The Utah Hockey Club’s 2024-25 season is about to get underway, but before the big club takes the ice, we’ll see the prospects and rookies skate into the rink. Utah has an exciting prospect pool, too, so there is no doubt that they will be part of the team’s future before we all know it.
But who will they play, and when can you see the prospects in action at the Rookie Face-Off Tournament in Los Angeles?
- September 13th, 2:00 PM vs. San Jose Sharks
- September 14th, 8:00 PM vs. Los Angeles Kings
- September 16th, 1:30 PM vs. Vegas Golden Knights
Source: NHL.com - All times Mountain Standard
Players to Watch at the Rookie Face-Off Tournament
While we won’t know who will represent Utah at the Rookie Face-Off Tournament, we can always speculate who will show up, including newcomers Tij Iginla and Cole Beaudoin. Both Iginla and Beaudoin signed, but neither is expected to make the big club this season, barring a sensational camp and preseason.
Not only will the likes of Iginla and Beaudoin likely see Macklin Celebrini on the opposite end of the ice, but with such a stacked prospect pool that Utah possesses, the real competition resides within the organization. That said, Iginla and Beaudoin will be there for the experience, but you can’t say the same about goaltender Matt Villalta.
Villalta had some lean seasons in the AHL, in which he’s played since suiting up for the Ontario Reign in the 2019-20 season. He made his NHL debut last season with the Arizona Coyotes, where he posted a GAA of 4.17 and an 0.828 save percentage across two contests, but let’s not forget about his epic outing in Tucson, where he finished with a 2.54 GAA, a 0.911 save percentage, and a 2.54 GAA.
Overall, the players mentioned above are just a handful ready and raring to prove they deserve a spot in Utah’s inaugural lineup. And since these Rookie Face-Off Tournaments always seem to have someone come out of nowhere, look for a few unexpected names to join the shortlist of players to watch at the conclusion of this showcase.