Kenny Holston / New York Times Company
President Joe Biden and Mark Stone, team captain of the Las Vegas Golden Knights, arrive for a ceremony celebrating the team’s 2023 Stanley Cup victory in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Nov. 13, 2023.
Published Monday, Nov. 13, 2023 | 9:39 a.m.
Updated Monday, Nov. 13, 2023 | 3:52 p.m.
WASHINGTON— Leave it to Las Vegas to turn the White House gold.
The Vegas Golden Knights paid a visit to President Joe Biden in the nation’s capital on Monday to celebrate their 2023 Stanley Cup win, and they gifted the commander in chief a golden hockey stick and a glittery gold-colored team sweater with Biden’s name inscribed across the back as a token of appreciation.
In remarks from the East Room of the White House, Biden returned the favor and touted the resilience of Southern Nevada’s first major professional sports franchise, as well as owner Bill Foley for having the ambition to infamously anticipate winning the Stanley Cup within the first six years of the organization’s existence.
“Ever since, (Foley’s) team has proved that in Vegas you can beat the odds,” Biden said. “The idea of a championship team playing on the ice in the Vegas desert … it seemed like a pipe dream.”
Biden also highlighted the Golden Knights’ five trips to the playoffs and the team’s 267 wins since starting NHL play in 2017 — among the most wins of any team during that stretch. The president also acknowledged the close ties fans have forged with the young club, especially in the aftermath of the Oct. 1, 2017, mass shooting at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival.
That’s in addition to commendations Biden gave over philanthropic efforts like afterschool activities for youths and hockey programs for people with disabilities.
“You’re proving Vegas sports is one of the best shows in town,” Biden said. “But you’re also proving something else about sports: Like all great franchises, you give back to the community.
“And in your case, you were also holding an entire city together. Showing up for victims’ families, survivors and first responders.”
Biden additionally said, “You’re Vegas born; you’re Vegas strong.”
Several members of Nevada’s congressional delegation were on hand, including U.S. Sen. Catherine Cotez Masto, and U.S. Reps. Susie Lee and Steven Horsford, all Democrats. A contingent of state and local officials also made the trip, including several state senators and members of the assembly, Las Vegas City Councilman Cedric Crear, Clark County Commissioner Justin Jones and others.
“To have our own team that was there with us, cried with us during October 1, and supported all of us when we came together, it’s just amazing,” Cortez Masto said of the reception. “Now the team that we love is national champions. It put us on the map in such a short period of time and it’s just exciting for all of us.”
Biden also received family members of the late U.S. Sen. Harry Reid, the former Senate majority leader from Nevada whom Biden called “a longtime friend.
State Sen. Edgar Flores, D-Las Vegas, was on hand with his 4-month-old son, Mateo, and told the Sun he was there to not only make a memory with his family, but to show support for a team that means so much to Southern Nevada.
“The Vegas Golden Knights were there for us in a very difficult moment in time,” Flores said. “I just feel especially grateful to them. … We will follow them wherever I have to in order to show my gratitude.”
Freshman Nevada Assemblyman Max Carter, D-Las Vegas, said the then-expansion team’s community outreach in the days and months following the Oct. 1, 2017, massacre left a lifelong impression.
“They helped pull our community together and made those of us that were hurting and in pain feel like everybody was together,” Carter said. “They started off not taking from Las Vegas but being part of Las Vegas.”
Monday marked the latest festivities for the reigning Stanley Cup champions, who defeated the Florida Panthers 4-1 in the best-of-seven playoff finals in June. Taking part in the White House festivities was forward Reilly Smith, one of the Original Misfits from the expansion year, who was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins after the Knights' successful Stanley Cup run.
The Knights are the second Vegas team to visit the White House this year, after the Las Vegas Aces were in Washington in September following their second consecutive WNBA championship.
Biden also flexed his knowledge of captain and winger Mark Stone, who escorted the president into the East Room as festivities were beginning.
“(Stone had) two back surgeries in a year, missing the second half of the season, he returns for Game 1 of the playoffs (and) scores a hat trick in Game 5 to win the Stanley Cup,” Biden said. “This guy gets up and goes, man.”
Stone returned the compliment, admitting to the several dozens of attendees playing pro hockey in a packed arena hardly compares to addressing a sitting president.
“It’s a lot easier to play hockey for 20,000 fans,” Stone said, smirking. “As kids, we grew up dreaming of winning the Stanley Cup. I think it’s definitely exceeded all my expectations and everything that has gone along with it. We all came in here in awe of this beautiful place and have such respect for you and the office that you hold.”
The Golden Knights (12-2-1) will stay in the nation’s capital through Tuesday, when they play the Washington Capitals (7-4-2) at Capital One Arena (4 p.m. PST/KTNV-TV) to kick off a five-game road swing.
And while the NHL season isn’t even a quarter of the way through, Stone told Biden he hoped the Western Conference-leading Knights would be back for a similar reception next year.
“We’re looking forward at trying to get back here,” Stone said.
