“Clayton has been just the best wherever he played. That’s legit,” former St. Louis Blues defenseman and AAA Blues coach Jeff Brown said.

MILAN, Italy — Every once in a while, our town produces a phenom. I think Clayton Keller qualifies.

“Clayton has been just the best wherever he played. That’s legit,” former St. Louis Blues defenseman and AAA Blues coach Jeff Brown said. “Clayton was always kind of that guy that people came to see. A little like you hear McDavid when he was a kid, or Crosby or even Gretzky back in the day. He was that guy. He was that skilled.”

From his days on the AAA Blues, it was easy to tell that the Swansea native had the “it” factor

“Growing up, we went to a lot of places, we went to Russia, we went to Stockholm, we went to Toronto, Boston, you know, all these places to play against the top guys. And he was always the most skilled guy,” Brown said.

Keller was on those loaded AAA Blues rosters alongside fellow Olympians Matthew and Brady Tkachuk, and future NHLers like Logan Brown, Trent Frederic, Luke Kunin, Joseph Woll and Josh Dunne.

“Grew up playing with both Matthew and Brady and we were so lucky to be coached by Walt (Keith Tkachuk) and Jeff Brown and everyone that sacrificed in St. Louis to us young kids. We didn’t realize how special it was. So a lot of thanks goes out to them, and none of us would be here without their help and support growing up,” Keller said.

In 2024, at just 26 years old, Keller was named the first-ever captain of the Utah Mammoth. And he already has over 550 points in the NHL.

Now, Keller is a first-time Olympian, representing his country, his hometown and his family.

“It means a lot. Here’s a kid who grew up in Swansea, Illinois, with his grandfather driving him to practice at the old Hardee’s Iceplex in Chesterfield, where the Blues used to practice,” Blues broadcaster and AAA Blues coach Andy Strickland said. “This was a major goal of his. I can only imagine how excited his dad, Brian, would be if he was still here. The fact that his son is going to be representing Team USA in the Olympics. This means a lot to Clayton Keller and his entire family and it means a lot to the people who know his family and who are going to be cheering on Clayton from afar, because he definitely deserves to be there.”

“I’ve been able to represent my country a couple different times. It’s a great feeling and something I don’t take for granted and I’d love to do it again,” Keller said pre-Olympics.