After months of waiting, the opening day of the new National Hockey League (NHL) season has finally come and gone.
For hockey fans, the opening day of the NHL season is a time for new beginnings, especially if your team did not perform well last season. Whether you are a hardcore hockey fan or you think watching hockey is like watching paint dry, the season’s opening day was a special occasion.
The NHL’s new franchise, the Utah Hockey Club, had their home opener. The game was the franchises inaugural game.
Last April, the NHL board of directors approved a move where the Arizona Coyotes relocated to the state of Utah, citing arena availability and owner willingness.
Many Coyotes fans were outraged by the decision, as they felt the NHL took away something near and dear to their hearts. The situation was like when your girlfriend breaks up with you unexpectedly, claiming she needed a change in her life.
As a result, the farewell game for the Coyotes was one filled with emotion and heartbreak. Fast forward to now it appears the state of Utah has quickly welcomed the team with open arms.
Utah took on the Chicago Blackhawks in their inaugural game, featuring the first overall pick from the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, Conner Bedard.
During the game, Dylan Guenther scored the first goal in franchise history almost five minutes into the first period. The goal was set up by a slick feed from defenseman Michael Kesselring.
Guenther’s goal sent the fans into a frenzy.
In the end, Utah wowed their fans with a 5-2 victory, becoming the eighth expansion team to win their first game.
“It’s pretty cool,” Guenther told reporters after the game when asked about scoring the first goal in franchise history. “It’s always nice to start off well and for us to continue to build and try to make the playoffs. [Every] game is important.”
Ryan Smith is the owner of the Utah Hockey Club as well as the Utah Jazz in the National Basketball Association. He has a message for an eager crowd pregame.
“Thank you for believing, thank you for being here,” Smith told fans before the game. “Thank you for packing the barn tonight. Let’s make this the loudest place to play in the NHL. Let’s go.”
Utah has put it’s best foot forward, showcasing to fans its winning prowess and skill. However, the proverbial ‘measuring stick’ of expansion franchises in recent years has been the Vegas Golden Knights.
Vegas came into the league in 2017, hosting the franchises first game in October of that year. The Golden Knights defeated the Stars 2-1, thanks in large part to a stellar performance from goaltender and potential first-ballot hall of fame, Marc-Andre Fleury.
Later in their first season, the Golden Knights finished at the top of the Pacific Division and made it to the Stanley Cup Finals, becoming the first expansion franchise to do so.
With their inaugural game out of the way, the question that’s left is; how far will the Utah Hockey Club go in their first season?
Surely, the team will be looking to replicate the efforts of Vegas. However, the team is loaded with talented young weapons. Dylan Guenther tore up the league in the first week of the season with six points. His performance earned him the NHL’s first star of the week.
Apart from Gunther, Utah has Clayton Keller, Lawson Crouse, Mikail Sergachev, Logan Cooley, and Josh Doan, son of NHL hall of famer Shane Doan. Those players and more are set to make an immediate impact during their first season in Utah.
