Utah Hockey Club News

Bjugstad suffered an upper-body in the preseason and has missed the first eight games of the season but will make his debut on Saturday against the Los Angeles Kings. The 32-year-old Bjugstad had a career-high 22 goals in 76 games last season.

Allard was a fifth-round pick of Utah HC in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. The 20-year-old has spent the last four seasons in the OHL playing for the Soo Greyhounds, including a 44-point campaign last season (18G / 26A).

Maatta will re-enter the lineup after sitting out Tuesday's game on Long Island. Maatta is yet to register a point through five games this season.

Bortuzzo will serve as a healthy scratch on Thursday to welcome Maveric Lamoureux into the lineup for his NHL debut. The 35-year-old Bortuzzo has six penalty minutes and a -2 plus/minus while averaging 11:58 time-on-ice through three games this season.

Due to a decimated defensive core, namely Sean Durzi (shoulder) and John Marino (lower-back) being sidelined for the next several months, Utah HC recalled Lamoureux from the Tuscon Roadrunners (AHL) to make his NHL debut. The 20-year-old Lamoureux was drafted 29th overall by the Arizona Coyotes in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, and is currently playing his first professional season, tallying three points (2G / 1A) in his first four games with Tuscon.

After starting their season by winning three straight games, the Utah Hockey Club has lost three of their last four and will give Vejmelka his second start of the season on Thursday against the Colorado Avalanche. Vejmelka entered Tuesday's 4-0 loss to the Ottawa Senators in relief of Connor Ingram and saved all 14 shots he faced. The 28-year-old Vejmelka has been limited to only 98 minutes of action through seven games this season but has been solid, posting a 1.83 GAA and .935 SV%. Utah HC enters the action on Thursday as +135 home underdogs against Colorado.

Koch made his NHL debut with the Arizona Coyotes last season, registering 10 penalty minutes in one game. The undrafted 27-year-old Slovak made his North American debut last season, scoring 15 points (1G / 14A) in 63 games with the Tuscon Roadrunners (AHL). In a corresponding move, Utah HC has recalled Maveric Lamoureux from Tuscon.

Due to a decimated defensive core, namely Sean Durzi (shoulder) and John Marino (lower-back) being sidelined for the next several months, Utah HC have opted to recall youngster Lamoureux from the Tuscon Roadrunners (AHL). The 20-year-old Lamoureux was drafted 29th overall by the Arizona Coyotes in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, and is currently playing his first professional season, tallying three points (2G / 1A) in his first four games with Tuscon.

Marino was acquired in a trade from the New Jersey Devils in the offseason but will not be able to make his debut with the Utah Hockey Club for another 3-4 months. The 27-year-old Marino was absent from training camp due to an upper-body injury and ultimately opted for surgery to address his lower-back injury. Marino is joining his third NHL franchise and had four goals, 25 points, 41 PIMs and 57 SOG in 75 games played with New Jersey in 2023-24. With Sean Durzi (shoulder) also sidelined for the next several months, Utah's decimated defensive core have welcomed Vladislav Kolyachonok and Robert Bortuzzo into the mix.

Durzi's absence from Utah HC will be a devasting blow for their blueline, but the talented defenseman could be back before the end of the season. The 26-year-old defenseman was off to a strong start to the season, with two points (0G / 2A), 11 blocks, and seven penalty minutes in three games. Mikhail Sergachev has emerged as the quarterback on Utah's top powerplay unit since Durzi has been out of the lineup.

Maatta will sit out Tuesday night's contest against the Islanders as Justin Holl draws back in. Maatta is yet to register a point through five games this season.

The Utah Hockey Club will turn to Ingram between the pipes on Tuesday for his third consecutive start and sixth in seven games this season. Ingram has been inconsistent to start the season, allowing four or more goals in three of five outings (4-0-1), posting a 3.29 GAA and .881 SV%, but was outstanding in his last contest, saving 22 of 23 shots (.957 SV%) in a 2-1 overtime victory over the Boston Bruins. Utah HC enters action on Tuesday against the Ottawa Senators as slight -106 home favorites.