Utah Hockey Club’s Clayton Keller Talks Leadership, Shares Favorite Team Nicknames

Jun 14, 2024, 12:08 PM

Follow @kslsports...

SALT LAKE CITYUtah Hockey Club forward Clayton Keller joined the Utah Puck Report Podcast to discuss NHL stardom and overcoming injuries in his career.

Clayton Keller on leadership, Utah, and team nicknames

Keller recently joined Jay Stevens on the KSL Sports’ Utah Puck Report. The veteran right wing talked about his leadership, relocating to Utah, favorite team nicknames, and more.

Clayton Keller as a player and leader

Keller described his growth as a player and leader. He credited overcoming a major injury for seeing the game differently as an experienced player.

“I’m a highly competitive guy, always striving to get better, and as I’ve gotten older and played longer in the league I’ve turned into more of a leader and I think I’ve done a great job with that,” Keller said. “Throughout the years, I had some setbacks, a pretty big injury that I was able to rebound from, and that kind of opened up my eyes to a whole other part of the game.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Clayton Keller (@claytonkeller19)

Keller also shared that Utah will be a fun and exciting team for fans to watch.

“I think we’re gonna be a very fast team, skilled team, and a team that you definitely want to watch, not a team that’s gonna put you to sleep,” Keller said.

Relocation to Utah

Like many of Keller’s teammates who’d already joined the podcast, the forward said the team began hearing rumors of moving out of Arizona during the middle of the 2023-24 season. Keller said it wasn’t until late in the season when the reports came out about Utah that the things began to be real. He said that the team was excited to have “a plan” for their future and looked forward to moving to Utah.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Clayton Keller (@claytonkeller19)

In April, the team visited the state after the announcement of relocation was made by the NHL. A welcome party was held at the Delta Center. However, it wasn’t Keller’s first time in the Beehive State. The right wing had attended a UFC fight in Salt Lake City with some teammates and his younger brother a year earlier.

“It was unbelievable. We didn’t really know what to expect,” Keller said of the trip to Utah in April. “Landing at the airport and seeing so many people was pretty special and then obviously at the rink later, same thing. You know, Ryan [Smith] was telling us how many people were gonna be there…that whole welcome was unbelievable. It’s definitely motivating for us.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by KSL Sports (@kslsports)

Permanent team nickname

On June 13, Smith Entertainment Group announced that the franchise would own the temporary name of “Utah Hockey Club” during its inaugural season. The process to decide a permanent nickname is ongoing and a fan vote is currently in the middle of a second round. An additional round of voting will take place in the future.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by KSL Sports (@kslsports)

Utah Venom, Utah Blizzard, Utah Mammoth, Utah Yeti, Utah Hockey Club, and Utah Outlaws are the finalists to be the permanent nickname.

Keller said that he likes Yeti and Mammoth the most.

Nicknames aside, the NHL star is ready to play in front of a Delta Center crowd.

“We all couldn’t be more excited to be coming to Utah,” Keller said.

To hear Keller’s entire conversation on the Utah Puck Report podcast, check out the audio and video players above.

Kyle Ireland is a Utah Hockey Club Insider for KSLSports.com. Follow him on X (@kyleireland), Threads (@kyleirelandksl), and Instagram (@kyleirelandksl).

Download the new & improved KSL Sports app from Utah’s sports leader. You can stream live radio, video and stay up to date on all of your favorite teams.

KSL 5 TV Live

KSLSports Feed

Follow @kslsports...

KSL Sports

Real Salt Lake Will Host Club América In Phase 1 Of Leagues Cup

As a part of the seeding phase of the Leagues Cup, Real Salt Lake will host three different sides from Liga MX, Mexico's top-flight league, at America First Field, including Club América, one of North America's most popular and recognizable teams.

2 hours ago

Follow @kslsports...

KSL Sports

BYU Basketball Takeaways From Complete Team Win At West Virginia

Key takeaways from BYU's big win at West Virginia.

14 hours ago

Follow @kslsports...

KSL Sports

Utah State Roughs Up Rams In Blowout Win

LOGAN, Utah - The three ball was falling in spades for Utah State, as the Aggies built a big early lead before holding on for the 93-85 win.

15 hours ago

Follow @kslsports...

KSL Sports

Who Could Replace Tom Holmoe As BYU’s Athletic Director?

Looking at the potential candidates to replace Tom Holmoe as BYU's next athletic director.

17 hours ago

Follow @kslsports...

KSL Sports

Takeaways From Utah Falling Apart In Final Minutes Of 85-75 Loss To Cincinnati

Craig Smith and Utah had it tied up with four minutes to go but fell apart in the final minutes to end with an 85-75 loss to the Cincinnati Bearcats.

18 hours ago

Follow @kslsports...

KSL Sports

PK: Tom Holmoe Leaves Firm Foundation At BYU Athletics

With the heavy lifting over for BYU – at least for now, anyway – Tom Holmoe can leave knowing his strong leadership has given the athletic department a solid foundation going forward.

19 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

luxury living room with a classic white sofa and sofa, interior design...

Lighting Design

Revisiting home lighting trends for 2025

Looking for inspiration to revamp your home lighting? This article outlines some of the emerging lighting trends for 2025.

holiday gift basket with blue tissue paper and gingerbread cookies...

Kneaders Bakery & Cafe

Holiday hacks for a stress-free season

Get more out of your time with family and loved ones over the holidays by following these tips for a stress-free season.

2 computer techs in a computer shop holding up a computer server with the "hang loose" sign...

PC Laptops

A comprehensive guide to choosing the right computer

With these tips, choosing the right computer that fits your needs and your budget will be easier than ever.

crowds of people in a German style Christmas market...

This Is The Place Heritage Park

Celebrate Christkindlmarket at This Is The Place Heritage Park!

The Christkindlmarket is an annual holiday celebration influenced by German traditions and generous giving.

Image of pretty woman walking in snowy mountains. Portrait of female wearing warm winter earmuff, r...

Lighting Design

Brighten your mood this winter with these lighting tricks

Read our lighting tips on how to brighten your mood in the winter if you are experiencing seasonal affective disorder.

A kitchen with a washer and dryer and a refrigerator...

Appliance Man

Appliance Man: a trusted name in Utah’s home appliance industry

Despite many recent closures of local appliance stores, Appliance Man remains Utah's trusted home appliance business and is here to stay.

Utah Hockey Club’s Clayton Keller Talks Leadership, Shares Favorite Team Nicknames