It was Stone’s first time visiting the White House. Golden Knights defenseman Alex Pietrangelo was there when he was honored by the St. Louis Blues after winning the Stanley Cup in 2019 and it was the third time for the defenseman Alex Martinezwho won it with the Los Angeles Kings in 2012 and 2014.
“It was fun,” Martinez said. “Anytime you get the opportunity to do something like this, it’s pretty special and pretty fun to see and observe some of the kids, it’s their first time.”
President Biden marveled at how owner Bill Foley and the Golden Knights “built a rink in the middle of the desert” and won the Stanley Cup in their sixth season after joining the NHL as a team. expansion in 2017.
“It seemed like a pipe dream, but the team owners were confident, predicting a playoff in three years and a Stanley Cup in six years,” President Biden said. “…Since then, this team has proven that in Vegas, you can beat the odds.”
The Golden Knights had a brief private meeting with President Biden and Vice President Harris in the State Dining Room before heading to the East Room for the ceremony. Joining them for the day was early Reilly Smithmember of the Golden Knights in their first season who was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins on June 28.
Former Golden Knights assistant Ryan Craig, now coach of their American Hockey League team in Henderson, was also in attendance along with former head athletic trainer Jay Mellette, who now works for the Golden Knights football team. Foley’s premier league side, AFC Bournemouth, and traveled from England for the ceremony.
“I think it’s really cool to get the band together one last time, like Reilly came in, Jay came in, so to get everyone together one more time for an occasion like this, it’s pretty special,” Pietrangelo said. “Not many people get this opportunity, so try to take as many as you can and ask as many questions as you can.”
