Jourdan Lasko of Henderson holds a homemade Stanley Cup replica during a pep rally in Toshiba Plaza before Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena Tuesday, June 13, 2023, in Las Vegas.
Tuesday, June 13, 2023 | 8:40 p.m.
With each Golden Knights goal in the second period of their Stanley Cup-clinching victory, the reality started to set in for the hordes of fans outside T-Mobile Arena at Toshiba Plaza.
Their beloved hockey team was minutes away from being champions, and it was time to start celebrating.
Alec Martinez’s goal made it 3-1. Two minutes later, Reilly Smith scored for a three-goal advantage. And in the final three minutes of the period, Mark Stone and Michael Amadio found the back of the net for a 6-1 advantage to keep the party rolling.
The fans at Toshiba Plaza were delirious sensing they were part of Las Vegas sports history, chanting “we want the Cup, we want the Cup” in unison to mimic the celebratory cheers at other watch parties across the valley.
By time the Golden Knights put the finishing touches on their commanding 9-3 win, the party was in full force. It was like the clocking striking midnight on New Year’s Eve — and staying there for hours.
The crowd sung “Viva Las Vegas,” girls sat on boyfriends’ shoulders, Pom Poms waived and the crowd danced.
“I can’t believe this. This happened,” said fan Josh Abellera, draped in a Golden Knights flag. “Wow. I’m speechless.”
Holding her young son and belting out “We are The Champions,” fan Beana Reveless summarized it best: “I’m so excited,” she said. “I’m so happy for Vegas.”
Aren’t we all.
Many supporters — from elected officials, to athletes and the average Las Vegan — took to social media after the game to express their joy.
“Congratulations to the Golden Knights on this historic win! Tonight, this great team has made Las Vegas and our entire state of Nevada proud by bringing home our first Stanley Cup,” U.S. Sen. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., said in a statement. “Once again, the Golden Knights are helping Las Vegas become a world-renowned sports hub, and I can’t wait to celebrate with them.”
Properties on the Strip were quick to post congratulatory messages, such as MGM Resorts tweeting “From being #VegasBorn to the 2023 champions! We couldn’t be more proud of you @GoldenKnights! Congrats on an epic season!”
Planet Hollywood posted that “we will be throwing a @GoldenKnights party until further notice.”
