- News
- hockey
- JJ Peterka used to be a competitive speed skater. Years later, that helped the Mammoth win their home opener
JJ Peterka used to be a competitive speed skater. Years later, that helped the Mammoth win their home opener
The Delta Center was absolutely electric, man, a proper party for the Utah Mammoth's home debut, and honestly, the fans got the whole show—a tight 3-1 win over the Calgary Flames, a legit scrap, a mascot reveal that had the kids hyped, and a game-winning goal from JJ Peterka that was straight out of a video game. It was one of those nights where you could feel the buzz in the air, a real 'we've arrived' moment for this franchise, pulling their record to an even 2-2-0.The Flames struck first on a weird bounce that somehow trickled past goalie Karel Vejmelka, but Barrett Hayton, off a sweet dish from Nick Schmaltz—who's quietly stacking points in his contract year, by the way—tied it up early in the second. Then came the main event: Peterka, picking up a loose puck inside his own blue line, just decided to put the afterburners on.He blew past Zayne Parekh, who honestly had a step on him, like he was standing still, and buried it past Devin Cooley, making his first NHL appearance in over a year. Dude was smiling post-game, telling the Deseret News how much better it feels to score for the home crowd, and you could tell the energy in that building was fueling them all night.It’s wild to think this guy used to be a competitive speed skater; that background isn’t just a fun fact—it’s a legit weapon, giving him that explosive edge that leaves defenders in the dust. He’s too humble to claim the title of team speed king, though, giving a shoutout to Brandon Tanev, which is just the kind of vibe this new squad seems to have.The power play, honestly, was a bit of a mess, going 0-for-6, and Coach André Tourigny didn’t sugarcoat it, saying they had 'six million' chances but just couldn’t finish, though he’s not sweating it long-term. The Mammoth showed they can adapt, too—when Calgary tried to get physical, Utah didn’t back down, and they even cracked that dreaded 1-3-1 neutral zone trap by winning foot races and controlling the offensive zone.It’s a style that reminds you of those recent Cup winners like the Panthers or Golden Knights, teams that can switch gears on the fly, and if Utah can keep that versatility, they’re gonna be a nightmare in the playoffs. Sure, they got a bit passive protecting the lead late, sitting back like it was a penalty kill, which isn’t a sustainable move, but for now, with Peterka locked up for five years at a steal of a deal, this team feels like it’s building something special in the mountains. The crowd, the fight, the win—it was all a statement, and if this is just the home opener, the rest of the league better be paying attention.
CH
Chloe Miller123k6 hours ago
that speed from peterka is just unreal tbh what a goal to get for the home crowd
0
JA
Jamie Larson123k6 hours ago
bro that peterka goal was actually insane i had to rewatch it like three times 😭🔥
0
CA
Caleb Mitchell123k7 hours ago
watching peterka grow into this player is just incredible 🥹 you can see all that hard work paying off
0
JA
Jamie Larson123k9 hours ago
this reminds me of how florida won their cup, just finding ways to win even when parts of the game are a mess that versatility is so key
0