Golden Knights’ new AHL team could be called Silver Knights
A minor league hockey team coming to the Las Vegas Valley next season could be called the Silver Knights.
The Golden Knights announced Thursday that it would relocate San Antonio’s American Hockey League team to Southern Nevada, but offered no details about the team’s name.
That changed Friday afternoon when Knights majority owner Bill Foley confirmed his group submitted a trademark application to keep the Silver Knights name as an option for the team.
“It’s right at the top of the list,” Foley said.
The team is still working on finalizing the name, but Foley said it makes sense for the Silver Knights to co-exist with the Golden Knights. It would maintain what Foley, a graduate of West Point, considers the knights culture of protecting the unprotected.
“It’s kind of a logical step,” he said, adding that more news should be available within 30 days. The team currently is working on logos and color schemes.
Foley also confirmed the short-term plan for the AHL team to play at Orleans Arena. Despite reports that the parent club could build an arena for the minor league team in Henderson, he said no plan is finalized.
The AHL team will finish its season in San Antonio before relocating. The team then will be headquartered and will practice at the community ice arena being built in downtown Henderson.
As for the name, Silver Knights was one of the final three names Foley considered for his NHL franchise. Desert Knights also was considered.
A trail of public records discovered Friday connected the Silver Knights trademark application with the Golden Knights. Delaware-based company J. Jeans LLC submitted an application to the United States Patent and Trademark Office on Dec. 18 for the Silver Knights name.
The filing says the entity would offer entertainment services, “namely, ice hockey exhibitions.” The filing status shows the applicant has a real intention of using the name in the near future.
Records show J. Jeans LLC was formed by Marjorie Nemzura, whose LinkedIn profile lists her as vice president and assistant general counsel at Fidelity National Financial. Foley is chairman of the company’s board of directors.
Foley said he also has considered team names based on local reptiles, as well as types of predatory birds.
“You know, hawks, falcons,” he said.
Nevada Born
The Knights owner would not say if the team would be billed as from Nevada, Las Vegas or somewhere else.
“I can’t say just yet,” he said.
The Golden Knights’ company, Black Knight Sports and Entertainment, has applied for multiple trademarks in recent months. Among them is “Nevada Born” for entertainment services, “namely, professional ice hockey exhibitions; providing a website featuring information in the field of professional ice hockey.”
The Golden Knights have used “Vegas Born” as the team slogan and in Twitter hashtags.
Contact Blake Apgar at bapgar@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5298. Follow @blakeapgar on Twitter.
