neysa Tonks, as the banner was raised" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 4/1).
TURNING THINGS UP A BIT: In Las Vegas, Jesse Granger notes the Golden Knight's home-ice advantage is "already recognized as one of the best in the league," but they "hope to intensify it in the postseason." Golden Knights VP/Events & Entertainment Jonny Greco: "We’ve got a few very big tricks up our sleeves that the fans can be looking forward to. We’ve also got a lot of enhancements to stuff we’re already doing. You do it a little better, a little bit bigger." The Golden Knights "won’t be ditching the usual in-game entertainment that fans have enjoyed all season." That includes the "opening ceremony featuring the evil, hooded character waving the opposing team’s flag and the Golden Knight himself, to the Drumbots in the castle and Chance the Gila Monster." Greco: "We're going to take the stuff that works and expand on them a little bit. There are a couple real big things, new elements, that continue the story that we started this season." Some teams "give away matching T-shirts during the playoffs to create a 'white out,' or whatever color they choose, while some teams give away rally towels to turn their arena into a whirling nightmare for opposing teams." Greco said that the team "hasn’t decided what they’ll do, but said whatever it is will have a Las Vegas twist on it" (LASVEGASSUN.com, 4/2).
