Utah Hockey Club is without another one of its stars.
The team announced Friday that forward Logan Cooley is out indefinitely with a lower-body injury and will be reevaluated after the 4 Nations Face-Off break which concludes on Feb. 20.
Head coach André Tourigny said Cooley got hurt during Wednesday’s game against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Delta Center.
“He finished the game, he was a warrior. He battled through pain but now he will be out indefinitely,” Tourigny said. “You cannot feel sorry for yourself. This league will jump right at your throat if you think you can feel sorry for yourself.”
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Hockey Club center Logan Cooley (92) in NHL action between the Utah Hockey Club and the San Jose Sharks, at the Delta Center, on Friday, Jan 10, 2025.
Cooley is second on the team in points with 43 (15 goals, 28 assists) while he centered the first line between captain Clayton Keller and Nick Schmaltz. The 20-year-old logged 10 points in the month of January and was a key piece of the team’s first power play unit and penalty kill.
“It’s tough, he’s been playing really well. I think he’s a big reason our team has taken a step this year — [because of] his personal growth," Michael Kesselring said. “It’s tough to see him go down but other guys have to be excited, there’s a lot of opportunity, he plays a lot of minutes for us. Guys have to step up and we have to find a way to win some games while he’s out.”
With Cooley out, Alex Kerfoot will center the first line between Keller and Schmaltz. Matias Maccelli will reenter the lineup and skate with Barrett Hayton and Josh Doan. The third line of Michael Carcone, Jack McBain and Lawson Crouse as well as the fourth line of Liam O’Brien, Kevin Stenlund and Nick Bjugstad will remain the same.
(Matt Krohn | AP) Utah Hockey Club right wing Dylan Guenther (11) is congratulated for his goal against the Minnesota Wild during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, in St. Paul, Minn.
Hayton was moved to the first power play unit to fill in Cooley’s spot, too.
“We talked early in the season about our depth,” Tourigny said. “It’s time now for us up front to show we have depth and we trust the guys who will have the opportunity. And we do trust them. It’s time to not talk but do it.”
Cooley joins Dylan Guenther on the list of injured forwards. Guenther is also dealing with a lower-body injury and is now skating with the team in a non-contact jersey. Head coach André Tourigny said Guenther is day-to-day but the team does not have a specific date for his return.
“It’s part of the NHL. Injuries happen, teams go through that every year. It’s definitely big pieces of our team and it’s tough missing those guys,” Hayton said. “But everyone in the room has to step up and give a little more. It’s a fight. These are massive games for us and we’ve got to find a way.”
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Hockey Club right wing Josh Doan (91) in NHL action between the Utah Hockey Club and the San Jose Sharks, at the Delta Center, on Friday, Jan 10, 2025.
Doan was recalled from the Tucson Roadrunners when Guenther got hurt. The team, as of Friday morning, has not brought anyone up from its AHL affiliate team in the wake of Cooley’s injury.
“He’s one of those guys I think that can really step up and help us,” Kesselring said of Doan. “He’s been really good on the forecheck for us, good energy guy so far. I think he’s been real close to scoring some goals and getting some points.”
This will be the first time in Cooley’s two-year NHL career that he will miss a game.
