Clayton Keller Honors His Father in an Emotional Game
The captain of the Utah Mammoth, Clayton Keller, demonstrated unwavering strength by playing in his hometown, just two days after the unexpected passing of his father, Bryan, on Thanksgiving Day. The match took place in St. Louis, a setting charged with emotion. Before Saturday night’s game, the Blues paid a moving tribute to Keller and his 64-year-old father, displaying a photo on the screen and observing a minute of silence. Despite the support, the Mammoth fell 1-0 to the Blues.Keller, visibly emotional, spoke after the game, sharing his gratitude for the support received. He also played on Friday in Dallas, where he failed to score points in the 4-3 loss against the Stars. However, he was recognized as the first star of the match, a gesture of great significance.For me and my family, a big thank you to the Blues for everything they did tonight. They didn’t have to do that.
Clayton Keller
The presence of Keller at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis was especially significant, with family members such as his mother and grandmother in the stands. The player remembered the moments shared in that stadium, evoking memories of his childhood and admiration for the players.There are incredible people in this sport. It comes from the right place, from the heart. We were hoping to get the two points tonight for Kells. It is what it is.
Andre Tourigny, Coach of the Mammoth
Keller, 27, has played all ten seasons of his career in the NHL with the Arizona-Utah franchise and was named captain before last season, when the team moved to Salt Lake City. Selected seventh overall in the 2016 draft and a four-time All-Star, he has been a 30-goal scorer in each of the last three seasons, including career highs last season with 60 assists and 90 points. In the current season, he has 21 points, including eight goals. The player expressed his gratitude for the support received, highlighting the invaluable help of the coaching staff and management.There are many memories on this track. I remember growing up and coming to the games here, sitting on my father’s and grandfather’s laps. I admired those players and wanted to be there. So, it’s definitely been a couple of difficult days. I couldn’t have done it without my family and my teammates. They always supported me. I love them.
Clayton Keller
