Utah
Schmaltz’ hat trick lifts Mammoth over Sharks
On Jan. 26, 2023, Nick Schmaltz’ grandfather went to Arizona to watch his grandson play for the first time. Schmaltz scored his first-ever hat trick, plus an assist, that night in the Coyotes’ 5-0 win over the St. Louis Blues.
On Friday, his grandfather came to Utah to watch him for the second time. Grandfather must be a lucky charm because Schmaltz scored his second career hat trick, plus an assist, in the Mammoth’s 6-3 win over the San Jose Sharks.
Heading into this four-game home stand, the Mammoth were 1-2-0. Two games into it, they’re a much better 3-2-0.
Quick catchup
Utah Mammoth: 6
San Jose Sharks: 3
Believe it or not, the game started with a Schmaltz scoring chance that he just missed, sliding the puck through the crease and out. Had it gone in, he would have finished his hat trick in the first period.
Logan Cooley had a similar miss in the first minute, too, but the Mammoth didn’t let the squandered opportunities get them down. Before the end of the frame, Schmaltz had his first two goals.
The Sharks tied it up with a pair of quick goals in the second period, but the Mammoth proved their resilience again, retaking the lead with four minutes left in the period.
It was Liam “Spicy Tuna” O’Brien who put the Mammoth on top. It was his first goal since April 17, 2024 — the final game of the Arizona Coyotes’ existence.
It would have been the game-winner, too, if Macklin Celebrini hadn’t scored on the power play with three minutes left in the game.
The third period consisted of three Mammoth goals and one from the Sharks, further solidifying the home team’s lead and the home crowd’s jubilation.
When the clock hit 30 seconds remaining, the fans rose to their feet and gave their guys an ovation.
“They’re amazing. Our fans are the best,” O’Brien said after the game. “I just appreciate that support that we all have. It’s so fun to play here in front of those fans.”
Takeaways
The power play strikes back
After the Mammoth fizzled out on the power play on Wednesday — 0 for 6, putting them at a league-worst 1-for-16 on the season — something needed to change.
At morning skate on Friday, head coach André Tourigny asserted that there was nothing wrong with the power play, pointing out that they had ample scoring chances, but just couldn’t convert on any of them.
They did end up making one change: They put Schmaltz back in the bumper position, where he’d almost always played, and put Dylan Guenther back on the wing, where the entire league knows how dangerous he can be.
They’d swapped spots against the Flames, and it just didn’t work. Based on Schmaltz’ success, it’s clear that the change was what they needed.
“I still think we’ve got room to improve,” Schmaltz said. “We had a lot of looks last game. Tonight we had a 5-on-3, obviously that was a big goal, but I still think we have room to grow.
“We’ve been a successful unit in the past, so once we start clicking, once we see a few more go in, our percentage will skyrocket for us.”
The Mammoth are now the 30th-best power play in the NHL, and they have plenty of time to continue climbing the ranks.
Don’t forget about Keller
Schmaltz’s goals make him the main story of the game, but Clayton Keller deserves just as much credit, as he assisted on all three of Schmaltz’ tallies.
Midway through the third, Schmaltz decided to return the favor. Recognizing that Keller was open on the left wing, Schmaltz dished it to the captain, who made no mistake firing it past Sharks goalie Yaroslav Askarov.
“(I) definitely owed him one, at least,” Schmaltz said. “He made some great plays to me tonight.”
Keller wasn’t exactly in a slump coming into this game, but his lone point of the season came in the opening game, so you know he was ready to break out. He’s now up to a point-per-game average.
No more turtling
Aside from the unlucky power play, the biggest criticism of Utah’s game on Wednesday was the way the team attempted to hold onto the lead: getting the puck out of the zone, then letting the play come right back to them.
That tendency lost Utah a number of games last season (including one particularly infamous loss to the Sharks). At morning skate on Friday, associate captain Lawson Crouse agreed that they had to change in that regard.
“We’ve got to do a better job of grabbing the puck and grinding down deep in their zone,” he told the Deseret News. “The best defense is when you’re playing offense. … It’s human nature: You’re wired to protect. We’ve got to find that happy medium of protecting while staying aggressive.”
That evening, the Mammoth found that happy medium. Rather than sitting on the lead and just trying to kill the clock, they kept the offensive pressure going.
Sure, they allowed a goal during that time, but they also scored three of their own, which wouldn’t have happened if they’d just focused on defense.
Goal of the game
Nick Schmaltz’s hat trick
Schmaltz’s third goal triggered something the Delta Center had never hosted before: hats raining down onto the ice.
It’s tradition for hockey fans to throw their hats on the ice when someone scores a hat trick. Teams have the liberty to do what they want with the hats. Some donate them to shelters and thrift stores, others display them in the building and some even offer them back to the fans.
Utah
Teens airlifted to Utah County hospitals after rollover of at least 50 yards | Gephardt Daily
UTAH COUNTY, May 11, 2026 (Gephardt Daily) — Two males, ages 14 and 19, were transported to area hospitals Sunday after the side-by-side they were riding rolled down the side of a mountain.
Utah County Sheriff deputies and Santaquin police responded to the 6:07 p.m. call. Two medical helicopters were called to the scene, in the Pole Canyon area, as was a Department of Public Safety helicopter with a hoist in case it was needed, Sgt. Austin Edwards, Utah County Sheriff‘s Office, told Gephardt Daily.
“Eventually, rescue workers were able to make it to the spot on the hill where the vehicle had come to rest, and they were able to secure the victims, stabilize the victims, and get them back down the hill again to where the helicopters were waiting,” Edwards said.
“The 19-year-old male was transported to Utah Valley Regional Medical Center in Provo, and the 14 year old was transported to Primary Children’s in Lehi.”
Both were said to have critical injuries, which were not considered to be life threatening, Edwards said.
“The cause of the rollover is still under investigation, so we don’t have that information available just yet.”
Photos: Utah County Sheriff
Utah
Utah Jazz jump to #2 in the lottery, plus full results
In what has a chance to be one of the most important nights in Jazz history, the Utah Jazz jumped in the NBA Lottery to the #2 spot for the upcoming NBA draft.
Here are the final results, which show all the movement.
Aside from it being a massive night for the Wizards, Jazz, Grizzlies, and Bulls, it was a devastating night for a few teams, but no one more than the Indiana Pacers. The Pacers, in their trade for Ivica Zubac, had a stipulation on their pick that if the pick was top-4 they kept it. But if it fell below 4, they would give it to the Clippers which is exactly what happened. Now, the Clippers, who are without Zubac, find themselves with a #5 pick to build around.
For the Jazz this is a culmination of four years of rebuilding that ends with an extremely satisfying end. Utah will now have one of the tier-1 players from this draft: AJ Dybantsa or Darryn Peterson. The player Utah drafts will be one of their cornerstone pieces and will have the chance to not only play, but be a part of a team that will be competing for the playoffs this season.
The Utah Jazz now have a Sinister Six core: Darryn Peterson (If AJ Dybantsa goes #1), Keyonte George, Ace Bailey, Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Walker Kessler (if he signs). It’s quite the core with a mix of youth and veterans in their prime. With this group, the Jazz will have a chance to be one of the top teams in the Western Conference. Yes, the Thunder and Spurs are going to be difficult to beat, but Utah has the mix of talent, coaching, and depth that could absolutely do the trick.
Now the Utah Jazz look forward to the NBA Draft that be on June 23rd. Let the posturing begin!!
Utah
Provo’s new Boys & Girls clubhouse gives Utah youth more space to learn, grow and belong
PROVO — An organization that has been a beacon of hope for Utah children and families just got a big upgrade in Provo.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Utah County on Friday held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its newest facility, marking the start of a new chapter in providing support for those who need it the most.
The new Kent B. Nelson Clubhouse, 131 N. Olympic Blvd., replaces the organization’s former Provo clubhouse, which had been in operation for more than 50 years. Boys & Girls Clubs of Utah County leaders said they had outgrown the aging facility and needed a larger, more modern space to support more community members.
“This new clubhouse is more than a building — it’s a central place where we can coordinate programs, support our staff, and amplify our impact across the region,” said David Bayles, CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Utah County, in a statement.
The organization’s mission was something the late former Utah County Commissioner Tom Sakievich was passionate about. His wife Marji and daughter Emily Sakievich attended Friday’s grand opening ceremony just as if he would’ve wanted to.
“He loved this project, and it meant the world to him,” Emily Sakievich told KSL. “This was actually one of the last places he went before he passed. (He) and my mom stopped by to just see how progress was going; he would be so excited to see this come together.”
The former commissioner died last December at the age of 72. Tom Sakievich resigned from the seat in September 2024 after being diagnosed with glioblastoma brain cancer.
Emily Sakievich said her father was a big supporter of helping children in the Boys & Girls Clubs feel supported while he was in office.
“He would have all of them come to his office and talk about how government works and how they can be a part of it someday,” she said.
The new 20,000 square-foot facility expands on resources and programs offered at its previous site for community youth and families experiencing hardships.
The clubhouse will provide safe, engaging, and educational programs in a modernized building fit to serve more than 14,000 Utah children and teens.
A variety of programs including after-school, summer activities and STEM learning will be offered at the new facility. Other resources include internet safety programs, mental health support, nutrition initiatives, and housing assistance for families experiencing homelessness.
“We’ve been able to increase the capacity so much and add preschool and other things; we can even benefit more families — and we can benefit them for a longer period of time, from younger to older, where there are no gaps.” Provo City Council Chair Katrice MacKay told KSL. “So I’m really excited. It’s a fantastic thing for the city and for our residents.”
Leaders of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Utah County say the new $6 million Provo clubhouse was designed as a welcoming space where children and teens can explore new interests, build life skills, and receive mentorship from caring staff.
“The Boys & Girls Clubs have been a cornerstone of youth development in Utah County for decades,” said Janet Frank, board president, in a statement “This new clubhouse strengthens that mission, allowing the organization to extend its reach and impact across the entire region.”
Friday’s event took place while children who attend the Boys & Girls Clubs were in school, so another ceremony for kids and their families is planned for the end of the month.
“The Boys & Girls Club is for every kid out there,” Bayles said. “We want to accomplish what every parent wants for their kids — we want them to have a safe place to learn and grow, to be successful in school, to build social skills and to go on and be great members of society.”
The Key Takeaways for this article were generated with the assistance of large language models and reviewed by our editorial team. The article, itself, is solely human-written.
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