The Vegas Golden Knights officially have a new ECHL affiliate.
Say hello to the Savannah Ghost Pirates!
Based in Savannah, Georgia, the Ghost Pirates are an expansion team set to debut in the 2022-23 season. The ECHL officially approved the expansion to Savannah in January of 2021.
With this relationship in place, players within the Golden Knights’ pipeline can be transferred to and from the Ghost Pirates, along with the AHL affiliate Henderson Silver Knights.
Rick Bennett will serve as the Ghost Pirates’ first-ever head coach. Bennet led Union College to an NCAA title in 2014. He coached at Union College for 10 years.
The Fort Wayne Comets were the Golden Knights’ previous ECHL affiliate dating back to the 2018-19 season.
“This affiliation with Savannah gives us alignment from the ECHL level through Henderson and up to the NHL,” said Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon in an official press release. “We are excited to lead the hockey operations and have a proven developer of talent as a head coach in Rick Bennett.”
The Ghost Pirates will open their inaugural season on October 22 against the Greenville Swamp Rabbits. Their home opener at the newly constructed Enmarket Arena is scheduled for November 5, also against the Swamp Rabbits.