The Utah Hockey Club are introduced prior to playing against the Chicago Blackhawks at Delta Center on October 08, 2024 in Salt Lake City, Utah. This game is the first for the franchise in Utah following their relocation from Arizona. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
(Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – As the Utah Hockey Club’s inaugural season nears completion, players were recently able to reflect on their favorite moments as a member of the NHL’s newest franchise.
While the inaugural game on October 8 was the most common response amongst the team, several of Utah’s skaters recalled other unforgettable moments from this first year.
With a completely packed house inside Delta Center and more than 16,000 hockey fans outfitted with special edition game t-shirts and rally towels, the Utah Hockey Club’s inaugural game was a perfect indication of the NHL’s future in Salt Lake City.
From sunup till sundown, Delta Center was the center of the hockey world as national media, hockey icons, country artist Shaboozey and an Original Six franchise descended upon Utah for the first-ever regular season NHL puck drop in the state’s history.
As players arrived for a “blue carpet” entrance, each was grinning from ear to ear as their new fanbase and home welcomed them with an eager set of open arms.
What proceeded was a storybook beginning that included player introductions, a ceremonial puck drop, the first goal in franchise history courtesy of Dylan Guenther and the first-ever win over the Chicago Blackhawks on home ice in front of a thunderous crowd.
Unsurprisingly, that evening became an unforgettable collection of events and a favorite amongst the players.
“Playing the first game and scoring the first goal. Them [the fans] having the rally towels, you didn’t really know what to expect,” Guenther explained.
“But that was probably the loudest rink I’ve ever played in.”
DYLAN GUENTHER SCORES THE FIRST REGULAR SEASON GOAL IN UTAH HC HISTORY 🚨 pic.twitter.com/1jz2TRK0fF
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) October 9, 2024
“It’s tough not to pick the first game here,” Logan Cooley added. “Just the whole day here, the excitement around not only Utah but the NHL.”
“Coming out on the ice, it was basically packed for warm-ups. You still get so excited thinking about it…that was one of the loudest buildings I’ve ever played in when that (Guenther’s goal) went in. That was pretty special.”
THE UTAH HOCKEY CLUB STARTS ITS INAUGURAL SEASON WITH A WIN 🔥 pic.twitter.com/AbGZyAsqbl
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 9, 2024
“The one that sticks out is the first game. A lot of different emotions…everyone was so excited to have a hockey team here and to finally have that first day, get the win was the cherry on top,” Keller shared.
“It’s something that will be remembered forever and we were all a part of it.”
THE CAPTAIN CLAYTON KELLER MAKES IT 2-0 UTAH 🔥 pic.twitter.com/SPAzgBERtc
— ESPN (@espn) October 9, 2024
“The first game will always stick out to me,” Josh Doan said. “Just seeing the support right out of the gates and how loud it was in this building.”
Following the excitement of the first game, Utah immediately hit the road and made their way to New York for a three-game trip against the New York Islanders, New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils.
With less than two minutes on the clock and trailing by a goal, Josh Doan bolted towards the net and tied the game to force OT against the Islanders.
JOSH DOAN TIES THE GAME 🚨
pic.twitter.com/GClEiQ4INn— PPI (@propuckinsights) October 11, 2024
“My first goal with the organization is something that I will always remember. Scoring a goal late in a game to tie it and then us winning in overtime to stay hot out of the gates…It was an exciting moment,” Doan said.
“To score in this jersey was an honor and something I will remember forever.”
WHO ELSE BUT DYLAN GUENTHER?! 🤩
His @Energizer overtime winner gives the @utahhockeyclub the W! #NHLFaceOff pic.twitter.com/ndK6Euakh2
— NHL (@NHL) October 11, 2024
In similar fashion and on the same initial road trip, new captain Clayton Keller kept the Utah Hockey Club a perfect 3-0 to begin the season with an OT winner at Madisan Square Garden.
Following a high-scoring contest against the Rangers in regulation, Keller silenced 18,000 New Yorkers with a gorgeous backhander to beat Igor Shesterkin up high and win the game.
CLAYTON KELLER, OVERTIME WINNER! pic.twitter.com/7vLGogWIND
— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) October 13, 2024
“The one at MSG stands out for sure. Scoring in that arena, in overtime, that’s definitely a cool one with all the history,” Keller said.
“A great feeling. I don’t think I’ve scored one in OT there before.”
While Utah fans have grown accustomed to buzzer beaters inside Delta Center, they were introduced to a true NHL buzzer beater by Dylan Guenther against the Philadelphia Flyers.
With less than 4 seconds on the clock in OT, Guenther burst into the offensive zone, let one fly and scored as the clock hit zero to send Delta Center into a frenzy.
DYLAN GUENTHER WITH ONE SECOND REMAINING!! 😱
He wins it in @Energizer overtime in his return to the lineup! pic.twitter.com/PfkZLPNK47
— NHL (@NHL) February 5, 2025
While scoring the first goal for the Utah Hockey Club was Guenther’s favorite moment, this buzzer beater was a close second.
Despite trailing 3-0 to a juggernaut Toronto Maple Leafs squad in the second period, the Utah Hockey Club demonstrated growth as they unexpectedly crawled back to force overtime and a shootout.
While they may have lost the skills contest to William Nylander, Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, Utah showed character and visible progress as they refused to quit.
“The game against Toronto was pretty cool when we came back from three goals down…you could see the emotion, you could hear the crowd, hear the fans. It’s pretty awesome when you have a home rink like that,” Maatta said.
“This city has been ready for a hockey team, and I think it shows.”
As Maatta shared, Salt Lake City and the state as a whole have proven without a doubt that they were ready for a hockey team as they’ve backed their boys throughout countless moments this season.
So, while it’s fun to reflect on an unforgettable inaugural campaign, the most exciting aspect of the NHL’s newest franchise is that this is just the beginning of a unique and promising future.
The Utah Hockey Club will now host the Seattle Kraken on Tuesday night. The game can be viewed on SEG+. Fans can also tune in on air on the KSL Sports APP or on 97.5 and 1280 The Zone. Click here for the full schedule.
