KEARNS — Utah Mammoth forward Alexander Kerfoot said it was an “unbelievable” opportunity.

Kerfoot and the club hosted the first-ever “Girls’ Hockey Day” at the Olympic Oval on Wednesday, and leading the clinics was none other than Team USA captain and Olympic gold medalist Hilary Knight.

The former NCAA national champion at the University of Wisconsin now calls Sun Valley, Idaho, home but trains part time in Utah with her partner and Team USA speed skater Brittany Bowe.

“Hilary has skated with us, so I’ve gotten to know her a little bit,” Kerfoot said. “It’s unbelievable that she’s out here doing this for the girls. To be able to be on the same ice with her is really special.”

Knight and fellow Professional Women’s Hockey League player Mellissa Channell-Watkins led two separate on-ice clinics, first for girls 12 and under and then for players between the ages of 13 and 19.

Kerfoot said he wasn’t sure what to expect coming into the first girls’ youth clinics hosted by the Mammoth, but was pleasantly surprised by the talent in the group, with Knight saying the turnout was “amazing.”

Utah Mammoth forward Alexander Kerfoot on hosting Girls’ Hockey Day:

“I didn’t know what to expect when I was coming here, but some of the girls are pretty talented. I think at this age, you just want them to enjoy it. They’re having fun with their friends, learning new skills.” pic.twitter.com/RcTmtirDdM

— Caleb Turner (@calebturner23) July 30, 2025

“I applaud the Utah Mammoth and Alex for the effort of putting this together and continuing to grow and develop girls’ hockey in the state — it’s huge,” Knight said. “This is their first one, which is exciting; and look at the turnout, it’s amazing. And I think everybody had a lot of fun, which is great.”

Knight is preparing to play in her fifth Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, in February. She joined expansion team PWHL Seattle this summer ahead of the league’s third season.

Professional women’s hockey in North America has been anything but stable over the last decade, with three name changes and league restructures since 2015, but Knight has found ways to thrive in the sport despite the uncertainties.

She won the inaugural Isobel Cup with the Boston Pride of the NWHL in 2016, and was named the inaugural International Ice Hockey Federation Female Player of the Year in 2023. With the PWHL now expanding from six to eight teams, would the part-time Utah resident like to see the league’s growth include Salt Lake City?

“I would love if a women’s professional team came to Salt Lake,” Knight said. “It took forever to get an NHL club, and I think it’s awesome that we have an NHL presence here in the state and can continue to build in the mountains.”

Knight said Milan will be her final Olympics, meaning the 36-year-old forward will not be on the ice when the Games return to the Beehive State in 2034, but she still plans to be in attendance.

“The Olympics are so magical,” Knight said. “So many dreams happen surrounding the Olympics, whether it’s aspirations to be an Olympian or what Olympians do to have a positive impact on people’s lives. I think it’s awesome to be able to host the Olympics. A handful of us have already talked about doing some sort of reunion.”

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