Utah HC inaugural game blog: 1 Utah player has never been more excited for a game
by KSL.com Sports · KSL.comEstimated read time: Less than a minute
SALT LAKE CITY — The NHL is here in Utah.
The Utah Hockey Club will play its inaugural game on Tuesday at 8 p.m. MDT against the Chicago Blackhawks.
There will be a game inside the Delta Center and a party outside it. The Delta Center plaza will be home to fan festivities, including games, a concert and a live broadcast from ESPN.
Tuesday, 01:47 pm
NHL commissioner expresses confidence in Utah market
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman doesn't think Utah is a novice hockey market — at least not as much of one as people have let on.
"There's been professional hockey, not at the NHL level, in Salt Lake City, going back 50 years," he said.
That much is true.
The Salt Lake Golden Eagles regularly drew large crowds at the old Salt Palace in the 1980s. Ironically, it was moving to the Delta Center — where the sightlines are rough — that helped push them out of Utah. That same arena, warts and all, has now helped get an NHL team to Utah. Funny how life works.
"Secondly, this is a place that's known for winter sports, and that includes us," Bettman said. "I believe there's a natural base of hockey fans, and I believe there are a lot of sports fans, once they get a chance to see our game at the NHL level are going to fall in love with it."
Tuesday, 01:15 pm
What does Utah HC's coach expect from tonight?
Utah Hockey Club coach Andre Tourigny has coached teams to World Junior Championships and U-18 championships, and he's won coach of the year in multiple leagues. In short, he's coached in big games before.
How does Tuesday's opener compare?
"Normally, when you coach that big of a game, it's not the first game of the year," he said. "It's at the end of a tournament of the season, or something like that, where you know exactly how it will happen. You know exactly what the opponent will do, you know exactly what your team will do, you just need to play the game. And this one is a little bit more a lot of unknown."
The Blackhawks have plenty of new faces, and their preseason games didn't show much. There's a bit of a mystery there.
But he does know one thing: He's going to take a moment to soak it all in.
"This is unique. This is special," he said. "I'm not saying I'm not looking forward to Game 12 of the year, where everything is behind us, but I think this is a super cool moment."
Tuesday, 01:00 pm
Logan Cooley has never been more excited to play a game
Logan Cooley played in an NCAA championship game and made his NHL debut last season, but Tuesday might top both those games — and every other one.
"This is probably the most excited I've ever been to play a hockey game," the second-year forward said. "The excitement level, it's something that I haven't experienced before. So I'm really looking forward to getting out there, seeing the fans and having a good night."
He said it almost feels like it's the postseason — or at least what he imagines it's like to be in the postseason.
"You go out there, see the towels, there's media all over the place," Cooley said. "I've never been in a playoff game, it almost feels like what that would kind of be like."
Tuesday, 12:43 pm
The Delta Center is all dressed up
Utah Hockey Players got a taste of what things will look like during morning skate on Tuesday.
White rally towels and black shirts had been placed on each seat of the Delta Center as the players skated onto the ice.
That moment alone was chill-inducing.
"It looks great with all the towels and the seats and stuff, and it gives it a cool feel," Clayton Keller said. "I'm sure the crowd will be packed and it'll be super loud."