Every year, Las Vegas Weekly — a local weekly alternative newspaper — releases its “Best of Las Vegas” awards. Decided by writers and local voters alike, the awards are the recognition of the best Las Vegas has to offer. This year, the Golden Knights dominated the sports awards, winning six of the 12 honors.
The Golden Knights, along with WNBA rookie sensation and All-Star A’Ja Wilson, the Las Vegas 51s and UNLV athletics, will be honored tonight in the Las Vegas Weekly ‘Best of Las Vegas’ Awards at the Encore Beach Club. While it might not be an ESPY (after the Golden Knights were inexplicably left out despite being the year’s best sports story), the award is by locals for locals.
Also winning awards were members of the Las Vegas Lights Football Club, two prep sports winners and the Westgate Sports Book.
Given out every year by Las Vegas Weekly and Greenspun Media Group, the award recognizes the Vegas Valley’s most noteworthy food, arts and entertainment, nightlife and more.
Readers overwhelmingly chose the Golden Knights as the “Best Vegas Team,” while the Vegas icon Marc-André Fleury took home the award for “Best Vegas Athlete.” Fleury has been a local celebrity since he took over the net for the VGK. He had been spotted all over Vegas. Whether he’s walking the red carpet with (soon-to-be Las Vegas) Raiders owner Mark Davis for the premiere of Gwen Stefani’s new residency at Planet Hollywood, or sitting ringside for UFC 226, Fleury is the city’s first major league sports icon.
‘Wild Bill’ Karlsson took home the award for “Instant Star,” and there’s no question why. The Thor-like forward captured the hearts of a great deal of Golden Knights fans with his blonde locks and Swedish temperament. His hair flip gif is a thing of beauty that would make even Zoolander himself easily turn left.
Golden Knights owner Bill Foley, general manager George McPhee and Knights head coach Gerard Gallant won “Best Record-Smashing Triumvirate,” and Nate Schmidt won “Best Defensive Stopper (On Ice).” All in all, the awards are proof the Golden Knights fever has permeated throughout Sin City. If it wasn’t already obvious when you see the amount of gear fans wear around town, these awards only bolster that image.
Hell, even the Golden Knights practice facility, City National Arena, took home an very Vegas-ish award for “Best Place For Your Kids To Skate While You Drink.” Seems legit. Love to see that parking lot when open skate ends.
A surefire Rookie of the Year winner, Wilson was honored for “Best Paint Presence,” and why not? The gifted center has become the darling of the WNBA and one of the most outspoken voices on wage equality in the WNBA.
The Las Vegas 51s garnered the award for “Best Value,” UNLV football’s starting QB Armani Rogers won “Best Future Star,” Women’s basketball player Brook Johnson won “Best Court Leader,” UNLV golfer Shintaro Ban won “Best College Athlete,” local Alex Honnold won “Best Outdoor Sports Star,” and Las Vegas Lights captain Joel Adrián Huiqui won “Best Defensive Stopper (Grass).”
Local legend and Centennial girls basketball team head coach Karen Weitz netted “Best Coaching Legend” and Liberty High School swingman Julian Strawther took “Best Future Star.” Westgate Las Vegas Superbook won “Best Sports Book.”
Other non-sports categories include Best Taco Shop, Music Venue, Outdoor Escape and Cannabis Strain. Maybe next year, Sin City Mockery can snag an honor for “Most Whiskeys Consumed In One Sitting By A Sports Writing Staff.” Until then, congratulations to the winners.
