Honoring service, leadership, and inspiration is at the heart of the Adam Kutner Cares mission. This week, we had the privilege of doing just that.

Alongside our partners at CCSD Engage, our team had the honor of surprising Captain Jason Small, NJROTC instructor at Clark High School, with the Adam Kutner Cares Community Champion Award.

Captain Small’s legacy of service spans more than 30 years in the United States Navy. His career reflects bravery, sacrifice, and an unwavering commitment to others. Today, he continues that legacy in the classroom, guiding the next generation of leaders through Clark High School’s NJROTC program.

Through his mentorship, students learn discipline, teamwork, confidence, and the value of education. Captain Small opens doors to opportunities many students never imagined, including college scholarships, leadership pathways, and community service experiences that shape their futures.

To honor his impact, Captain Small received a commemorative plaque, two tickets to the Vegas Golden Knights game, and a special moment many fans can only dream of: an opportunity to ride the Adam Kutner Zamboni.

Captain Small, thank you for your decades of service to our country and for the powerful influence you continue to have on the students of Southern Nevada. Your dedication inspires us, and we are proud to celebrate you as a true Community Champion.

The Golden Knights welcomed in the NHL’s last remaining undefeated team, the Carolina Hurricanes. Vegas took the first lead of the game 8:42 into the game after a loose puck slipped by the Hurricanes’ goaltender. Jack Eichel was credited with his sixth goal of 2025-26. A couple of shifts later, Pavel Dorofeyev doubled VGK’s advantage with a nifty Peter Forsberg-inspired goal.

Carolina cut Vegas’ lead in half early on in the second period. The Golden Knights held on their tight lead and took a 2-1 advantage into the second intermission.

The Hurricanes had plenty of chances to even the score but couldn’t get one past Vegas goalie Akira Schmid. Ivan Barbashev regained the Golden Knights two goal advantage midway through the final frame. William Karlsson added the empty netter to seal the deal.

The Golden Knights’ record improves to 5-0-2 defeating to formerly undefeated Hurricanes 4-1 at T-Mobile Arena. Next up, Vegas will travel east for a challenging three-game road trip beginning in Sunrise, Florida. Puck drop against the Panthers is scheduled for Saturday at 3 PM.

On October 16^th, second-grade teacher Sarah Heidhues became the first individual winner of the 2025 Adam Kutner Cares Community Champion Award, marking the start of the program’s third year of recognizing local heroes across Southern Nevada.

Sarah, a lifelong Las Vegan, teaches at the same school district she once attended — turning her personal story into one of hope and resilience. Before becoming a teacher, she worked as a school clerk and Student Success Advocate, always putting students first.

“It’s life-altering and healing to teach the same kind of kids I once was,” said Heidhues. “To help them believe they can grow, achieve, and feel proud of where they come from means everything.”

Her commitment has helped reduce absenteeism, foster inclusivity, and inspire fellow educators to celebrate their students’ growth. As part of her recognition, Sarah was surprised in her classroom and later honored at the October 18^th Vegas Golden Knights game, where she took a ride on the Adam Kutner–branded Zamboni — a powerful symbol of her champion spirit.

For most kids, going to a Vegas Golden Knights game is already a dream come true. For Mrs. Janette’s 5th grade class at Darnell Elementary, the October 3 home game became a night they will never forget.

Game Day Excitement

From the moment the students arrived at the Fortress, their energy was contagious. Dressed in Golden Knights gear, the class filled the stands with cheers, wide-eyed excitement, and plenty of smiles. For many of the students, it was their very first VGK game, which made the experience even more special.

Throughout the night, the kids soaked up every moment. They watched the players take the ice, felt the roar of the crowd, and waved their rally towels with pure joy. The Fortress atmosphere turned into a classroom of its own, where the lessons were about teamwork, community pride, and celebrating together.

A Special Honor for Their Teacher

Adding to the excitement, their teacher Mrs. Janette was honored with a ride on the Adam Kutner Zamboni. As she circled the rink, her students jumped to their feet, waving and cheering as the crowd joined in the celebration. It was a proud moment for the entire class to see their teacher recognized in front of thousands of fans.

Memories That Last a Lifetime

The Adam S. Kutner Community Champion program is designed to spotlight students and educators who embody grit, kindness, and community spirit. For this special night, it was all about creating memories. Mrs. Janette’s class did not just watch a hockey game. They became part of the Vegas Golden Knights family.

As the final buzzer sounded, the kids left with smiles, stories, and memories they will carry with them for years to come.

Congratulations again to Mrs. Janette and her 5th grade class on their unforgettable knight at the Fortress. Go Knights Go!

The Golden Knights wrapped up the preseason with a Friday night matchup with the San Jose Sharks. San Jose struck first 1:18 into the game. The Sharks doubled their lead late in the middle frame to take a 2-0 lead through 40 minutes of play.

Vegas was awarded four power play opportunities but couldn’t find the back of the net on any of them. After 60 minutes, San Jose came away with the final preseason victory with VGK’s only goal coming from Alex Holtz.

Vegas finishes off the preseason with a record of 3-4-1. The Golden Knights will now prepare for the regular season beginning on Wednesday. Puck drop for Opening Night against the Los Angeles Kings is scheduled for 7 PM.

The Golden Knights returned to Las Vegas for a home-and-home preseason matchup with the Colorado Avalanche. With under two minutes to play in the opening period the Avalanche took a one goal lead.

Five and a half minutes into the final frame Brett Howden scored his first preseason goal to even the score. William Karlsson snapped the tie nine minutes later.

On Friday night, Vegas will finish off the preseason against San Jose. Puck drop from T-Mobile Arena is scheduled for 7 PM.

On September 27^th, Adam S. Kutner, Injury Attorneys joined Nevada Child Seekers in their Super Search event, a citywide volunteer effort to help locate and bring missing children safely home. The law firm’s staff canvassed neighborhoods across Las Vegas, distributed flyers of missing kids, and supported outreach efforts in collaboration with local law enforcement and family advocacy groups.

“Every child deserves to be found, and every effort counts,” said one Adam Kutner team member. “We’re grateful to support Nevada Child Seekers in their mission to reunite families.”

How to help:

• Save the Nevada Child Seekers hotline:702-458-7009
• Follow@NevadaChildSeekers and @AskAdamKutner for updates and active alerts
• Visit nevadachildseekers.org   to learn about future volunteer opportunities

We had an unforgettable morning at Darnell Elementary School with the CCSD Engagement Unit. We brought custom Pinkbox Doughnuts and some even sweeter news for Mrs. Janette’s fifth grade class. Every student is going to the Vegas Golden Knights home game on October 3.

To make the experience even more memorable, Mrs. Janette will also ride the Adam Kutner Zamboni during the game. This once in a lifetime opportunity celebrates her incredible dedication to her students.

Why This Class Was Chosen

As part of the Adam S. Kutner Community Champion Award program, we invited CCSD staff to nominate deserving classes and teachers for this prize. Mrs. Janette’s nomination stood out right away:

“Our 5th graders are amazing! We have 120 5th grade friends this year! The growth these incoming 5th graders showed from 4th to 5th was huge! Our Reading and Math scores showed the most growth out of all the CCSD Elementary schools! That’s GRIT! The past 7 years my Spread Kindness campaign to honor the Vegas 58 has been in place at Cadwallader MS. The 8th grade artists create life sized angel wings in honor of all 58 angels. The gallery opens on Oct. 1 each year to the community! Healing!”

Her words reflect not only the academic achievements of her students but also the compassion and resilience that she fosters in her classroom and community.

Celebrating Grit and Kindness

From academic growth to community impact, this fifth grade class truly represents what it means to be champions. Their hard work, spirit, and kindness remind us why recognizing educators and students is so important.

Congratulations to Mrs. Janette and all of her students. Enjoy the game, and as always:

Go Knights Go! 🏒✨

The Golden Knights hit home ice for the first time in 2025-26 for a preseason matchup against Pacific Division rival LA Kings. After a long summer, Vegas fans got a chance to watch some of their favorite players in action. Full-timers Pavel Dorofeyev, Noah Hanifin, Tomas Hertl, Adin Hill, William Karlsson, Brandon Saad, Reilly Smith, Mark Stone and Zach Whitecloud all dressed against the Kings.

Los Angeles opened the scoring five minutes into Vegas’ second exhibition game. The Kings doubled their less midway in the third period. Vegas’ young defenseman Vliam Kmec snapped the shutout to get his team within one. An empty netter sealed it for the Kings.

Vegas will face the Utah Mammoth on Thursday for their third preseason match. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 PM.

Adam Kutner Cares is honored to continue supporting BE A SHERO Foundation and its powerful mission to empower survivors of exploitation. Over the weekend, our team proudly sponsored the foundation’s inspiring “I Am Radiant” Fashion Show, an event dedicated to celebrating strength, courage, and resilience.

Hosted at Fashion Show Mall, the runway was filled with incredible participants who shared their light and reminded everyone in attendance that hope and healing are possible. We were proud to stand among advocates, community leaders, and supporters who are all working toward the same goal of creating a safer world for vulnerable youth and survivors of human trafficking.

This year’s event was extra special for our team. A couple of our Adam Kutner Cares members were invited to hit the runway, further demonstrating our commitment to walking alongside survivors and supporting the SHERO Foundation’s mission.

Our partnership with BE A SHERO Foundation is an important part of our ongoing effort to give back to the Las Vegas community. Together, we are helping raise awareness, provide critical resources, and inspire others to get involved in the fight against exploitation.