Las Vegas hockey continues growing with the Vegas Golden Knights at the forefront

When the Vegas Golden Knights shocked the hockey world by making the Stanley Cup Final in their inaugural season, it sent a tremor throughout the hockey universe. Nobody thought the cold sport would make it... In a desert... With triple-digit summers.

Yet, here we are. UNLV men's ice hockey won the ACHA Championship on Tuesday, defeating Adrian College by a score of 7-3. Heath Mensch and Tristan Rand had two goals each for the Runnin' Rebels, acting as the deciding factor for the championship game. Mensch also added an assist on a Justin Stathopoulos goal in the second period.

UNLV also defeated teams such as Maryville (3-2) and Liberty (5-2) along the way. They've established themselves as bona fide hockey players in the process, taking the college hockey scene by storm.

Of course, it also helped to defeat prominent programs such as the Denver Pioneers. These are small steps in ensuring bigger things will come. Just look at Arizona State University and how far that program went to get into the NCAA hockey scene.

But this victory is showing what every Las Vegas hockey fan already knows. Sin City is becoming the go-to destination for everything ice hockey. It doesn't matter if it's the Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena or NHL-themed restaurants such as Brewhaus. The game has never been bigger in the Entertainment Capital of the world. But it's also growing within the state, making it the biggest sport in Nevada.

What other hockey teams aside from UNLV hockey and the Vegas Golden Knights have shined in Nevada?

It isn't just the Vegas Golden Knights and UNLV hockey that are shining bright, though. One can also look at the minor league scene and see two teams with instant successes out the gate.

For example, the Henderson Silver Knights made the Calder Cup Final in their first season in their new home. Originally the San Antonio Rampage, the AHL club fell a game short against the Bakersfield Condors in the 2020-21 championship round.

Since that magical run, it's been nothing but downhill sledding for the Silver Knights. They're in last place in the Pacific Division with 52 points as of Tuesday, having little to no hope of making the Calder Cup playoffs. However, their ECHL brethren is locked in on making the Kelly Cup playoffs, making Nevada a hockey state.

The Tahoe Knight Monsters have made hockey a Nevada sport

That's right, dear reader. The Tahoe Knight Monsters, owned by Tim Tebow who has connections with the almighty above along with Chip and Joanna, are tied for third in the Western Conference (77 points). They have some work to do to catch the Kansas City Mavericks (83 points). However, the Knight Monsters have gotten scoring from numerous budding prospects.

That includes Simon Pinard (28 goals and 25 assists) and Sloan Stanick (25 goals and 40 assists). Of course, a balanced overall attack involving eight skaters with 20+ assists also helps. But it's been a major part of the ECHL club's incredible success this season.

It shows the Silver State is becoming a hockey state. Through persistent development and a mission to grow the game, natives are catching on quickly. That could ultimately lead to greater things, such as UNLV being in the Frozen Four or the Silver Knights winning the Calder Cup.

Imagine if you told somebody that Nevada, let alone Las Vegas, would become the go-to destination for everything hockey. Nobody would've believed that Bill Foley and the Vegas Golden Knights would be around. Yet they continue proving everyone wrong and will do so for years to come.