Las Vegas NHL Expected to Name Kelly McCrimmon Assistant General Manager & Lays Ice at T-Mobile Arena

Brandon Wheat Kings, owner and general manager, Kelly McCrimmon, appears to be close to being named assistant general manager of the new Las Vegas National Hockey League team. 

McCrimmon, also the head coach of the Wheat Kings, in the Western Hockey League, started with the organization in 1988 as an assistant coach, prior to taking over as general manager the following season. As assistant general manager in Las Vegas, he would serve as George McPhee’s right hand man. 

McCrimmon, received the WHL’s Executive of the Year honors in 1995, 2010 and 2015, as well as the Canadian Hockey League, Executive of the Year in 2010. The 55-year-old, served as an assistant coach with the Canadian team, during the 2016 International Ice Hockey Federation World Championship earlier this spring. 

The Las Vegas team who will begin play during the 2017-2018 NHL season, began laying down the ice at the T-Mobile Arena on Saturday. The first hockey game to be played in the new arena, will take place on October 7 as the Los Angeles Kings will battle the Dallas Stars in a preseason matchup. The following night will pit the Kings against the Colorado Avalanche. 

After the ice was put down on Saturday morning, the arena staff began painting the red and blue lines, as well as a giant NHL shield on the center ice. 

Every season since 1997, the Kings have played a preseason game in “Sin City” at the MGM Grand Arena. They have dubbed the series “Frozen Fury.” Frozen Fury XVIII, will be the first one played at the new T-Mobile Arena, as well as the final one before the NHL expands to the city.

The NHL Board of Governors voted to approve expansion to Las Vegas on June 22^nd, with McPhee being named as the general manager on July 13^th. The organization hopes to have their nickname, logo and color scheme in place by September. 

The organization will also be holding an open house at the T-Mobile Arena for future season ticket holders on Monday, August 1, from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM and Tuesday, August 2, from 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM, giving them the opportunity to interact with the team’s business operations staff. As the fans enter the building, they will be given the opportunity view the seating bowl and explore all that the arena has to offer.