August is weeks away from being over, and Utah Mammoth hockey is approaching quickly. At this point in the summer, there is little hockey news to report. This winter, the NHLers will be participating in the Olympic Games, and orientation camps will be held at the end of the month. The USA team will be holding its camp August 26-27 in Plymouth, Michigan.
After winning the Hockey Championships in the spring, Team USA is riding high and led by some Utah players. The orientation camp roster has been revealed today, and to no surprise, Logan Cooley and Clayton Keller received invitations.
44 players will be attending the camp, and not all will be guaranteed a spot on the final roster that heads to Milan for the competition. Neither Keller nor Cooley made the roster last February in the Four Nations Tournament.
If this Mammoth team is going to take a step towards making the playoffs for the first time in the young franchise's history, these two players will need to get off to fast starts, which will simultaneously help their chances of making the USA team.
Despite the rising stardom of Cooley last season, Keller has the best chance of making this USA squad. The 27-year-old captained the Hockey Championship team last spring and has been a consistent producer in the NHL for the past nine seasons. His skill is undeniable and would fit nicely with the established toughness of this group of Americans.
After a career 90-point campaign last season in Utah, Keller has the ability to put the puck in the net, but more importantly, can play a distributing role, having 312 career assists. Unlike some other potential candidates, Keller is responsible in his zone and can provide pace to the offense with his speed.
It will be a treat to see Keller and Cooley back on the ice with Team USA next week and satisfy the hockey hunger of all the Utah fans waiting for this season to start.