Clayton Keller named first-ever captain of Utah Hockey Club

Utah Hockey Club named forward Clayton Keller the first-ever captain in franchise history on Friday.

Keller said in a team statement that being named captain is an enormous honor and that he’s “grateful for this opportunity.”

“I understand it’s a privilege to be a captain in the NHL, and a huge honor to know that management, coaches, and my teammates have the belief in me to lead this team,” Keller said. “It’s a huge responsibility and one I have prepared my whole life for. We have a room full of great leaders and together, we will work hard to achieve our goal of becoming a playoff team.”

Chris Armstrong, president of hockey operations, says Keller exemplifies the value of an organization and the identity Utah wants to build as a franchise.

“On the ice, he leads by example as one of the game’s premier players. Off the ice, he earns the respect of his peers, coaches, and our training staff every day through his relentless desire to get the most out of himself and his teammates. He is ready for the responsibility and will be an excellent captain,” Armstrong said.

Utah HC Head Coach Andre Tourigny says Keller’s growth as a leader has been “amazing” and that his pursuit of improvement “will radiate on all of us.”

“He’s an elite player and competes with intensity and intention everyday,” Tourigny said. “He is a high character person, has a deep genuine care for his teammates, and has the respect of everyone in the organization. He’ll be a great captain for us and I’m very happy to count on Clayton as our captain.”

The Chesterfield, Mo., native was taken No. 7 overall in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft and has been one of the franchise’s most productive players. Between their time as the Winnipeg Jets and Phoenix/Arizona Coyotes, and now Utah HC, Keller is eighth in assists with 252 and seventh on the all-time points list with 418.

Last season, Keller finished with 33 goals and 43 assists for 76 points in 78 regular-season games. He hit career highs in 2022-23, scoring 37 goals and 49 assists for 86 points.