LA Sports Today

Los Angeles Sports News continuously updated

Utah Mammoth Players Will Benefit From Time at World Championship

by

The newly-named Utah Mammoth have many players currently representing their nation at the 2025 IIHF World Championship.  The preliminary round is well-underway, with exciting finishes already occurring. The event will end on May 25, with hosting being split between Stockholm and Herning. Some Mammoth players participating will look to take a step in their careers. That is why this tournament could help propel their play even further ahead of the 2025-2026 season. Utah forward Dylan Guenther was expected to play, but an undisclosed injury is forcing him to miss the tournament. 

Utah Mammoth Well-Represented at the 2025 World Championship

There are a total of seven players representing the Mammoth at the World Championship. Clayton Keller, Logan Cooley, Barrett Hayton, Michael Kesselring, Josh Doan, Karel Vejmelka, and Maksymilian Szuber. 

Team Breakdown and Number of World Championship Appearances 

USA: 

Keller- Third 

Cooley- First 

Kesselring- Second 

Doan- First 

Canada:

Hayton- First 

Czechia:

Vejmelka- Third 

Germany:

Szuber- Third 

Opportunity To Keep Playing After End of Season

Although they missed the postseason, the Mammoth had a special inaugural season. Utah exceeded expectations and had their young players really step up. It is obvious every player would rather be playing in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but playing in the World Championship is a small consolation prize. Despite having an early start to their offseason, players can be happy that they are still able to play and compete in some way. 

This gives the Mammoth players additional training in preparation for next season. It keeps them in shape and can even help improve certain areas of their game. The international tournament not only showcases the talents of individual players but also contributes to the team’s growth and development. These aren’t preseason scrimmages — they are fast-paced, high-intensity battles with national pride and a gold medal on the line.

Learn From Other NHL Stars

Cooley is currently Team USA’s top centre and is on the first line with Keller to his left, and Buffalo Sabres top goal scorer, Tage Thompson to his right. This is Cooley’s fifth tournament overall wearing the Stars and Stripes, having already played in two U18 Championships and two World Junior Championships. 

He had a terrific season for Utah, recording 65 points in 75 games. The 21-year-old scored a goal for Team USA in their first and second preliminary games, against hosts Team Denmark and Team Hungary. Cooley scored 25 goals during his second NHL season. Keller, the captain for the Mammoth and Team USA, assisted on both goals. It is evident that Cooley’s development will benefit from getting top minutes during the tournament. 

As for Hayton, he will be able to learn from the likes of fellow centre Sidney Crosby and Ryan O’Reilly. Crosby joined Team Canada’s World Championship roster for the first time since 2015. Late roster additions pushed Hayton down to the fourth line, but it should not stop him from getting pointers from an all-time great. In international play, players get to share the ice with ones they normally would not.

The 24-year-old has not had the career a former fifth-overall pick is expected to have. In just his second full season in the league, Hayton had a career-high 46 points while playing as Utah’s second line centre. He played in just 33 games during the 2023-2024 campaign because of two separate injuries. Hayton recently scored a goal in Team Canada’s second preliminary game. 

For Doan, this is his first taste of international play, so it is good to have some of his Utah teammates with him. The 23-year-old winger split time between the Mammoth and AHL affiliate Tucson Roadrunners this season.

Main Photo: Jeff Le- Imagn Images

The post Utah Mammoth Players Will Benefit From Time at World Championship appeared first on Last Word On Hockey.