Vegas Golden Knights Announce Nickname, Logo for NHL Expansion Team

The NHL awarded Las Vegas an expansion team in June, and the league's 31st franchise assumed an identity Tuesday evening when owner Bill Foley revealed a mascot and logo in front of a packed house at Toshiba Plaza outside of T-Mobile Arena. 

According to ESPN.com's Arash Markazi, Sin City's skaters will play as the Vegas Golden Knights: 

Chris Creamer of SportsLogos.net provided a detailed look at the Golden Knights' color scheme:  

The Associated Press' Greg Beacham reported the team's official colors are steel gray, gold, red and black. 

According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal's Steve Carp, the franchise was deciding between the Desert Knights, Silver Knights and Golden Knights prior to Tuesday's announcement. 

"We selected 'Knights' because knights are the defenders of the realm and protect those who cannot defend themselves," Foley said in a press release. "They are the elite warrior class."

In some shape or form, the Knights had long been rumored as a potential nickname for the Vegas franchise since Foley graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, which is home to the Army Black Knights. 

"The Vegas Golden Knights team name and logo embody this great city and the mission of our team," Foley added. When people see it, we want them to say 'These guys never give up. These guys are going to win.'"

With a name and logo sorted out, the next step for the Golden Knights will be building a roster that can compete in the Pacific Division and Western Conference for years to come. 

In that regard, it will be up to general manager George McPhee to establish a winning foundation and build the Golden Knights into a real threat through the 2017 expansion and entry drafts before the team's inaugural campaign rolls around.