Plenty of goals in Utah Hockey Club scrimmage

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4 Sports) – It was an absolute scoring fest in the Utah Hockey Club’s first developmental camp scrimmage Friday at the Delta Center.

2023 first round pick Daniil But scored four goals in the two-period scrimmage, as the White Team easily defeated the Black Team, 10-2.

This year’s first round pick, Tij Iginla, scored his first career goal for the White Team. Iginla received the loudest ovation from the several thousand fans that attended the scrimmage when he was introduced.

“That was really cool,” said Iginla, the sixth overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. “Just to the rink for the first time, it looked awesome. And it was a great turnout today. It was fun game, a lot of skating good, good skill level.”

This year’s second round pick Will Skahan also scored, as did Matthew Morden, Tanner Lukde, Terrell Goldsmith, Justin Kipkie and Jonathan Kastagna.

“It was crazy,” said first round pick Cole Beaudoin about the turnout. “Playing in front of Utah, obviously a new franchise, it was incredible to hear them all all celebrate when we scored. Our first at an NHL development camp, it went well and I’m happy with it.”

“It’s always nice to see goals and things like that,” said Utah HC Director of Player Development Lee Stempniak. “But a lot of it was applying what they learned this week, which is always good to see. For them it’s it’s a measuring point.”

Before the scrimmage, the Utah Hockey Club introduced their biggest offseason acquisition in two-time Stanley Cup champion defenseman Mikhail Sergachev. Utah really wanted the Lighning’s top defenseman, as they traded two players and two draft picks to get him.

“Obviously, it was a shock,” said Sergachev, who has played eight seasons in the NHL, the last seven with Tampa Bay. “I wasn’t expecting to be traded. I was actually carrying out trash from my apartment when I got a call. But then talking to my agent, talking to some players, everybody said great things about Utah. It’s pretty amazing, honestly. The whole set up the city, I’m very excited.”

“As an organization, when do you get a chance to add a number one defenseman to your roster at 26 years old that has won two championships?” said Utah HC general manager Bill Armstrong. “That opportunity doesn’t come around to often, and we jumped on it.”

The Utah Hockey Club will next host training camp in September with the season opener scheduled for October 8th against Chicago.

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