SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — Utah Mammoth forward Clayton Keller set off for the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Italy ready for a challenge. He came back with Olympic gold.
Keller spent a total of 18 minutes and 27 seconds on the ice throughout the Olympic Men’s Hockey tournament, playing alongside rivals and against teammates, to reach the gold medal game against Canada on Sunday.
Once there, he helped earn Team USA’s first Olympic gold medal in 46 years.
“It was such an incredible experience. I’m so thankful to be a part of that team,” Keller said, back in Utah after a long trip home with stops in Miami and Washington, D.C. “Those are memories that are going to last a lifetime.”
The 27-year-old forward told reporters that he always dreamed big and expected big things out of himself. While he views the first gold medal since Team USA’s “Miracle on Ice” win over Canada in 1980 as something “super special,” he said he is more motivated than ever to get back on the ice.
“You enjoy it, then you want to do it again,” Keller said. “You want to win. You want to be a part of a winning team.”
Keller won’t have to wait long to get back onto the ice in a fight for another title.
The Utah Mammoth play for the time since starting its Olympic break on Wednesday night with a home game against the Colorado Avalanche.
Entering the final stretch of the season, the Mammoth sit atop the race for the Wild Card spot in the playoffs, just a single point ahead of the Anaheim Ducks.
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