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Blame Benson Boone and his backflips for Utah Mammoth’s start to the NHL season

The Utah Mammoth’s home opener is on Oct. 15 against the Calgary Flames.

(Eakin Howard | AP) Utah Hockey Club center Clayton Keller (9) celebrates his goal with center Nick Schmaltz (8), right wing Dylan Guenther (11), and defenseman Mikhail Sergachev (98) against the San Jose Sharks during the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024, in San Jose, Calif.

(Eakin Howard | AP) Utah Hockey Club center Clayton Keller (9) celebrates his goal with center Nick Schmaltz (8), right wing Dylan Guenther (11), and defenseman Mikhail Sergachev (98) against the San Jose Sharks during the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024, in San Jose, Calif.

By https://author-service-images-prod-us-east-1.publishing.aws.arc.pub/sltrib/0f3ffe1d-0d27-4298-b508-66b36dc670bd.JPG Belle Fraser
 | July 16, 2025, 9:52 a.m.
| Updated: 11:22 a.m.

Utah Mammoth fans will have to wait a bit longer to hear the sounds of regular-season hockey return to the Delta Center.

The 2025-2026 NHL campaign commences on Oct. 7, but the only thing echoing from the downtown Salt Lake City arena that week will be from Benson Boone. The singer — who went to Brigham Young University-Idaho and grew up in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — is scheduled to perform in Utah Oct. 8, Oct. 9 and Oct. 11.

The Mammoth will, accordingly, begin their season with a three-game road trip against Central Division opponents before returning for their home opener on Oct. 15 at 7:30 p.m. against the Calgary Flames.

Utah’s first game will be Oct. 9 at 7 p.m. against the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena. The Mammoth will then play the Nashville Predators on Oct. 11 at 6 p.m. at Bridgestone Arena before closing out the trip in Chicago with a 6:30 p.m. matchup against the Blackhawks at United Center.

(Amy Harris | Invision/AP) Benson Boone performs during the first weekend of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival at the Empire Polo Club on Friday, April 11, 2025, in Indio, Calif.

Boone will hold center stage atop what will soon become the ice for the Mammoth’s second year while the team travels.

Playing on the road became one of Utah’s strengths early last season. The team put together a seven-game win streak from Nov. 26, 2024, to Dec. 20, 2024, while competing at away venues. The Mammoth’s longest win streak at Delta Center was four games, spanning from Feb. 4 to Feb. 27.

So, perhaps Boone serenading the crowd with his song about “Moonbeam Ice Cream” will allow Utah to get off to a strong start before debuting as the Mammoth in front of their local fans.

The full Utah Mammoth regular-season schedule was released Wednesday morning. Ticket packages for the season are currently available. Group deposits are also open. Single-game tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. on Thursday.

The league announced there will be a triple-header hosted by ESPN on Oct. 7, featuring matchups between the Chicago Blackhawks and Florida Panthers, Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Rangers, and the Colorado Avalanche against the Los Angeles Kings.

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