Utah Mammoth Overview
The Utah Mammoth are a professional ice hockey team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Western Conference’s Central Division. Founded in 2024, the franchise joined the league as an expansion team and plays its home games at the Delta Center, an arena shared with the NBA’s Utah Jazz. Owned by Smith Entertainment Group, the Mammoth inherited the hockey assets of the former Arizona Coyotes to establish their initial roster. The team plays under a permanent identity adopted in 2025, with rock black, mountain blue, and salt white as its official colors. A blue woolly mammoth named Tusky serves as the team’s mascot.
After playing their first season under the temporary name Utah Hockey Club, the organization unveiled Utah Mammoth as their permanent identity through a fan-driven naming process. The franchise quickly built a passionate local following, with supporters calling themselves the “Clubbers” during the inaugural year. The Mammoth operate a minor league pipeline through their AHL affiliate, the Tucson Roadrunners.
Founding and Organizational Origins
The path to NHL hockey in Salt Lake City began in June 2023, when speculation surfaced about the Arizona Coyotes potentially relocating after the failure of a new arena referendum in Tempe. By January 2024, Ryan Smith, owner of the Utah Jazz and co-owner of Major League Soccer’s Real Salt Lake, formally petitioned the league to begin expansion discussions. Earlier talks between Smith and the NHL had been underway since early 2022, demonstrating a long-term interest in bringing top-level hockey to Utah.
In February 2024, the Utah State Senate passed tax legislation supporting a new ice hockey-capable downtown arena proposed by Smith. The Senate requested that any team be branded “Utah” rather than using Salt Lake City, ensuring the franchise represented the entire state. By April 2024, reports indicated that the Coyotes were working with the NHL to relocate following concerns about the limited capacity of their temporary home at Mullett Arena. On April 18, 2024, the NHL Board of Governors officially approved an expansion franchise for Utah, splitting the Coyotes’ hockey assets while leaving the original franchise in an inactive state.
Although widely reported as a $1.2 billion sale, the transaction consisted of two separate agreements: the NHL paid $1 billion to former Coyotes owner Alex Meruelo, while Smith paid a $1.2 billion expansion fee to the league’s other owners. The $200 million difference was distributed equally among the other 31 clubs as a relocation fee. Within four hours of season-ticket deposits opening, more than 11,000 were sold, with 6,000 sold in the first two hours. A public welcome celebration at the Delta Center on April 26 drew over 12,000 fans.
Growth Into NHL Competition
Building a competitive roster without a traditional expansion draft, Smith Entertainment Group relied on the inherited Coyotes assets, including players, coaching staff, and draft picks. Bill Armstrong was retained as general manager, while Andre Tourigny continued as head coach, providing immediate leadership continuity. On June 17, 2024, the team signed Noel Nordh to a three-year entry-level contract, the franchise’s first official player signing.
Utah hosted their first NHL Entry Draft later that month, selecting Kelowna Rockets forward Tij Iginla with the sixth overall pick, their first-ever draft selection. The team’s inaugural training camp and preseason schedule prepared the roster for NHL play. On October 4, 2024, forward Clayton Keller was named the franchise’s first captain, providing on-ice leadership. The Mammoth organization also announced plans for a new practice facility in nearby Sandy, Utah, with a groundbreaking ceremony held on August 12, 2024.
Utah Mammoth Competitive Journey
Although the Utah Mammoth are a young franchise, their competitive journey began with a single NHL regular season under the Utah Hockey Club name. The team’s initial campaign produced a competitive foundation and generated strong fan engagement. As a 2024 expansion entry, the Mammoth focused on roster development, establishing an organizational culture, and integrating inherited personnel into a new regional identity.
Early Seasons and Development (2024–2025)
Utah played their first preseason game on September 22, 2024, defeating the St. Louis Blues 5–3 at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa. The following night, the team hosted their first home preseason contest at the Delta Center, edging the Los Angeles Kings 3–2. These early results offered the first public glimpse of the franchise’s on-ice product and energized the local fanbase ahead of the regular season.
The team’s first regular season game took place on October 8, 2024, a 5–2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks, with Dylan Guenther scoring the franchise’s first-ever NHL goal. Utah completed the 2024–25 season with a record of 38 wins, 31 losses, and 13 overtime losses, finishing sixth in the Central Division and outside the playoff picture. Despite missing the postseason, the debut campaign laid a foundation for future growth and solidified the team’s presence in the Salt Lake City sports landscape.
Modern Program and Current Direction (2025–Present)
On May 7, 2025, the franchise officially adopted the Utah Mammoth name, unveiling new logos, uniforms, and the “Mountain Mammoth” primary mark, which features a mammoth with mountain peaks on its head, a nod to the Wasatch Mountains and the outline of the state of Utah. The new identity retained the team’s original color palette while introducing a custom “Mammoth Sans” typeface across all uniforms. This permanent identity marked a new chapter for the franchise, allowing marketing, broadcasting, and fan engagement efforts to align around a single recognizable brand.
The Mammoth organization finalized their minor league structure, maintaining the Tucson Roadrunners as their AHL affiliate while opting to operate without an ECHL affiliate for the 2025–26 season. On October 15, 2025, the team unveiled Tusky, their official mascot, ahead of their first home game under the Mammoth name. Tusky is a blue woolly mammoth designed to entertain fans of all ages.
Philosophy and Competitive Strengths
The Utah Mammoth’s organizational identity centers on speed, skill, and a deep connection to the state of Utah. The team’s logo incorporates the Wasatch Mountains and the silhouette of Utah itself, signaling a commitment to regional representation. With a young core, an established head coach in Andre Tourigny, and a forward captain in Clayton Keller, the franchise prioritizes long-term player development and an up-tempo style of play.
Key Milestones and Major Moments
The franchise’s most significant milestones include the April 18, 2024 announcement granting Utah an NHL expansion franchise, the June 13, 2024 unveiling of the Utah Hockey Club identity, and the May 7, 2025 reveal of the permanent Utah Mammoth name. Dylan Guenther’s first regular-season goal on October 8, 2024, stands as another landmark moment in team history.
Utah Mammoth Achievements and Results
As a 2024 expansion franchise, the Utah Mammoth’s list of verified achievements remains short, with no Stanley Cup championships, Presidents’ Trophies, division titles, or conference championships to date. Their primary accomplishment is establishing a stable NHL presence in Salt Lake City and completing a successful inaugural season. The franchise’s most meaningful result to date is their 38-win debut campaign.
NHL Achievements
The Utah Mammoth have not yet won the Stanley Cup or Presidents’ Trophy. Their most notable NHL accomplishment is completing their inaugural regular season with 38 wins, establishing a competitive baseline for the franchise. The team’s first NHL game, a 5–2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on October 8, 2024, marked the beginning of professional top-level hockey in Utah.
Conference Achievements
The Utah Mammoth compete in the Western Conference but have not yet won a conference championship. Their 2024–25 finish placed them in the middle of the Western Conference standings, providing a foundation for future postseason pursuit.
Divisional Achievements
Within the Central Division, the Utah Mammoth have not yet captured a division title. The team concluded their inaugural season in sixth place in the Central Division, signaling room for growth as the roster matures.
Series Achievements
The Utah Mammoth have not yet qualified for the NHL playoffs. Their first postseason appearance remains a central organizational goal as the franchise continues to develop its roster and competitive identity.