The Utah Mammoth play their first regular-season game at the new-and-improved Delta Center Wednesday. They’ll take on the Calgary Flames at 7:30 p.m.
Just like last year, the home opener is more than just a hockey game — it’s a party. Here’s everything you need to know.
Party on the plaza
Festivities will kick off at 4 p.m. on the plaza outside the arena. They will include:
- Live music from Shuffle, a Utah-based cover band
- “Mountain Blue carpet” player walk-ins
- A beer garden
- Merchandise sales, exclusive to this event
A ‘special surprise’
In a press release, the Mammoth encouraged fans to take their seats by 7 p.m. to witness a “special surprise moment and pregame entertainment.”
The Deseret News will have in-depth coverage of the event, so if you can’t make it to the game, check back here at that time for all the info.
NHL home openers typically include introductions of each player and members of the coaching staff, as well as other special in-game entertainment features.
What to expect from the Utah Mammoth
The Mammoth and Flames are both 1-2-0 to start the season. Neither team has won a game in regulation yet this year.
Utah’s biggest struggle has been scoring, though their defense has been miles ahead of where it was last year. Head coach André Tourigny said after Monday’s game in Chicago that his team needs to score more “greasy” goals — rebounds, deflections, that kind of thing.
The good news for the Mammoth is that they’ll have ample chances to score on Wednesday. In Monday’s episode of 32 Thoughts: The Podcast, insider Elliotte Friedman said he’s hearing that the Flames will start Devin Cooley in net.
Cooley has not played an NHL game since April 18, 2024. His career save percentage is .870 and his goals-against average is 4.98. Needless to say, he’s much less of a sure thing than Dustin Wolf, who has started all three games for Calgary so far this season, and is expected to start against the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday.
He has no known relation to Mammoth center Logan Cooley. They’ve never played each other at any level, so it’s possible that Wednesday could feature the first Cooley-on-Cooley goal.
It’s also worth noting that the Mammoth will be more well-rested than the Flames. The Flames are playing a back-to-back set with a flight in between, while the Mammoth had Tuesday off entirely — no game, no practice.
Last year, the Flames and the Mammoth were in close contention for the final wild card spot in the Western Conference. It’s entirely possible that it will be the same this year, too. Although these two teams aren’t in the same division, the game could prove extra valuable at the end of the season.
Where to watch/stream/listen to the Utah Mammoth’s home opener
The Mammoth’s home opener is the second-to-last in the NHL this season (the New Jersey Devils play theirs on Thursday).
It will be broadcast on SEG+ and Utah 16. Fans can also tune into the radio feeds on KSL Sports Zone, KSL NewsRadio and the NHL app.
