A “handful” of Vegas Golden Knights were promised for Wednesday’s “Stick Salute” for the fans at the Third Street Stage on Fremont Street outside The D casino-hotel.

As they did throughout the season, the Knights exceeded all expectations.

Nearly 20 players showed up for the fan-appreciation rally, including most of the major stars, owner Bill Foley, general manager George McPhee, head coach Girard Gallant, the Knight Line by Drumbots, Golden Aces cheerleaders and Chance the mascot.

Players on hand for the event, which was held in 100-plus degree heat, included William Karlsson,Jonathan Marchessault, James Neal, Nate Schmidt, Alex Tuch, Cody Eakin, Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, Ryan Carpenter, Erik Haula, Reilly Smith, Tomas Tatar, SheaTheodore, Malcolm Subban, Brayden McNabb, Luca Sbisa, Brad Hunt, and Jon Merrill.

In front of a roaring crowd and a super-sized Golden Knights jersey, the players gave away their hockey sticks and threw shirts into the crowd.

McPhee, who brilliantly assembled the over-achieving expansion team, called the epic season “the greatest year of my life, for sure.”

Gallant, the 107th overall pick by the Detroit Red Wings in the 1981 NHL draft, is among the leading candidates to win coach of the year honors at the NHL Awards Show here next week. McPhee is a top contender for GM of the Year honors.