Silver Knights Sign Jett Jones | Ryan Rose

by Ryan Rose

What Happened

On July 20, 2026, Henderson Silver Knights General Manager Tim Speltz announced that the team had signed forward Jett Jones to a one-year AHL contract for the 2026-27 season. The Silver Knights are the AHL affiliate of the Vegas Golden Knights, so this is a developmental signing that feeds the bigger picture in Las Vegas hockey.

Jones, 23, is a returning player. He suited up for the Silver Knights across parts of two seasons from 2023 to 2025. The Olds, Alberta native then spent the 2025-26 season with the ECHL's Florida Everblades, where he helped the team win a Kelly Cup championship. That is a real accomplishment, and it shows he can contribute to a winning group.

Last season with Florida, Jones posted six goals and 24 points in 55 ECHL games. He added seven points in 19 playoff games during that championship run. He also got a taste of higher-level action with 11 AHL games for the Springfield Thunderbirds. In 43 career games with the Silver Knights, he has three goals, six points, and 10 penalty minutes.

Jones stands 6 feet 3 inches and weighs 216 pounds, and he shoots left. He has a deeper track record than his age suggests. Before turning pro, he played parts of five seasons with the Western Hockey League's Lethbridge Hurricanes from 2018 to 2023, serving as captain in his final two seasons. In 222 career WHL games, he registered 54 goals and 121 points. He has also played 93 career games for Silver Knights ECHL affiliates with the Savannah Ghost Pirates and Tahoe Knight Monsters, recording 24 goals and 44 points along the way.

Add it all up and you get a player who has paid his dues at every level of the sport. He wore a captain's letter as a junior, he has bounced between the AHL and ECHL as a pro, and he just finished a season that ended with a trophy. That is the profile of a reliable two-way forward who can play a role, kill penalties, and set an example for younger teammates. The Silver Knights clearly value what he brings, or they would not have brought him back for a third go-around in Henderson.

It is worth noting how the pieces of the organization connect. Jones has now touched almost every rung of the Golden Knights ladder, from ECHL affiliates in Savannah and Tahoe to the AHL in Henderson and Springfield. That kind of movement is normal for a young pro, and it is exactly how teams figure out who is ready to take the next step. This latest deal keeps him inside the family and gives the coaching staff a known quantity to build around.

Ice hockey players competing inside a professional arena during a game

Why It Matters to Las Vegas Residents

You might be wondering why a one-year AHL deal matters to people living in Henderson and greater Las Vegas. The answer is simple. The Silver Knights are your team too, and they play right here in the valley. Lee's Family Forum in Henderson gives families a close, affordable way to watch pro hockey without a trip to the Strip.

Signings like this one keep the roster stocked and the games competitive. When the front office brings back a proven, hard-working forward, it means better hockey on the ice. That is good for season ticket holders, for families looking for weekend plans, and for anyone who has come to love the sport since the Golden Knights arrived in town.

There is also a bigger economic story here. The Silver Knights are part of why Henderson has become a real sports and entertainment hub. Lee's Family Forum draws crowds, and those crowds spend money at nearby restaurants, shops, and hotels. That activity supports jobs and helps local businesses. When a team invests in its roster, it signals that hockey is here to stay in Henderson.

For homeowners, that stability is worth noticing. Neighborhoods near strong entertainment anchors tend to hold their appeal. People want to live where there is something to do, something to cheer for, and a sense of community. A thriving AHL team adds to Henderson's story, and that story shows up when buyers ask what makes an area special.

Think about the ripple effect on a game night. Fans grab dinner before the puck drops. They fill parking lots and rideshare pickups. They buy jerseys and hats and snacks. Kids leave the building wanting to try the sport, and parents start looking for local rinks and youth leagues. All of that activity flows through Henderson, and it happens dozens of times each season because the team keeps the schedule full and the seats worth filling.

There is a family angle too that is easy to overlook. Pro hockey in Henderson gives parents a wholesome, budget-friendly outing that does not require a night on the Strip. That matters in a city where a lot of entertainment is aimed at tourists. The Silver Knights are for the locals. When the team invests in solid, hard-nosed forwards like Jones, it keeps that local product strong and gives families a reason to come back again and again.

Background and History

The Henderson Silver Knights joined the American Hockey League as the top affiliate of the Vegas Golden Knights. The team is owned in part by Bill Foley and his family and is operated by the Foley Entertainment Group, the same ownership behind the Golden Knights. That connection is the whole point. Players who develop in Henderson can earn a call-up to the NHL club in Las Vegas.

The Silver Knights play their home games at Lee's Family Forum, a modern arena in Henderson. The building has become a gathering spot for local hockey fans, and it has helped grow the sport in Southern Nevada. When the Golden Knights came to town in 2017, hockey was new to a lot of desert residents. Now it is part of the culture, and the Silver Knights are a big reason why.

Jones fits the pattern the team likes. He is a bigger forward who plays a physical, honest game, and he has already shown he can win. His Kelly Cup title with Florida is a sign of a player who knows how to compete in the postseason. Bringing back a player who has worn the sweater before also helps team chemistry, because he already understands the systems and the staff.

The AHL is a proving ground. Very few players skip it on the way to the NHL. So every year, teams like the Silver Knights build rosters that mix young prospects with steady veterans and dependable role players. Jones is the kind of returning contributor who helps hold that mix together over a long season.

It also helps to remember how young this whole hockey story is in Southern Nevada. A decade ago, the idea of a pro hockey affiliate in Henderson would have surprised a lot of people. The desert is not the first place most fans picture ice hockey. But the Golden Knights changed that fast, and the Silver Knights extended it. Today there are youth programs, adult leagues, and a growing base of fans who grew up rooting for the Knights. Every roster move is another brick in that foundation.

Hockey player in full gear skating across the ice during a training session

What Happens Next

Jones will report to training camp and compete for a spot in the Silver Knights lineup for the 2026-27 season. His one-year deal means he has a clear window to prove himself and possibly earn more time at the AHL level or a longer look inside the organization. For a 23-year-old, this is a chance to keep climbing.

Fans can expect to see him at Lee's Family Forum once the season gets going. The Silver Knights schedule fills the fall and winter months, and home games are a fun, family-friendly option for a night out in Henderson. Keep an eye on the team's roster updates and preseason news as camp approaches.

The bigger thing to watch is how the whole pipeline shapes up. Signings like this one happen all summer as teams get ready for the year. Each move tells you a little about the plan. If you follow the Golden Knights, tracking who is in Henderson helps you understand who might get a shot in Las Vegas down the road.

For Jones specifically, the storyline is about production and opportunity. If he builds on the momentum from his championship year in Florida and carves out steady minutes with the Silver Knights, he puts himself in the conversation for more. A big, left-shot forward who can score and compete is always useful, and a strong camp could set the tone for his entire season. Local fans will get a front-row seat to that push at Lee's Family Forum.

Ryan's Take

As a Las Vegas real estate expert, I pay attention to what makes our communities strong, and pro sports are a real part of that. The Silver Knights give Henderson an identity beyond just being a suburb of Las Vegas. That identity matters when families decide where to plant roots, and it shows up in the questions buyers ask me about lifestyle and things to do.

A move like signing Jett Jones is small on its own, but it is part of a steady drumbeat that keeps hockey healthy in our valley. When I talk with clients about Henderson neighborhoods near Lee's Family Forum, the arena is a selling point. People like being close to games, restaurants, and the energy that comes with a growing sports scene. Stable teams help make Henderson a place people want to stay.

I also love that this is a comeback story. Jones left, won a title elsewhere, and chose to return to Henderson. That says something about the organization and the community. When players want to come back to a place, it usually means the place is doing something right. As someone who sells this valley to buyers every week, that is the kind of energy I am always happy to point to.

Hockey player taking aim at the goal as a goalie prepares to make a save

What You Can Do

If you want to be part of the fun, the best first step is to catch a Silver Knights game at Lee's Family Forum in Henderson. Tickets are usually affordable, and the atmosphere is great for kids and adults alike. Watching Jones and the rest of the roster in person is the easiest way to connect with local hockey.

You can also follow the Henderson Silver Knights online for roster news, schedules, and promotions. Staying current helps you plan game nights and spot the players who might one day skate for the Golden Knights. If you have kids interested in the sport, local youth hockey programs in the valley are a natural next step, and pro games are a great way to get them excited.

Season memberships and group packages are another option if you plan to attend often. Many families find that a small package pays for itself in fun over the winter, and group nights are popular for schools, sports teams, and neighborhood groups. The team also runs theme nights and giveaways throughout the year, so there is usually a reason to circle a date on the calendar. Check the schedule early, because the best home dates can fill up.

If you cannot make it to the arena, you can still follow along. Games are streamed, and highlights and interviews are posted online after most nights. That makes it easy to keep up with Jones and the rest of the roster even on a busy week. The point is that hockey in Henderson is accessible, and there are plenty of ways to be a fan whether you go in person or watch from the couch.

And if you are thinking about how a neighborhood's amenities fit your life, whether that is being close to the arena, good schools, or an easy commute, that is where I can help. Choosing the right area is about more than the house. It is about the lifestyle around it, and Henderson has a lot to offer.

Two ice hockey players battling for the puck during a fast-paced game

One more tip: if you are new to hockey, do not worry about knowing every rule. The best way to learn is to go to a game, watch the crowd, and let the energy carry you. Bring the kids, grab a snack, and pick a player to cheer for. After a period or two, you will be hooked. Henderson has made it easy to fall in love with the sport, and following players like Jett Jones is a fun place to start.

Have questions about how this affects your home or neighborhood? Reach out to Ryan Rose or text/call 702-747-5921 anytime.