Clayton Keller #9 of Utah Hockey Club warms up prior to a game against the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center on October 14, 2024 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
(Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY—Utah Hockey Club Captain Clayton Keller remembers what it was like as a young hockey fan. That’s why it was so great to see Keller sign his game stick and give it to a youthful fan after Utah’s 5-3 loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Friday, February 22.
“I was a kid one day, and I looked up to all the guys on the Blues. Especially in warmups, I followed everything they did. So, I just want to give back and give them something to remember. If they’re new into hockey, hopefully, they’re more excited about it…I try to do as much as I can,” Keller continued.
Yesterday after a tough loss, Clayton Keller went out of his way to make a young @utahhockeyclub fan's night. 💙
That's a captain right there. pic.twitter.com/WO7taGUxXh
— NHL (@NHL) February 24, 2025
Sitting right behind the Utah bench, the youngster was decked out with a Utah Hockey Club hat. He also held a sign that read, “First Utah Game. Came to see Keller.”
Before heading to the locker room, Keller autographed a stick and handed it to the fan. Keller’s new biggest fan lit up with a toothy smile as reality dawned on him.
This isn’t the first time Keller has been caught giving back to the fanbase. Earlier this season, the captain shared with Utah HC beat writer Cole Bagley his story of getting a puck at a Blues game when he was young.
“I remember, one of my first Blue games that I went to, one of the players threw me a puck. It was actually Barrett Jackman, and I wore his number for the first couple of years because of that. That’s kind of a cool story that sticks with me,” Keller said.
With not one, not two, but three goals against the LA Kings on Saturday night, Hayton demonstrated the development of his game and just how dangerous he can be in front of the net.
“I often talk about how much Hayton plays the right way. He does everything right. He has the right attitude. He competes so hard,” head coach Andre Tourigny said.
“You can’t not cheer for him. Really happy for him.”
History has been made off the tape of Barrett Hayton.
First hat-trick in club history belongs to No. 27.
What a game for him. Statement performance.pic.twitter.com/A8ZxwuKECB
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) February 23, 2025
With most of Hayton’s goals coming close to the net front this season, he’s established himself as a bothersome presence, which is a massive win for the team.
Not only has he been able to put the puck in the back of the net, but Hayton battles incredibly hard, creates turnovers, cleans up rebounds, and does a few little things to be genuinely obnoxious.
Every team needs a player willing to do that.
Someone who crowds the crease, digs relentlessly, and pokes at the puck until the defense has no choice but to step in.
Utah Hockey Club games can be viewed on SEG+. Fans can also tune in on the KSL Sports app or 97.5 and 1280 The Zone. Click here for the full schedule.
Cole Bagley is the Utah Hockey Club insider for KSL Sports. Keep up with him on X here. Listen to Cole break down the team on KSL Sports Zone and KSL 5 TV.
Find KSLSports.com coverage of the Utah Hockey Club here.
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Brian Preece is a KSLSports.com insider covering Locals in MLB and the Salt Lake Bees. Follow Brian’s Bees and Beehive baseball here. Find Brian on X and Instagram at @bpreece24.
