The team went 4-0 during its first homestand at the Delta Center.

(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Mammoth center Nick Schmaltz (8) as the Utah Mammoth host the Colorado Avalanche, NHL hockey in Salt Lake City on Tuesday Oct. 21, 2025.

The hats hit the ice after Utah Mammoth forward Nick Schmaltz scored his third goal against the San Jose Sharks last week.

And while Schmaltz enjoyed celebrating his second career hat trick with the 12,478 fans at Delta Center, there was one person in particular he wanted to recognize.

“Shoutout to my grandpa,” Schmaltz said after the game.

Grandpa might be a good luck charm of sorts, as it turns out. Schmaltz said his grandfather has watched him play live twice during his NHL career.

“He’s seen a hat trick both times,” Schmaltz said. “So it’s pretty cool and special to have him here.”

The forward’s first hat trick came on Jan. 26, 2003, when he scored three goals for the Arizona Coyotes in a 5-0 win over the St. Louis Blues.

Schmaltz wasn’t the only Mammoth player to impress his family during the team’s homestand.

Utah star Dylan Guenther said his parents had never seen him score in an NHL game until he bagged the game-winner against the Boston Bruins on Sunday evening.

“I mean it only took 25 games,” Guenther said with a grin. “So this might have been the last road trip if I hadn’t gotten one, but this one is special. Growing up as a kid always dreaming of playing in the NHL and getting to score with your family in the stands is pretty cool.”

But Guenther may have found a different good luck charm already.

The 22-year-old’s parents left town early this week and were not in attendance to see his overtime game-winner against the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday night.

“I actually left my barber tickets tonight,” Guenther said. “So maybe I’ll bring him again.”

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah players celebrate the win as the Utah Mammoth host the Calgary Flames, NHL hockey in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025. Karel Vejmelka (70), Dmitri Simashev (26) and Dylan Guenther (11).

Guenther’s game-winners

Those goals against the Bruins and the Avalanche doubled Guenther’s total on the year — and added to the youngster’s lore.

No player in the league has scored more game-winning goals (9) or overtime goals (4) dating back to last February.

“Those are the moments you want to play in,” Guenther said. “I didn’t think I played well throughout the whole game, just kind of fighting it all game. But it’s just next-shift mentality. What can I do the next shift to help this team?

(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Colorado Avalanche center Parker Kelly (17) stitches out for a puck as Utah Mammoth defenseman Ian Cole (28) takes over as the Utah Mammoth host the Colorado Avalanche, NHL hockey in Salt Lake City on Tuesday Oct. 21, 2025.

A perfect start at home

The Mammoth took down Calgary, San Jose, Boston and Colorado to go 4-0 during their first homestand of the season.

“Trying not to get ahead of ourselves, in the sense that I don’t want to get too excited,” head coach Andre Tourigny said. “But obviously, we’re happy about how it happened so far. And we know we have 41 games at home, and we want to take advantage of it. But so far, so good.”

Last season, the team didn’t win its fourth home game until Nov. 13.

“I think last year we were a little starstruck from the fans early on, and I know we didn’t start out great at home,” Guenther said. “But we’re embracing it now. It’s a lot of fun to play in front of them.”