When one thinks of Las Vegas and ice, those thoughts usually result in the ordering of margaritas, mojitos, or some other kind of mixed alcoholic beverage. But come late-June, people who make their money playing on ice converge on Vegas to celebrate their sport.

The National Hockey League awards show is making its fifth stop in the last six years in Las Vegas, as the best that hockey has to offer will converge on The Encore Theatre on June 24. The awards show, which was held at The Palms Theater from 2009 through 2011 before moving to The Encore Theater in 2012, returns after a year layoff due to the NHL lockout. The NHL and the Las Vegas Convention Center and Visitors Authority signed a six-year deal in 2009, so the awards will be back again in 2015 as well.

The previous four installments of the NHL awards in Vegas have been a hit for players and fans alike, giving hundreds of people from all over North America an excuse to check out Las Vegas’ casinos, pool decks and golf courses. It has also created one of the more unique player-fan interactions in sports, as the NHL transformed its awards show from a stuffy affair held in Toronto to one of the more free-flowing and interactive experiences in professional sports thanks to the Sin City influence.

With hockey players, coaches, and administrators all over the city, Las Vegas gives fans a unique chance to meet and hang out with their heroes. The Palms and Wynn have taken advantage of this dynamic, setting up a red carpet throughout the hotel and casino floor leading to the ceremony, allowing fans a chance to walk beside their hockey heroes and get autographs while experiencing the Las Vegas casino lifestyle.

The NHL also allows fans to buy tickets to attend the nationally televised show, where individual awards such as the Hart Memorial Trophy (most valuable player), Vezina Trophy (most valuable goaltender), Lady Byng Trophy (most sportsmanlike/gentlemanly player) and Calder Trophy (most valuable rookie) are given out.

The post-show parties follow the show, which present another opportunity for NHL players and fans to rub elbows. Past parties have been held in places such as the Playboy Club at The Palms and have hosted a mix of players, fans, celebrities, and even the NHL’s iconic Stanley Cup.

While Las Vegas and puckheads seem to be an unusual mix, the four previous installments of the NHL awards have not only turned the affair into a hockey fan’s ultimate vacation, but it has also given Las Vegas a signature event to hold during the slower summer months.

At The Encore Theater
199 Wynn Main Gate Dr
Las Vegas, NV
702-770-7000

NHL Awards at the Encore Theater