Have you always wondered who the captains of your favorite teams are? For Vegas Golden Knights fans, it's Mark Stone. The forward has lived up to his billing as the team leader, scoring 106 goals and 208 assists in seven seasons.
For the Henderson Silver Knights? It's Jake Bischoff, who's been with the team since they started playing in Henderson. Tenured players make for better leaders since they know the in's and out's of hockey.
That's what makes Luke Adam the ideal captain for the Tahoe Knight Monsters. He's played hockey for decades, where he got his start with the St. John's Maple Leafs. The 34-year-old dominated the NLMMHL in 2005-06 by scoring 80 points (41 goals and 39 assists).
That was before he dominated the QMJHL with three different teams. Here, he made his living by scoring 236 goals and 113 assists in four seasons. Essentially, he was Mathieu Cataford before Mathieu Cataford was cool.
It's no wonder he was selected to be the Knight Monsters' captain. This season, he has 16 goals and 21 assists in 60 games with the ECHL club. The captain has been essential to Tahoe getting closer to the Kelly Cup playoffs. That's why they're sitting in second place in the Mountain Division with 79 points.
So let's get to know the captain of the minor league club better. What are some fun facts that every Golden Knights fan should know about him? Where else has he been in the world besides North America? O captain, my captain! It's time to know thy captain of the Knight Monsters!
Getting to know Luke Adam of Tahoe Knight Monsters fame
Did you know that Luke Adam had prior NHL experience? He played in 90 games (five seasons) for teams such as the Columbus Blue Jackets and Buffalo Sabres. Now, you're likely not seeing him on the Vegas Golden Knights roster. However, he's been productive during his tenure.
The forward scored 15 goals and 11 assists during his time. His best season came in 2011-12 when he scored 10 goals and 10 assists with the Sabres. He's also made his presence felt in the AHL with a remarkable 2010-11 season with the Portland Pirates.
The 34-year-old's AHL career has been more prolific, for he's scored 105 goals and 127 assists in 342 games (seven seasons). That also led to two AHL All-Star game appearances, one in 2010-11 and another in 2013-14. On top of that, Adam won the Red Garrett Memorial Award for the best AHL rookie in 2010-11, scoring the most points by a rookie that season (62).
But he hasn't been limited to playing in North America, though. The captain has also spent seven seasons in the German Ice Hockey Federation (DEL). Here, he scored 89 goals and 144 assists in 317 games and was a DEL champion in 2018-19. He also spent a season in the Czech Republic and another in Slovakia before traveling back to the United States.
Be sure to give your respective captains some love when you see them on the ice. It's not easy getting a team ready for battle every night. Who knows? Maybe that captain will score a goal for the Tahoe Knight Monsters fans, giving them something to cheer for.