Moving an NHL franchise, its players and their families to a new state in a matter of months is hard.
Baked goods, though, make it a bit easier.
While Utah Hockey Club players have been adjusting to the new era of the team on the ice throughout training camp, their neighbors have ensured they feel right at home when the skates come off.
Forward Liam O’Brien has had a wide variety of treats to choose from since moving to Utah.
“It’s been brownies, muffins, pumpkin loaves, tomatoes, whiskey,” O’Brien said, listing off the items that have been dropped off at his door since moving in. “It’s been different people — really good neighbors, I guess. The muffins that were made were probably some of the best muffins I’ve ever had. It was like a pumpkin chocolate chip. It was really good.”
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Hockey Club forward Liam O'Brien (38) as Utah Hockey Club hosts the Los Angeles Kings, NHL pre-season hockey in Salt Lake City on Monday, Sept. 23, 2024.
Head coach André Tourigny’s neighbors own a blanket company and made sure to gift one when introducing themselves.
“The people are amazing,” Tourigny said. “There are some who know about hockey, some that don’t. But everybody is really excited about having the team here in Utah.”
At defenseman Mikhail Sergachev’s house, a family of eight came over to drop off bread and jam, and it turned into somewhat of a hangout.
Los Angeles Kings center Trevor Lewis (61) moves the puck ahead of Utah Hockey Club defenseman Mikhail Sergachev (98) during the first period of a preseason NHL hockey game, Monday, Sept. 23, 2024, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Spenser Heaps)
“They came by, the whole family with their kids. We talked for like half an hour, showed them our rabbits and chickens. The kids were happy,” Sergachev said.
There was a chicken coop in the backyard of the Sergachevs’ home when they bought it, and they kept it. They’ve added a brooder for the chickens to sit in when the rabbits want to come into the chicken coop. The backyard has been used for barbecues, and Sergachev now has fresh bread to accompany any meal.
Beyond the gifts, Sergachev might’ve found something even more precious: the neighbors’ older children are ready to tend his 17-month-old son Theodore.
“They’re also babysitters, which is nice,” Sergachev said. “They start young. They can take care of our kid sometimes when we go to dinner and stuff.”
Sean Durzi has also felt the love in his first month in Utah. The defenseman started his career in LA before getting traded to the Arizona Coyotes in June 2023. He played the 2023-24 season in the desert and posted 41 points (nine goals, 32 assists) through 76 games. Now, after signing a four-year contract with the team in June, Durzi can officially call Utah home.
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Hockey Club defenseman Sean Durzi (50) as Utah Hockey Club hosts the Los Angeles Kings, NHL pre-season hockey in Salt Lake City on Monday, Sept. 23, 2024.
“This town has been nothing but great to all of us. … Headed to the farmer’s market and people were giving me bottles of honey for free and just welcoming me in,” Durzi said. “I loved it. I had a spoonful right when I got home. It was good.”
Durzi said flowers, Rice Krispies treats and powdered sugar pastries have been brought to his door, too.
“A lot of people are going over the top here which is nice,” Durzi said. “We’ve got to be a big family here in Utah. We’re going to go through some good times together, go through some bad times – as long as we’re connected through all of it, it’s going to be a special experience.”
The players’ new neighbors understand hospitality, but they still have a lot to learn about hockey.
O’Brien — who signed a three-year contract extension with Utah in June — made a memorable impression last week during the team’s first preseason game at the Delta Center. The 6-foot-1, 213-pound forward fought the Los Angeles Kings’ Jeff Malott and riled up the crowd on his way to the penalty box.
“My neighbors watched the game the other night,” O’Brien said. “She was laughing. She was like, ‘I didn’t know how to feel when you got in that fight. Just wanted to make sure you were fine.’”
And it looks like the Utah Hockey Club will be just fine after all.
At the opening of training camp, Utah Hockey Club President Chris Armstrong said a successful season for the organization would include “establishing a real connection with the community.” It seems that goal is already being reached ahead of the team’s Oct. 8 home opener at the Delta Center where, unfortunately, baked goods probably won’t make it past security.
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