Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb assists Annabelle Hanson of Janesville, Calif., an 8-year-old with cystic fibrosis, with her stick during practice at City National Arena on Friday, Jan. 20, 2023, in Las Vegas. Hanson became a Golden Knight for the day through Make-A-Wish Southern Nevada. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt
Annabelle Hanson of Janesville, Calif, an 8-year-old with cystic fibrosis, watches the Golden Knights practice at City National Arena on Friday, Jan. 20, 2023, in Las Vegas. Hanson became a Golden Knight for the day through Make-A-Wish Southern Nevada. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt
Annabelle Hanson of Janesville, Calif., an 8-year-old with cystic fibrosis, takes a shot on Golden Knights goaltender Logan Thompson during a Knights practice at City National Arena on Friday, Jan. 20, 2023, in Las Vegas. Hanson became a Golden Knight for the day through Make-A-Wish Southern Nevada. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt
Annabelle Hanson of Janesville, Calif., 8, accepts applause from media and Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon after signing her contract to become a Golden Knight at City National Arena on Friday, Jan. 20, 2023, in Las Vegas. Hanson, who has cystic fibrosis, became a Golden Knight for the day through Make-A-Wish Southern Nevada. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt
Annabelle Hanson of Janesville, Calif,, 8, hugs Chance, the Golden Knights mascot, at City National Arena on Friday, Jan. 20, 2023, in Las Vegas. Hanson, who has cystic fibrosis, became a Golden Knight for the day through Make-A-Wish Southern Nevada. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt
Annabelle Hanson of Janesville, Calif., 8, joins the Golden Knights on the ice during practice at City National Arena on Friday, Jan. 20, 2023, in Las Vegas. Hanson, who has cystic fibrosis, became a Golden Knight for the day through Make-A-Wish Southern Nevada. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt
Golden Knights goaltender Logan Thompson tapes a new stick for Annabelle Hanson, 8, during practice City National Arena on Friday, Jan. 20, 2023, in Las Vegas. Hanson, of Janesville, Calif., who has cystic fibrosis, became a Golden Knight for the day through Make-A-Wish Southern Nevada. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt
Annabelle Hanson, 8, waves to her fans during practice City National Arena on Friday, Jan. 20, 2023, in Las Vegas. Hanson, of Janesville, Calif., who has cystic fibrosis, became a Golden Knight for the day through Make-A-Wish Southern Nevada. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt
Annabelle Hanson, 8, greets Golden Knights center William Karlsson during practice City National Arena on Friday, Jan. 20, 2023, in Las Vegas. Hanson, of Janesville, Calif., who has cystic fibrosis, became a Golden Knight for the day through Make-A-Wish Southern Nevada. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt
Annabelle Hanson, 8, fights with Golden Knights right wing Keegan Kolesar during practice City National Arena on Friday, Jan. 20, 2023, in Las Vegas. Hanson, of Janesville, Calif., who has cystic fibrosis, became a Golden Knight for the day through Make-A-Wish Southern Nevada. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt
Annabelle Hanson, 8, laughs with Golden Knights right wing, left, during practice City National Arena on Friday, Jan. 20, 2023, in Las Vegas. Hanson, of Janesville, Calif., who has cystic fibrosis, became a Golden Knight for the day through Make-A-Wish Southern Nevada. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt
Golden Knights center Jack Eichel critiques Annabelle Hanson’s form during practice City National Arena on Friday, Jan. 20, 2023, in Las Vegas. Hanson, 8, of Janesville, Calif., who has cystic fibrosis, became a Golden Knight for the day through Make-A-Wish Southern Nevada. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt
Annabelle Hanson, 8, scores a goal on Golden Knights goaltender Logan Thompson during practice City National Arena on Friday, Jan. 20, 2023, in Las Vegas. Hanson, of Janesville, Calif., who has cystic fibrosis, became a Golden Knight for the day through Make-A-Wish Southern Nevada. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt
Annabelle Hanson, 8, hits a snapshot during practice City National Arena on Friday, Jan. 20, 2023, in Las Vegas. Hanson, of Janesville, Calif., who has cystic fibrosis, became a Golden Knight for the day through Make-A-Wish Southern Nevada. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt
Annabelle Hanson, 8, chats with Golden Knights center Jack Eichel during practice City National Arena on Friday, Jan. 20, 2023, in Las Vegas. Hanson, of Janesville, Calif., who has cystic fibrosis, became a Golden Knight for the day through Make-A-Wish Southern Nevada. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt
Annabelle Hanson, 8, gets excited to meet Golden Knights players before practice City National Arena on Friday, Jan. 20, 2023, in Las Vegas. Hanson, of Janesville, Calif., who has cystic fibrosis, became a Golden Knight for the day through Make-A-Wish Southern Nevada. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt
Annabelle Hanson, 8, smiles before signing her Golden Knights contract at City National Arena on Friday, Jan. 20, 2023, in Las Vegas. Hanson, of Janesville, Calif., who has cystic fibrosis, became a Golden Knight for the day through Make-A-Wish Southern Nevada. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt
Annabelle Hanson, 8, joins the Golden Knights on the ice during practice City National Arena on Friday, Jan. 20, 2023, in Las Vegas. Hanson, of Janesville, Calif., who has cystic fibrosis, became a Golden Knight for the day through Make-A-Wish Southern Nevada. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt
Golden Knights right wing Keegan Kolesar might have finally met his match.
He got into a heated scrap with the Knights’ newest prospect after Friday’s practice at City National Arena and ended up getting tackled to the ice. He called his opponent “top one” in his lengthy list of adversaries.
Other scouting reports on the Knights’ latest addition were likewise glowing. The team signed 8-year-old Annabelle Hanson to a contract Friday through Make a Wish Southern Nevada. Hanson, who was born with cystic fibrosis, impressed the Knights with her shot and scrappiness.
She fired plenty of pucks past goaltender Logan Thompson before dropping the gloves with Kolesar. Both ended up in the penalty box afterward.
“Gotta give her the belt now, I think,” defenseman Brayden McNabb said. “She had the takedown. She knows what she’s doing.”
Hanson skated with the Knights in their Reverse Retro jersey Friday, which she said is her favorite. She will get to see the sweaters in action Saturday when she attends the team’s game against the Washington Capitals at T-Mobile Arena. Hanson will give the team fist bumps before puck drop and sound the rally siren as part of the experience.
Hanson, a Janesville, California, native, said she became a Knights fan because her father and grandfather don’t like the team. She said the thing she was most excited for was meeting captain Mark Stone. She wore a No. 61 jersey Friday, the same as Stone. She also said she thought she would be a good enforcer because she had plenty of practice fighting her older sister.
Coach Bruce Cassidy said it was a good time for the Knights to take part in this kind of an event. The team has lost three straight for the first time this season, but Hanson’s visit helped put things in perspective.
“It makes you just appreciate what you’re doing every day, how fortunate we are,” Cassidy said. “I hope she had a great day. It looked like she did.”
Friday was the eighth time the Knights have partnered with Make a Wish Southern Nevada.
