Everyone loves a good mascot. They adore a figure that fires up the crowd during crunch time and makes little children smile. That's the role Chance serves on the Vegas Golden Knights, acting as the team's hype... lizard. It's an important job that keeps the fan's morale up, urging the crowd to get loud.
It's also not an easy job, especially when Vegas is losing. That's when the mascot calls about the Golden Knights faithful to get rowdy at T-Mobile Arena. That includes celebrities like Lil' Jon, who comes with a patented "YEAH!" It's no wonder they have one of the best home-ice advantages in the NHL.
Granted, it wasn't easy for the gila monster when he joined the NHL. He received harsh fan backlash, where he was heavily criticized. Luckily, the Golden Knights stood by him, making him feel like he was part of the group. After that, he got more comfortable with his new friends, bringing joy to hockey fans everywhere.
But there's more to the gila monster than fans know about. Obviously, he's the mascot for one of the most successful NHL franchises in the past decade. However, there are some fun facts that fans should know about. Here are some fun facts about the Golden Knights's mascot.
Getting to know Chance
Chance lives a charmed life as the Vegas Golden Knights mascot. He hangs out with celebrities like Lee Orchard and Lil' Jon, getting all the love as the honorary cheerleader. However, there's more than meets the eye for the cherished gila monster.
- Chance is based on the gila monster, a lizard native to Nevada. The gila monster is also the only venomous lizard in the Silver State.
- The International Union for Conservation and Nature granted the gila monster protection for being a "near threatened" species in 1952.
- Chance's first hockey game came on October 13, 2017, against the Detroit Red Wings.
- Clint McComb was the man behind the mascot, serving nearly 20 years for teams like the Los Angeles Rams.
- The revered mascot has also been on numerous pro wrestling programs, including TNA Wrestling and AEW. He even made Joe Hendry appear!
The next time you're at T-Mobile Arena, give the smiling mascot a wave. Take a picture with him and tell him how much you love the Golden Knights. It'll show great appreciation for the game and how he makes everyone in the room happy. After all, he's part of the team!