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Where is Utah’s Sean Durzi in his recovery process? The hockey club’s defenseman gives an update.

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Where is Utah’s Sean Durzi in his recovery process? The hockey club’s defenseman gives an update.


Sean Durzi held a coffee cup in the air and yelled, “Mocha latte, anyone?”

The Utah Hockey Club defenseman was behind the counter at a Salt Lake City coffee shop.

Durzi is not on the ice blocking shots and making big plays for Utah right now. The blueliner underwent shoulder surgery in October and was given a four-to-six-month timeline for his return.

In the meantime, he took a twirl as a barista on Wednesday, working to make community connections away from the rink while recovering from injury as part of the SEG Foundation’s “Pay It Forward” Day.

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“If we can’t do it on the ice right now, it’s nice for us to contribute in other ways,” Durzi said. “With this free time, it’s really important for us to come here and show everybody that we love this community and we love to give back.”

Durzi is no longer in a sling but said he did not have a date for when he could be back in the lineup.

Fellow Utah defenseman John Marino joined Durzi at Bjorn’s Brew and manned the drive-through window while his teammate was at the register. Marino underwent lower back surgery in October and will be out for three to four months, but he’s also been active in getting to know his new home.

Rehabilitating from a serious injury is hard. Players are away from the team, do not travel, do not play and are at the facility hours before or after practice to work on their recovery process.

Durzi and Marino have been able to lean on each other in what can be an isolating experience.

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“I don’t want to ever wish injury on anyone, but for me and John to be going through it together, it keeps us motivated. Pushing each other every day. Obviously, it’s unfortunate that you’ve got to go through it but there couldn’t be a better guy to be going through it with,” Durzi said. “For us to be bonding and pushing each other and competing to try to get back on the ice as quickly as we can has been as good as it can be.”

While Durzi skated in four games this season before getting injured, Marino has yet to hit the ice for Utah and missed the entirety of training camp, too. The 27-year-old was traded to Utah from the New Jersey Devils in June but has had to wait to make his debut.

New Jersey Devils’ John Marino (6) celebrates his goal against the Winnipeg Jets with teammates during the second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2023, in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)

Marino had 25 points (four goals, 21 assists) through 75 games with the Devils last season while averaging 20:57 of ice time a night. Durzi had 41 points (nine goals, 32 assists) through 76 games last year in Arizona and averaged 22:43 of ice time.

The puck-moving defensemen’s eventual returns will greatly bolster Utah’s backend which has been riddled with injuries this season.

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“Huge contributions all across the board — next-man-up mentality,” Durzi said of his defensive teammates. “You always say that and it’s so hard in the best league in the world. The guys couldn’t have done a better job so far.”

Durzi has been following his team from afar and attended games at Delta Center as he waits to jump back into the action. Players like Mikhail Sergachev, Michael Kesselring and Olli Määttä have taken on greater responsibility in Durzi — and Marino’s — absences, and the work won’t stop soon.

Robert Bortuzzo left Tuesday’s game with a lower-body injury and head coach André Tourigny said he did not think the defenseman would be ready for Thursday’s matchup against the Colorado Avalanche. Not to mention, Maveric Lamoureux is sidelined for four to six weeks with an upper-body injury.

Utah announced Wednesday it recalled Kevin Connauton from the AHL’s Tucson Roadrunners, likely to fill the gaps.

Utah Hockey Club’s Sean Durzi, left, and Clayton Keller, right, react after Keller scored the winning goal during overtime of an NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)

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“You want to be out there, you hate to miss games. But at the same time, it’s part of our game, it’s why we do what we do,” Durzi said. “When you miss a game or two, you watch it systematically and you try to keep that. Obviously a bit of a fan which is weird right now. I’m really just dying for the guys to get some wins. In that sense, I’m cheering the guys on pretty hard.”

Utah is entering a two-game road trip in which it will face the Avalanche and San Jose Sharks before returning to Delta Center next Wednesday to play the Vancouver Canucks.

It is safe to say Durzi will be supporting the team back home.

“It’s nice to kind of sit back and see the crowd at games and how passionate they are,” Durzi said. “It’s motivation for us wanting to get back out there on the ice, in the community.”



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Teens airlifted to Utah County hospitals after rollover of at least 50 yards | Gephardt Daily

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Teens airlifted to Utah County hospitals after rollover of at least 50 yards | Gephardt Daily


Photo: Utah County Sheriff

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.

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“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.”

Two black Polaris RZR side-by-side off-road vehicles wrecked in a brushy area, one shown from the side with exposed roll cage and damaged seating, the other from a similar angle with dented body panels.

Photos: Utah County Sheriff





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Utah Jazz jump to #2 in the lottery, plus full results

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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.

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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!!



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Provo’s new Boys & Girls clubhouse gives Utah youth more space to learn, grow and belong

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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.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held for the Boys & Girls Club of Utah County’s new Kent B. Nelson Clubhouse on Friday. (Photo: Curtis Booker, KSL)

“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.

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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.

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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.

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“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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