SALT LAKE CITY — A St. Louis-area native has been named the first captain in the Utah Hockey Club's franchise history.
Clayton Keller, 26, was named the captain for Utah on Friday. He was previously an alternate captain for the Arizona Coyotes before their move.
Utah Hockey Club was created in April 2024 after the Coyotes' franchise was suspended and transferred to Salt Lake City. As a result, Keller and other team players became part of the Utah team.
The forward was born in Chesterfield, Missouri, and raised in Swansea, Illinois. He played for the St. Louis Blues minor hockey affiliate in 2010 and 2011 before joining the USA Hockey National Team Development Program.
Keller was selected seventh overall by the Arizona Coyotes in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft and played college hockey at Boston University. He was one of five St. Louis area hockey players taken in the first round of the 2016 draft.
After his freshman season, he signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Coyotes and made his NHL debut the next night against the Blues at Enterprise Center (formerly known as Scottrade Center in 2017).
He was signed to an eight-year deal with the team through the 2027-2028 season after two full seasons in Arizona, where he recorded 37 goals and 77 assists in 167 games.
Overall, he has played 520 games in the NHL and has recorded 166 goals and 252 assists (418 points).
Utah will play its inaugural season in 2025-2025 with its first game to be played on Tuesday, Oct. 8, against the Chicago Blackhawks.
The Blues will play Utah for the first time on Nov. 7 at Enterprise Center.
Want more local sports delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for the 5 On Your Side Sports Plus newsletter.
