BYU, it’s time to start watching Utah Hockey Club

After BYU’s March Madness trip inevitably ends, who are BYU students going to be able to root for?

Hopefully, students will continue to support BYU by attending other spring sports like men’s volleyball, softball, tennis and more. But the reality is, most BYU students and fans won’t have that reliable game to turn on the TV once March Madness is eventually over.

It likely won’t be the Utah Jazz either. Come May, the Delta Center will go its third consecutive year without hosting an NBA playoff game due to poor play from its team. The Jazz were the first NBA team to be officially eliminated from playoff contention this year.

But while most fans expect the Delta Center to be empty come April and May, there’s a great chance they’ll be wrong — all because of Utah Hockey Club.

Hockey is simply an experience any BYU student needs to witness live at least once in his or her life.

I had only recently attended an Utah Hockey Club game in the past few months, even having the opportunity to cover and interview the team as a journalist covering the team for The Hockey News. But hockey live is a feeling in sports I had never experienced before.

The anticipation in hockey is unlike any other sport, with the action unfolding in an instant. Blink, and you literally might miss something thrilling — like when Utah’s Dylan Guenther's scored a buzzer-beating game-winner on Feb. 4 against the Flyers, all in his first game back from injury:

The speed of hockey makes the game unpredictable, you’ll never truly feel comfortable that a game is truly over.

In Utah’s 4-3 shootout loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs, Utah came back from three goals down with three of its own unanswered goals and it only took four minutes. The momentum of hockey, as showcased in that game, can swing in an instance and is sure to give BYU students a new sense of what hope and dread mean in sports.

The physicality of hockey is refreshing, too — especially for any BYU students who love watching BYU football’s physical play. In hockey, big hits are often encouraged, and players pride themselves on their toughness and ferocity, even if it means losing teeth or getting a couple stitches.

While the big hits in hockey are certainly exciting, the fights that break out are even better. And here's the good news: Utah has the second-most fights in the league this year, having fought 25 times.

Fighting is an instant classic for anyone who tries hockey for the first time and will be for any BYU student who watches it for the first time. After all, how could you not feel inspired watching Utah fan favorite Liam "Spicy Tuna" O’Brien deliver one of the most memorable fights of the year:

Just seeing O’Brien let out a primal yell to the crowd, blood running down from his forehead into his bright red beard, all while electrifying thousands of people in the stands, is entertaining for BYU students.

But for every big hit, there's also incredible finesse too, with players needing to race down the ice on skates all while maintaining control of the puck as they navigate through five aggressive defenders and a goalie doing everything in their power to stop a goal from happening, even if it means penalties.

But even watching goalie Karel Vejmelka play is something to appreciate, as his sole job is to put his body on the line to block every puck possible.

And the good thing for BYU students is that Vejmelka is having his best season, allowing only 2.49 goals per game—top 10 in the league. Having a good goalie to root for makes hockey all the more enjoyable.

But even Vejmelka can’t stop every goal; no goalie can. Luckily for him, plays from Utah defenseman Mikhail Sergachev also exist:

But while the Utah Hockey Club has its fair share of exciting moments, Utah is not only delivering memorable plays; it could legitimately be hosting the first-ever NHL playoff game in Utah. Going to a playoff game for a team in its inaugural year will be an experience BYU students won’t want to miss.

Utah Hockey Club is currently one game behind the Vancouver Canucks for the last Wild Card spot in the Western Conference after getting a crucial 3-1 win over the Canucks on March 17. The playoff race is ultra-competitive with four teams including Utah all fighting for that final Wild Card spot.

Along with being close to a playoff spot, Utah HC is also peaking at the right time, going 6-2-2 in its last ten games, giving the team a winning percentage of .700. With its players finally getting healthy and able to play their proper roles, Utah is also playing its preferred lineup on both offense and defense.

Utah’s offensive firepower is back, with star players like Dylan Guenther, tied for first in goals on the team, and Logan Cooley, whose 18 goals are the third highest on the team, having played in ten consecutive games together across the recent winning stretch.

Meanwhile, on defense, Utah has spent most of the season missing two or three defensemen at a time, most notably going more than half the season without John Marino and Sean Durzi. But now, with key defensemen like Marino and Durzi back in the lineup, Utah is set to play all of its top six defensemen.

That stability has also translated to strong performances from Utah’s other lineups as players have been able to move back to their proper roles.

Not only that, but Utah has been able to experiment with its lineups due to this improved health. The current third line for Utah — made up of Jack McBain, Lawson Crouse, and Josh Doan — has only just started playing together, but they have shown great chemistry and provide Utah with depth.

The direction this team is headed is bright as well. Utah is set to only get better as its young stars, like Cooley, Guenther, and Doan, continue to improve.

Not only is the youth of this team encouraging, but key veterans like Olli Määttä, Ian Cole and Alexander Kerfoot have recently signed new contracts, giving Utah a consistent identity going into next year.

As Utah Hockey Club becomes more relevant and the state becomes more familiar with the team, BYU students can count on this team having continuity. They will be able to latch onto the stories these players have and invest in the team’s future.

In fact, Utah HC fans have already started to find ways to love and support this team.

Just recently, fans wrote letters of encouragement for goalie Connor Ingram, who recently entered the NHL Player Assistance Program to focus on his mental health after losing his mother to breast cancer earlier in the season.

Add in a strong cap situation, with Utah having around $22.31 million in cap space this offseason, along with a solid amount of draft picks in the coming years, and the team is set to build on any success it has this year and improve for the future, all while keeping players beloved by fans for years to come.

Plus, Utah’s best player, captain Clayton Keller, is likely to represent the team at next year’s All-Star break if the team can maintain its success. Having All-Star talent will only make this team more relevant in both the local and national spotlight.

So investing in this team now would be the smart thing to do for any BYU student curious enough to try. The NHL will only become more relevant over the next couple of years in Utah.

And Utah Hockey Club wants you to be part of it, too. The team is offering student deals to encourage fans to attend games, including a unique event catered to college students for Utah’s game against the Buffalo Sabres on March 20.

With only 15 games remaining in the regular season — eight of which are home games — there’s no time like the present to get involved.

Don't miss out on the excitement. BYU, it’s time to try hockey.