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Utah Hockey Club 2024-25 Season Review and their Development and Progress

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The 2024–2025 season marked a historic first chapter in Utah Hockey Club history. Although they failed to make the playoffs in what was a somewhat up and down inaugural season, this was a year Utah’s management should be happy with. The goal was to be competitive and fight for a playoff spot, which is exactly what Utah did. They finished the regular season seven points behind the St. Louis Blues in the Western Conference. This was a 12-point improvement from last year’s team in Arizona, which was certainly above their expectations. The season in Utah became a story of growth, grit, and laying the groundwork for a promising future.

Utah Hockey Club Enjoyed a Season of Growth for Future

The move to Utah came with uncertainty, but also with immense opportunity and challenges. From the outset, the team embraced its underdog status, choosing to prioritize player development. Despite injuries playing a factor in their failure to make the postseason, Utah stayed competitive throughout the season. 

As the first Utah captain ever, Clayton Keller led the way, having a career year with 90 points in 81 games. Despite the pressure to be the voice of the locker room, he did not disappoint. Keller is a premier player in the league thanks to his playmaking and skating. Those abilities helped earn him a spot on Team USA for the upcoming 2025 IIHF World Championship in Stockholm, Sweden. 

Centre Logan Cooley and defenceman Michael Kesselring will also represent Team USA, while goaltender Karel Vejmelka will play for Czechia. Guenther was expected to play, but an undisclosed injury will keep him out of the tournament. Utah insider Craig Morgan reported. 

Vejmelka handled the bulk of the workload between the pipes, providing stability in the net, even behind a defence that was not fully healthy. The 28-year-old goaltender finished the season with 26 wins, the most of his career. Defencemen Sean Durzi and John Marino each returned late in the season, just in time for Utah’s playoff push. 

Expectations Greater for Next Season

While this past season was more of a transitional period for Utah, expect next season to be much different. The goal for Utah will be to make the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. Young stars Cooley and Dylan Guenther will need to take the next step in their development and push Utah forward. Both players had career seasons, recording 65 and 63 points, respectively, and each scored at least 25 goals. Cooley finished second on Utah in scoring behind Keller. 

Cooley took significant strides in becoming the team’s number one centre, playing alongside Keller. He displayed the same style of play as his captain. However, Cooley and Guenther’s impact on Utah’s power play really stood out. Guenther recorded 29 points on the power play, while Cooley had 20. 

Looking Ahead

While this past season may not have included a playoff berth, it laid the foundation for a future contender. With a clear development path and a devoted fanbase, Utah is trending in the right direction. Next season will boil down to what moves Utah chooses to make over the offseason. The challenges of relocation were met with resilience and optimism, turning what was a transitional year into a foundational one.

In a few years, perhaps when Utah is competing deep into the playoffs, this first season will be remembered not for the wins and losses, but for the crucial steps taken to build something lasting. For now, fans in Utah can look back on year one with pride, and be excited for the future.

Main Photo Credit: Jeff Le – Imagn Images

The post Utah Hockey Club 2024-25 Season Review and their Development and Progress appeared first on Last Word On Hockey.