Today’s Podcast Review – A Vegas Golden Knights Favorite

I am one of those people who is really into the whole concept of “expansion hockey” in the NHL. I thought the idea of placing a team in Las Vegas was an interesting proposal, and like many I was skeptical as to how much success a professional sports franchise could have in the city. However, looking at examples in Nashville, Tampa, LA, Anaheim and San Jose to name a few, it made me believe that hockey is capable of flourishing anywhere if gone about the right way. Soon enough the Vegas Golden Knights would break the mold on what an traditional expansion franchise should look like.

Making History

So, early on in 2017, I began following the Vegas franchise closely. The Golden Knights were the first true expansion franchise of my generation for the most part, as I was only five years old when the Columbus Blue Jackets and Minnesota Wild played their inaugural seasons back in 2000.

The real hype around the team began with announcing a name and logo, and the drafting of the organization’s first player, Reid Duke. The franchise traveled to the far corners of its broadcasting jurisdiction to towns in Montana and Idaho, hoping to create life-long Golden Knights fans in areas of the country with no local NHL team to support.

Announcing the Broadcasters

Later in the summer of 2017, heading into the club’s inaugural season, the broadcasting team was announced. Two people in particular stood out to me; Shane Hnidy, former Boston Bruins defender who won the cup with the team back in 2011, and Dave Goucher, the 17-year veteran radio play-by-play announcer of the Bruins.

While I remembered Shane from his time in Boston, and had grown up listening to Dave’s legendary calls of Stanley Cup runs in 2011 and 2013, names like Gary Lawless and Dan D’Uva were less familiar at the time. When the news broke that Dave would be heading to Vegas it was enthusiastic because I knew the franchise was getting the best of the best, but at the same time it would be a major adjustment not hearing his voice over the radio when I hopped in the car midway through a Bruins game to go play men’s league hockey.

Admittedly, one of the first reasons I tuned into the Golden Knights at the beginning of the season was to hear Dave call games. It was at that time when I learned how great of a broadcaster Shane was as well. I also got my first taste of Gary Lawless between periods.

Starting the Podcast

When I learned the trio was starting an official Vegas Golden Knights podcast I was excited to hear their perspectives on the team that you couldn’t quite get from an on-air show. The podcast, officially called The Sheriff, Lawless And Some Guy Named Dave Podcast or SLGND for short, features Hnidy (Sheriff), Lawless and Dave Goucher and is produced/managed by Dan D’Uva, the team’s radio play-by-play voice.

The podcast has a somewhat non-traditional spin where it takes on a game show element of sorts. Each panelist is asked to give their opinions on a Golden Knights topic presented to them, and the person with the best answer (determined by Dan) wins the segment. They have also hosted guests on the podcast ranging from GM George McPhee to defenseman Nate Schmidt.

The insight of these three men, who are so close to the team on a regular basis, is unparalleled. From breaking down on-ice play to telling (tasteful) stories from the road, this really is the best place to go for bonus Golden Knights coverage.

Keep in mind that this podcast is directly associated with the Vegas Golden Knights, so there generally isn’t a lot of hard criticism of the team (not that there should be). But if you’re looking for a more unfiltered podcast I suggest checking elsewhere.

Overall, the SLGND podcast is a must-listen for any and all Vegas Golden Knights fans. It features three brilliant hockey minds who know the team better than anyone, and you are sure to come away from every episode with insight into the team you won’t get from any other podcast.