MORNING SKATE NOTES
- Utah will start its season against the Chicago Blackhawks
- The Mammoth will focus on keeping things simple and staying structured
It’s Time
After months of anticipation, it’s time for the Mammoth to play the first of 84 regular season games this year. After watching other teams already start their seasons, Utah is ready to go.
“That’s great to finally get going,” head coach André Tourigny said. “Really excited to get in front of our fans and get the season going and see how our team is. I think we’ve improved during the summer, now it’s time to show it.”
“It’s that time of year,” forward Dylan Guenther shared. “It’s exciting to get back going and we’re looking forward to seeing the crowd tonight.”
Staying Simple
It’s the first game of the year and staying simple will be key.
“We start off simple tonight,” forward Anders Lee shared on the focus for tonight's game. “We had a really good preseason, a great camp, but now that it’s live, I think we just keep it simple early and build our game, and (rely) on another, and that’s being connected, and knowing where each other’s at, the whole deal. It’s one of those nights where there’s a lot going on. There’s a lot of energy in the building. There’s going to be a lot of energy from both teams and you just kind of (have to) settle in and play your game.”
Simplicity will help the Mammoth work out the kinks in their game, especially since the Blackhawks have had an opportunity to do that in their first game on Tuesday.
“They already have a game behind their belts, so it’s important for us to go in the game tonight and really be simple early and let the game come to us,” Tourigny said. “I talk about maturity, that’s important tonight. We showed that maturity and we’re not trying to force the game. The game will come fast. There will be a lot of intensity, a lot of emotion, so we need to make sure we keep it simple.”
In addition to staying simple, bringing a strong work ethic will also be key in tonight’s game.
“It’s just all about work ethic,” alternate captain Mikhail Sergachev explained. “We know what to do, our systems didn’t really change. So, work ethic, getting into the game, getting into the season, and just working through it because it’s going to be a working season.”
