Not The Start They Wanted

The Utah Hockey Club has been quietly getting itself ready for the 2024-25 NHL season. Yes, they're still without a team name, but they do have jerseys and team colours, and apparently that's enough for the NHL to push ahead with its schedule. Frankly, I find it tough to cheer for a hockey team that sounds more like a soccer team - "Utah HC" - but the powers-that-be don't seem to care that Utah doesn't have branding for which other teams can plan and market. In any case, the Utah No-Names have jumped into the preseason schedule already as they were playing the St. Louis Blues at the Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa today, and they got off to a start in this game that I'm not sure many teams would want.

I just want to remind everyone that it's preseason hockey where nothing matters, so don't take this as a sign of things to come this season for Utah. However, early in the second period with the Blues up 1-0 off a Dylan Holloway goal, the Blues were guilty of a holding penalty, but Utah's possession kept the play going. Let's check in on what happened as Utah waved Karel Vejmelka to the bench.
The irony on this play is that the man guilty of holding - St. Louis' Anton Malmstrom - also got credit for the own goal scored by Utah at 3:32 of the second period! Malmstrom didn't even get to go back to the bench for any congratulations or celebration with his teammates. Instead, he went to the penalty box where he felt shame.

The good news for the Utah Hockey Club was that they rallied in the second half of this game, scoring five of the six total goals scored en route to a 5-3 victory over the Blues. Dylan Guenther on a power-play, Devin Cooley on a penalty shot, and Michael Carcone with a pair including one into an empty net did the damage for the No-Names. Again, preseason hockey results mean little, but it would seem Utah is prepared to score goals this season after scoring six on this night.

Now if they scored all six on the right net, we'd really have something to discuss, but don't read too much into preseason hockey!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!