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Army officials ‘reviewing the situation’ when it comes to Golden Knights name

Las Vegas NHL Franchise Reveals Team Name And Logo

LAS VEGAS, NV - NOVEMBER 22: Pyrotechnics and streamers are fired into the air as the Vegas Golden Knights is announced as the name for the Las Vegas NHL franchise at T-Mobile Arena on November 22, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The team will begin play in the 2017-18 season. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

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Finding a name for the NHL’s newest team turned out to be quite the lengthy process.

Even the official unveiling had its share of issues when technical difficulties delayed the announcement a few more minutes.

Eventually we finally learned the identity of the Las Vegas hockey team that will begin play next season -- the Vegas Golden Knights.

The name immediately caught the attention of the United States Army’s parachute team, which also goes by the name “Golden Knights.”

Allison Bettencourt, A spokesperson for the parachute team that is based at Fort Bragg, told the Fayette (NC) Observer over the weekend they are “reviewing the situation and figuring out what the way ahead would be.”

On Tuesday, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told TSN’s Frank Seravelli that the league is confident the right things were done in preparation for the announcement. He also added that he is comfortable the use of the name “will neither cause confusion in the marketplace, nor run into significant legal entanglements.”

Team owner Bill Foley made it pretty clear from the beginning that he wanted Knights to be a part of the team name. A graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, Foley originally wanted to name the team the Black Knights, but backed off when Army officials objected.

Foley told Yahoo’s Josh Cooper on Tuesday that the team was fully cleared by outside trademark counsel for use of the name.

Along with Golden Knights, the Vegas team also considered the Silver Knights and Desert Knights as part of the naming process.

Simply using “Knights” as a name became an issue because the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League own the name in Canada. According to Foley it would not have been economically feasible to acquire the name.

“We understand that one of the Las Vegas team owners has Army connections, and will likely understand our interest in this announcement is meant to protect the proud history of the Army’s Golden Knights and their vital role in telling the Army story and connecting America with their Army,” Bettencourt also told the Observer.

The Army parachute team has used the name Golden Knights since the 1960s.