Ryan Smith, co-owner of the Utah Mammoth and Smith Entertainment Group, speaks during a press conference announcing the Utah Hockey Club is changing their name to Utah Mammoth held at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Isaac Hale, Deseret News)
(Photo courtesy of Isaac Hale, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY – It’s understandable that dropping a professional sports team into a new city will come with growing pains. But now, the Utah Mammoth have a name and they’re ready to rumble into the 2025-2026 season.
Jazz and Mammoth owner Ryan Smith made an appearance on the Pat McAfee show to reflect on the inaugural season and look forward to the club’s future.
Announcing the NHL in Utah to skates on the ice happened in a span of six months.
It makes sense that the first year wasn’t without its hiccups. Smith said that, at one point, the Jazz and Hockey Club players shared facilities.
However, he said that this was a positive, if anything, as the two teams were able to bond within the shared space.
“There was a time last year when we had our hockey guys and our hoop guys in (the training facilities) at the same time,” Smith explained. “There was a cool sort of one-team vibe. It was a great year.”
“56 weeks ago we didn’t even have a hockey team in Utah..
It was an incredible year and we really have something here” ~ @RyanQualtrics #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/PwwMsHNp16
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) May 8, 2025
One of the most memorable moments from the first season was the delivery of the inaugural game puck.
Jazz star Lauri Markkanen got on the ice and brought the puck out. Smith told a funny story about how Markkanen had fallen after getting on the ice for the first time.
He joked with McAfee about having his highest-paid player sliding across the ground.
“Lauri (Markkanen) comes out,” Smith said. “We take one turn, and he falls down. I’m just watching our max player slide across the floor. He’s got game (though), he grew up playing hockey.”
Now, the team has its identity and can look to make it even stronger with every season and every game.
Smith and McAfee started talking about presentation when an idea for pregame came up.
“What if the guys came out underneath the Mammoth when they skated on the ice?” Smith asked.
Hear me out…#TusksUp pic.twitter.com/Bu4GkTk6KM
— Chandler Holt (@CHoltSports) May 8, 2025
The guys on the show began talking about having mammoth statues out front of Delta Center when Smith said something similar was in the works.
It’s unclear if he meant a lifelike statue or a logo and whether it would be inside or outside, but the gears are clearly turning in the Mammoth’s front office.
“The good news is, we’ve got one mammoth set up that we’re going to put out there,” Smith revealed. “Haven’t gotten that far, we’re a day or two old. (But), bringing the whole squad out hasn’t been addressed.”
