When the Vegas Golden Knights were announced as the NHL’s 31st team there certainly were sceptics. “Why put hockey in the desert”, they said, “haven’t you seen what happened with the Arizona Coyotes!” Six years, and a Stanley Cup, later, they’ve proved their doubters wrong.
Anyone who has been to Las Vegas for any reason since the Vegas Golden Knights inception knows how much the city has embraced and loves their hockey team. For this upcoming season, goaltender Adin Hill, fresh off manning the crease in the franchise’s first championship, designed a mask with a distinct Vegas flair. His new mask can best be described as a “retro” love letter to Sin City.
Vegas does hockey differently. Adin Hill’s new mask pays tribute to the city long before the Golden Knights were even a thought in the city’s wildest dreams.
Featured first is the Vegas landmark “Vegas Vic”. “Vegas Vic” is a neon sign erected over the Pioneer Club back in 1951 and continues to watch over the city’s downtown area known as Fremont Street. In 1980 he was joined across the street by a cowgirl companion named “Vegas Vickie”, who now resides inside the Circa Hotel and Casino. Vickie unfortunately makes no appearance on Hill’s mask, although her new home Circa is the Golden Knight’s jersey sponsor. If Hill ever updates his mask she would be a perfect addition.
Painted next to Vic on Hill’s mask is the neon sign for the Golden Nugget casino. Built in 1946, the Golden Nugget is also on Fremont Street and one of the oldest casinos in Vegas. Although it has grown into an international luxury gaming brand, Golden Nugget is still a holdover from the “old Vegas” that adapted and still exists today.
New mask for @Adin_Hill of the @GoldenKnights We went with a retro Vegas theme. Thanks Adin, have a great season!! pic.twitter.com/Yu2f77xTwZ
— Friedesigns (@Friedesigns) October 15, 2023
Turn the mask to the back side and that’s where the real legends are. The “Rat Pack” of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. make an appearance. Long before there was hockey on the Vegas strip there was Frank and company playing to sellout crowds at the Copa Room. The trio is painted next to an old style microphone, much like the one “Old Blue Eyes” would sing into. Sinatra was born in New Jersey, so maybe Vitek Vanecek should put him on his mask for the New jersey Devils.
One side of Hill’s mask features a billboard advertising a Rat Pack performance. Interestingly, Sinatra also has a history in the later part of his career of performing at the Golden Nugget and even appeared in a famous television commercial for the hotel. Notable absent from Hill’s mask is the “Welcome to Las Vegas” sign. Former Golden Knight Marc Andre Fleury had the sign on his masks, along with scenes and views of the “new” Las Vegas.
One of the reasons the Golden Knights have been able to build a fan base far and wide is because of the love people have for the city they call home. If you love Las Vegas and didn’t have a hockey team chances are you “adopted” the Golden Knights as well, even if you don’t live in Nevada. Those who visit the city and keep coming back are sure to appreciate Hill’s work of art. However, young fans might have to ask their parents who “Dean Martin” is.