Utah Hockey Club History, Facts and Name Ahead of First NHL Season – NBC Chicago

The NHL is preparing to break the ice in Utah.

The league will have a new team in 2024-25, with the Utah Hockey Club heading into its inaugural season. It's the NHL's first team in the Beehive State and a move from the desert to the mountains for a long-standing franchise.

How did the Utah Hockey Club come about? And what can ice hockey fans expect from the club in 2024/25?

Here's everything you need to know about the NHL's newest franchise:

What is the Utah Hockey Club?

The Utah Hockey Club is an NHL franchise based in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Which team became the Utah Hockey Club?

The Arizona Coyotes moved to Salt Lake City after the 2023-24 season.

The Coyotes had been in Arizona since moving from Winnipeg to Phoenix in 1996. The team reached a conference final in 27 seasons in Phoenix, Arizona and is one of ten NHL franchises without a Stanley Cup.

When was the Utah Hockey Club founded?

The NHL officially came to Utah in April 2024 after the league's Board of Governors unanimously approved a $1.2 billion sale.

Who owns the Utah Hockey Club?

Ryan and Ashley Smith, who also own the NBA club Utah Jazz and Major League Soccer club Real Salt Lake, are the new owners of the Utah Hockey Club.

Where does the Utah Hockey Club play?

The Utah Hockey Club will play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City. The arena is also the home of jazz.

Will the Utah Hockey Club change its team name?

The Utah Hockey Club will play under its current brand name during the 2024-25 season.

The franchise turned to fans for its team name, starting with 20 candidates and then narrowing it down to six finalists. While real mascot names were among the finalists – including Blizzard, Mammoth, Outlaws, Venom and Yeti – the Utah Hockey Club was chosen as the preliminary team name.

The team will likely introduce a long-term team name and logo sometime next offseason, but that hasn't been officially confirmed yet.

Who is the head coach of the Utah Hockey Club?

Andre Tourigny is the first head coach in the history of the Utah Hockey Club.

Tourigny, nicknamed “The Bear,” joined the franchise as head coach in 2021. He had a record of 89-131-26 in his three seasons with the Coyotes and maintained that position when the team moved to Utah.

Who is the captain of the Utah Hockey Club?

Clayton Keller became the Utah Hockey Club's first captain just days before the team's first game.

The Coyotes were without a captain for more than two seasons after Oliver Ekman-Larsson was replaced in the 2020-21 season. Now the 26-year-old Keller, who has spent his entire career with the franchise, will wear the “C” on his jersey as the organization begins a new chapter.

When is the Utah Hockey Club's first game?

The Utah Hockey Club will play its first game on Tuesday, October 8th when the team hosts the Chicago Blackhawks. Puck drop is scheduled for 10:00 p.m. ET.