The Utah Hockey Club celebrates their win over the Los Angeles Kings in overtime in a pre-season NHL hockey game, Monday, Sept. 23, 2024, in Salt Lake City. Photo: AP // Spenser Heaps

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – It may have been just a preseason game, but fans and players brought serious energy to the Utah Hockey Club’s first-ever home contest.

The Delta Center was packed to the rafters Monday night, and fans said the atmosphere was electric from the moment security opened the doors. By the time All-Star winger Clayton Keller netted an overtime goal to secure a 3-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings, the crowd was at a fever pitch.

Utah’s players clearly understood the task at hand: winning over Salt Lake City’s hockey fans — and they delivered.

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“I mean, the roof blew off,” said Utah forward Liam O’Brien told the Deseret News. “The energy was just, like I said, unreal.”

Forward Lawson Crouse echoed that sentiment. “We’re all excited to be a part of this,” he said. “The fans were incredible, and you could really feel that energy on the bench. It gave us a huge edge.”

The excitement reached a crescendo late in the second period, with the crowd on its feet for two goals and a pair of fights.

“You could tell they were itching to cheer for something,” Crouse said. “Those goals and fights really got them into it, and they stayed loud the whole way through.”

Utah’s debut was a roaring success, leaving fans and players eagerly anticipating more.

The Utah Hockey Club was established as part of a broader effort to bring professional hockey to the Salt Lake City area. While relatively new, the team has quickly captured local excitement, building on the state’s existing love for winter sports. The franchise aims to grow the sport in Utah and create a lasting presence in the region’s sports landscape.