December 12, 2025 • 22 mins
Mike Benton with the Dec. 12 drop of Kraken This Morning, ahead of the 6pm PT matchup between the Seattle Kraken and Utah Mammoth. Mike is joined by Mammoth radio play by play voice Mike Folta.
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Speaker 1 (00:02):
Welcome to Kraken This morning a presentation of the Kraken
Audio Network, Ken Sports Radio ninety three point three kjr FM.
Here's Mike Benton.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Tom's Watchbar is your official watch party headquarters for tonight's
one off. As far as a road trip is concerned,
when the Kraken take on the Utah Mammoth. Opening up
at six pm Pacific, We're on air five thirty of
your pregame shows served up by Frost Brewed Corps, Light
Shoes Chill all across the Global Credit Union KRACK and
Audio Network. With the Kraken looking for their first ever
(00:35):
win at Delta Center and aiming for back to back
wins for the first time since November, we will talk
with Mike Fulda radio play by play voice of the
Mammoth coming up in just a bit. Additionally, here from
Vince Dunn. After the Kraken put together an inspiring comeback
late in period three, eventually finishing off the Los Angeles
(00:57):
Kings in overtime.
Speaker 3 (00:58):
For a three to two victory two nine.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
It's a go and Done certainly had a lot to
do with this, so it kept the Kraken on pace
with plenty of teams right now still in the middle
of the pack of the Western Conference, their record twelve
ten and six for thirty points, three back of the
cut line in the Western Conference. In this evening's game,
a Mammoth won in more ways than one. With three
(01:23):
teams ahead of the Kraken right now for a playoff spot,
Utah is one of them, standing one point ahead of
the Kraken heading into game twenty nine on the Kraken
side and game thirty three already on the Utah side.
The Mammoth have lost three in a row, but the
Kracking getting back on the winning path two nights ago
(01:44):
when they found a way in the last minute of regulation,
pulling goaltender Joey to cord and embarking on a lay
power play up.
Speaker 4 (01:53):
Off the draw Cope Paitar wins at Edmondson around the boards, done,
saves it near corner.
Speaker 5 (01:58):
Here's Tobaden to the face off dot sinery.
Speaker 4 (02:00):
Passaires he directs the shot home on the power play.
The Seattle pecking tie the Tame two to two, two.
Speaker 3 (02:15):
Forty eight twenty four point eight left in this third well.
Speaker 5 (02:19):
Seattle loses not draw at the offensive end of the ice,
but it's fits done down inchestside the blue line, keeping
the puck in. He gets it down to Tolvan and Tolvean.
It sells the shot, lets it go. It's a deflection
by Matty Vaniers that ties this game up in two.
Speaker 4 (02:33):
Every it's a tolven and across done stems fence gets
it done and over time free two Seattle Well.
Speaker 5 (02:50):
A great setup by Jordan Eberley who feeds the puck
over to Toby and Toban waits for Fvitz time to
get in a position for a one timer in the
high slot, slides it over to him. It's Bob crack
and win.
Speaker 3 (03:02):
Three to two. Bring on the five kicks.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
So that riveting plot twist gave the Kraken a victory
in their first matchup of the season over the Kings,
eradicating an oz five and one skid in the last
six games and Done putting up three points in the contest,
becoming the fourth fastest active defenseman to post two hundred
points with an NHL franchise. He also follows Jared McCann
(03:27):
as a second player in Cracking history to reach two
hundred points with the franchise as well, now putting Done
up to seventeen points on the season right now tied
for second in Crack and scoring.
Speaker 3 (03:41):
They can use a little bit more of it.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
May be here for this evening as we await the
status of Jared McCann, who left the game lighton period three,
which by the way, led to the Kraken power play.
As he was tangled up with goaltender Anton Forrestburg, McCann's
legs swept out from underneath them. You would need help
getting off toward the dressing room tunnel. Forrestburg given a
two minute tripping penalty and the course of Crack and
(04:04):
cashing in, but also amiss the victory, holding their breath
for one of their top scores. Nonetheless, it was a
win that gave the Crack and a breath of fresh air.
And Done talked more about it after the game with
the media.
Speaker 6 (04:17):
I think it was a pretty satisfying game, honestly, Like
I know, the five on five offense was close in there.
We had our chances, and I didn't really see like
a lot of frustration with their team right to the end.
I thought that the guys stay pretty disciplined and really
trust the process all the way to the end. Guys
stuck to it when they weren't getting necessarily results on
the scoreboard for us. But I think overall we can
(04:40):
all feel pretty good about that game. It took everyone
to draw penalties to defend to PK. I'm sure you
notice our PK has changed a little bit too, and
you know, stuff happens. They get the breakaways. It's an
only play by them, and we'll live with those sometimes.
And I thought, Ray, when we bound bounce right back,
we get a good kill to finish it off and
(05:02):
then get a lucky PPR way at the end to
get back in it. So it's just important right now
to to just stick with it all the way to
the end. I think with wins and losses, the way
we've had the games for us, it's it's always like
a one goal or two goal games, so anything can
really happen going both ways. So it's important for us
to just stick with it right to the end. What
are you guys dofferently on that power play?
Speaker 3 (05:23):
It's the third time you score in four games.
Speaker 6 (05:27):
I love our attack right now. I think we're just
throwing everything at the net. It's it's disappointing when it
gets blocked, but I think that maybe changes the way
that they'll see us in front of them and makes
them not feel so good when they know we're not
just gonna pass it around and look for the highlight
reel seams and things like that. So the guys did
(05:47):
a great job, you see. Uh, you know, it was
kind of a chaotic first power play goal and then
Maddie's goal there, it's not much to it. It's throwing
the puck where where guys are going to the net
and you know eventually it's going to go in for us.
And same thing at the very end. It's not anything
specially drawing up. It's just taking the shot that's there
and you know, hoping good things happen.
Speaker 3 (06:09):
How you manage to keep on that well, I think
just reading where the d r.
Speaker 6 (06:17):
You know, if it's a left handed guy and on
the inside, it's gonna come out the other side, and
I'm just anticipating that. And I got fortunate it kind
of got glued on the wall and settled down pretty nice.
Sometimes pretty hard on your backhand there, So I got
pretty fortunate that it wasn't too difficult for me to
keep it. And then you know, the other guys do do.
Speaker 3 (06:35):
All the work for me.
Speaker 6 (06:36):
Just got to pass it around and you know, let
them try to finish it, and they did a great job.
Speaker 3 (06:42):
You were for TV.
Speaker 5 (06:44):
You censor your comments or did you speak just the
way you always speak?
Speaker 6 (06:50):
I think, uh, it's always kind of in the back
of your mind. But you know, it was a pretty
friendly match there. I think, you know, the reps that
we had and the team that we're playing, it's a
fun team to kind of chat with and bicker with,
and a very competitive atmosphere whenever we play them. So
you know, that's that's the fun part, and it's it's
good to kind of get that kind of attention out
(07:11):
and let people kind of see the you know, the
ends of the game. So you know, I don't mind
doing that sometimes. It's pretty fun to be a part
of it and being the guy miked up.
Speaker 3 (07:19):
Yeah, tough to see Jared get hurt on the play
that Yeah, the layer.
Speaker 6 (07:22):
Yeah, it's been chaos.
Speaker 3 (07:24):
I haven't even stepped out of the room.
Speaker 6 (07:25):
Really. I got my brother over there, so you know,
it's just a lot right now. I don't really know
what's going on with him. So, you know, he played
a really, really good game. I was telling them all game.
I mean he made some elite plays. He was feeling
good with the puck in Obviously, shooting the puck is
what we need him to do every single night, So
I hope it's nothing too bad.
Speaker 2 (07:43):
First matchup coming up and all a part of the
dad's trip. This should sound familiar because the last team,
the Utah Man the Face also had a parents' trip
also in there as well, the mom's side of it.
So what do you know, right back into Utah for
the second round of this, I guess anyway. Mike Foulton
joining us here radio played by a play voice for
the Utah Mammoth ninety seven to five FM twelve ADAMKSL
(08:07):
Sports Owners where you can hear him Mike.
Speaker 3 (08:10):
Great to hear from you.
Speaker 2 (08:11):
Looking forward to having you back out in these parts
here sooner than later. But before I get into the
meat of this first off, well done with the Mammoth nickname,
the logo pops, the jersey's pop. The name sticks like glue.
But what's been the overall reception once this took over,
replacing effectively what was Utah Hockey Club.
Speaker 7 (08:32):
I think people are pretty fired up about it, and
it was a unique process because it was opened up
to the public. It was a fan boat. It wasn't
just created in some lab behind the curtains. This was
kind of a whole state of Utah coming together and say, hey,
this is what we want. I think I think hearing
(08:52):
from the power the d at the league office and
maybe even some folks higher up in the organization, I
think sentiment is that was awesome. It was really rewarding.
We have what we want. Let's never do that again,
because there's a lot that had to that had to
go into it. But they absolutely nailed the logo. Everybody
(09:14):
looks great in Mountain Blue, and it's been fun to
go to different arenas and see that blue stand out
in the crowd.
Speaker 3 (09:21):
Yeah, certainly.
Speaker 2 (09:22):
I mean I can say, you know, just from the
past teams on my resume and the past stops, if
you can combine black and glacier blue and white, you're
doing a pretty good job. Shout out there to the
Alaska Aces who are no longer with this, but still
those colors just certainly pop. But great to have you
and a strong start that was eight and two just
seemed like a dream. And the team recently hitting the skids,
(09:44):
and I think we all know that by now it's
a condensed schedule, injuries will happen, and this is the
way that the NHL rolls in twenty twenty five and
twenty six. So you're still hanging around with the picture
right now. You're doing something, all right, But I mean,
I think you could point to a crunch in the schedule,
which I think caught them pretty good. But how do
you look at this here with the challenges that they
(10:05):
have faced recently.
Speaker 7 (10:07):
Yeah, I think first of all, even despite the last
couple of losses, Utah still played really good games. And
we've kind of had a run of that back through
November where the Mammoths have played really well. It came
out with great intensity, They've shown a willingness to go
to the dirty areas of the ice and all those cliches,
and yet they can't find a way to come out
(10:27):
on top like they were back in October. The Mamoth
are seven games below five hundred since that eight and
two start, and since that seven game win streak we
saw in November, Utah really struggled on the power play.
A big part of that was just the team wasn't
generating a lot of power play opportunities, so there wasn't
(10:48):
much rhythm in that regard. There were a few games
that I think the goaltenders, both for Alva Malka and
VTech Vanichick would have liked to have back. And when
you add that on to some of the power play struggles,
it kind of propagated into a couple losing skids here
and there, and you know, you throw a six game
road trip in there, six games in nine days, and
(11:10):
all of a sudden, the man has had the worst
record in the league through November. But on the flip
side of that, the power play has now scored goals
in three of the last five games. We're seeing great
goaltending from Corel ba Melca, probably his best four games
stretch of the season that started with a seven zero
shutout win against the Anaheim Ducks last week, and a
(11:32):
lot of other indicators are trending up. When you kind
of open the hood and look at the analytics, it's
just the team has to figure out a way to
get the shift across the finish line at the end.
They've had a couple of heartbreakers in the last two
losses against La and Florida.
Speaker 3 (11:49):
Last time the Kraken visited Utah.
Speaker 2 (11:51):
It was back in April, and it was a game
where Philip grew Bauer, Joey decortold me and grew Bauer
fell ill and the cord was press into starting duty
at the eleventh hour and Utah got into fifth gear
pretty quick and the crack and couldn't get out of
first gear from the jump. They will non see Logan
Cooley in this game.
Speaker 3 (12:10):
Out of the lineup.
Speaker 2 (12:11):
Two leg injuries and short order and he'll be out indefinitely. Mike,
what are they missing with him out and how are
they working on trying to repair the holes with them
out right now?
Speaker 7 (12:21):
Well, he's a huge missy piece and he still leads
the team in goals as we stand right now, he's
missed the last three games. And it's actually funny, as
we just started recording Mike news came down from the
Utah Twitter account that he's going to be out eight weeks.
So we just now have a timeline on that that
basically takes us all the way up until the Olympic break.
(12:45):
So the Mammuthter Olympic break a little buffer for Cooley
as he comes back hopefully for the last twenty five
games of the year right after the Olympic break in February.
But he's Utah's most creative and dynamic player, and he
also plays that crucial role of center where the Mammoths
are a little thin compared to some of the other
(13:07):
contenders in the Western Conference. Nick Schmaltz has moved over
from wing to center. That's something that he's done a
little bit throughout his career. Hasn't done it full time
for the last four seasons, but he's playing a pivot
role with Clayton Keller on one side of them at
JJ Fittka on the other. When that line has a
(13:27):
puck in the offensive zone and when they're humming boys,
they are fun to watch because they can zip it
around and there's a ton of skill. But not having Logan,
Logan and Coolie in the lineup takes a lot of
spark out of out of Utah's game and to the
rest of the crew to make that up. And the
Mamots have played the last two games without him really
(13:48):
well here on home mikes, and a lot of that
has been due to some line shakeups we've seen from
head coach Andre Turney. But obviously everybody knows the Mammoths
are a much more dangerous team, much more exciting team
than my better number ninety two.
Speaker 3 (14:04):
He was their leading goal scorer with fourteen. He's out.
Speaker 2 (14:07):
Dylan Gunther, former Seattle Thunderbird is next with thirteen. Right
now Clayton Keller, though, is still a constant here in
this organization. Twenty eight points leads him again in scoring.
No surprise there, and he went through a heartbreaking period
last month, Mike, he lost his father. What do you
think people had to understand with the weight he carried
and the magnitude of the game he played to score
(14:29):
a goal in his first game since his father passed.
Speaker 7 (14:32):
Well, I think it's really weighed on him, and you
wouldn't necessarily know just from being around him. I think
he loved the game first and foremost, so he definitely
wanted to play, and his dad, Brian loved loved locking
him play. His dad kind of helped make a rank
in their unfinished basement, and so their basement walls all
(14:54):
dented up, like you know, like a lot of families
who have raised hockey players. But it was a really
emotion few days in the aftermath. We got the news
on Thanksgiving and Clayton played the next day in Dallas,
was super charged in that game, playing on a lot
of adrenaline, and then a couple of days later he
(15:15):
went back to his hometown of Saint Louis and played
the Blues there, and at that time you could kind
of see it had been a few days since the
news and the whole team was really carrying that emotion.
And there's been a bunch of guys that have been
with Clayton the last few years. You think of Nick
Schmaltz and Lawson crowds who are watching their watching their teammate,
(15:36):
their captain, and their friends go through just a really,
really difficult time. And the tragedy didn't just weigh on Clayton.
If you go back and listen to some of the
post game sound it waited on the rest of the
team as well. But Clayton loved the game and his dad, Brian,
loved the game as well, and a couple of games back,
(15:57):
Clayton got a goal and kind of pointed up to
heaven and Brian's walking with the best seat in the house.
But it's definitely been tough for Youasoner.
Speaker 2 (16:05):
Mike Folter joining us again. Radio play by a play
voice of the Utah Mammoth here on Cracking this morning.
Mike All of a sudden, Andre Tourney is the league's
fourth longest tenure coach. It's crazy here to consider, and
he was higher back in twenty twenty one when this
team was still the Arizona Coyotes playing in not just
one but two buildings prior. Even in this tough stretch,
(16:25):
this team is still getting high marks for their effort.
And this team's got a young core as well. How
much more digging does he have to do to unearth
their full potential?
Speaker 7 (16:35):
Yeah, I think that's what we're all trying to figure out,
because every time that this team gets called out, whether
it's by Bear or whether it's by one of the
veterans of this group, there's a response, and that's what
you want to see, and that's what tells you that
they're still full buy in with this crew. Mammosata had
a bad loss six to three against San Jose the
(16:57):
other week, and they had a spirited pro the next
day with lots of one way conversations from Andre Turney
to the group. And what happened the next game, Well,
they came out and they won seven nothing against an
Anaheim Duck team that at the time was the second
best team in the Pacific Division, actively leading the Pacific Division,
(17:18):
i should say. And so when you see that type
of response, that tells you that the coach still has
a handle on the group. And I think one thing
that I've come to appreciate about Bear is his steadiness
and his commitment to the process. And I think you
need that when you're trying to come out of a rebuild.
(17:38):
But this Mammoth team is clearly still learning how to win.
And as we've seen from the last couple of games,
you can play a really good game, and the NHL
is so competitive, especially this year, you can play your
A game and all that means is that it's going
to be a one shot game in the third period.
Just because you bring your A game does not mean
that you're going to win. The game is just too
(18:00):
good for that.
Speaker 2 (18:01):
He Finally, Delta Center's undergone a renovation, and what I
really appreciate about it is that it maintains its soul,
It maintains its foundation as one of the smaller venues
here in the league and kind of out of here
to the league's tapestry of uniqueness when it comes to
different venues across the NHL. Certainly Climb the Pledge Arena
fits that mold. But to you, what's the biggest change
(18:24):
MIC and what's your favorite part about the makeover?
Speaker 7 (18:26):
Well, the favorite part is the dvantage point because where
we call the game from and wherever Fitsy is going
to call the game from, we're right at the top
of the lower bowl, so you're really as close as
you can possibly get in the NHL to the action.
At a lot of places, we're up in a gondola
like a Climate Pledge, which is at a great vantage point.
(18:47):
But sometimes, like in Edmonton, you're a million miles.
Speaker 3 (18:50):
Away, halfway to Red Deer.
Speaker 7 (18:53):
Yeah, I just guys will be calling the game from Regina.
But at Delta Center you are right there and it's
not just easier to see, but you can feel the
intensity of the crowd as well. It's a very steep arena.
It's not as steep for basketball, but because the hockey
rink is bigger than the basketball floor, the stands are
(19:14):
actually on risers and so the angles of the seat
change for hockey compared to basketball. So it's very very steep,
which can make it very very loud at times too,
especially when the Mountain Blue are rolling. But the home
team hasn't hasn't lost in this all time series yet.
Between Battle and Utah, it should be a fun one
(19:37):
here Friday night.
Speaker 2 (19:38):
I remember, ever it fits you and al Kiniski raving
about the proximity of the ice cream machine and the
ice cream Man to what was their press base last year.
I'm not sure if that has changed. If it has,
please give them a hug for me, and one of
these days I'll look forward to making the trip out there, Mike,
Thank you man.
Speaker 7 (19:54):
Of course, Chick fil A is nearby as well. Dinners
on me whenever it's in the house.
Speaker 2 (19:59):
All right on bottoms up? Why not Mike Folta joining
us once again. Mammoth Radio play by play voice says
the Kracking getting set for one of three matchups on
the season here with Utah and can the Kraken finally
break a trend in this head to head series? Last
year the home team won every game in the head
to head series, and this time the Kraken looking to
(20:21):
turn tables after they took a seven to one loss
and their only visited to Delta Center last week, but
as we pointed out, the Kraken with some extra energy
and family presence on the trip. This game also marking
the final leg of the Fathers and Mentor's trip, and
we caught up with plenty of Kraken players with plenty
(20:41):
of great stories. Vince done with his brother along here
for the ride. Brandon Montur has his father in on
the trip as well, plenty of players also sharing similar testimonies,
and the Kraken trying to capitalize off a little something
extra here in this one off stop before they come
back home for two in a row against the Buffalo
Sabers and the Colorado Avalanche once again. Utah coming off
(21:05):
a four to two loss to the Los Angeles Kings.
They have hit the skids recently after beginning of the
year eight and two. They are six thirteen and three
since October twenty eight, but they still boast plenty of
top end firepower even with the loss of Logan Cooley.
Dylan Gunther, the former Seattle Thunderbird, has goals in back
(21:26):
to back games. He leads him with thirteen goals on
the season. Clayton Keller right now no surprise, top of
the pack for Utah, scoring with twenty eight points on
the campaign. Without question, he's a go to guy the
Kraken want to go after defensively, who leads all active
players on the Mammoth roster against the Kraken with ten
points in twelve games.
Speaker 3 (21:45):
Gonna be a fun one here this evening.
Speaker 2 (21:47):
Hope you can join us once again if you're around
the area at Tom's Watch Bar right across from Climb
the Pledge Arena for our watch party airtime opening up
at five thirty. Ever it fits you al Katiski at
Delta Center with the call that opens up little past
six pm Pacific all across the Global Credit Union crake
In Audio Network. Hey, thanks again to Mike Folter for
(22:08):
joining us and for kracking this morning. I'm Mike Benton.
Speaker 3 (22:11):
Enjoy the game. You're home for the Kraken.
Speaker 1 (22:13):
Sports Radio ninety three point three kJ R FM
Welcome to Kraken This morning a presentation of the Kraken
Audio Network, Ken Sports Radio ninety three point three kjr FM.
Here's Mike Benton.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Tom's Watchbar is your official watch party headquarters for tonight's
one off. As far as a road trip is concerned,
when the Kraken take on the Utah Mammoth. Opening up
at six pm Pacific, We're on air five thirty of
your pregame shows served up by Frost Brewed Corps, Light
Shoes Chill all across the Global Credit Union KRACK and
Audio Network. With the Kraken looking for their first ever
(00:35):
win at Delta Center and aiming for back to back
wins for the first time since November, we will talk
with Mike Fulda radio play by play voice of the
Mammoth coming up in just a bit. Additionally, here from
Vince Dunn. After the Kraken put together an inspiring comeback
late in period three, eventually finishing off the Los Angeles
(00:57):
Kings in overtime.
Speaker 3 (00:58):
For a three to two victory two nine.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
It's a go and Done certainly had a lot to
do with this, so it kept the Kraken on pace
with plenty of teams right now still in the middle
of the pack of the Western Conference, their record twelve
ten and six for thirty points, three back of the
cut line in the Western Conference. In this evening's game,
a Mammoth won in more ways than one. With three
(01:23):
teams ahead of the Kraken right now for a playoff spot,
Utah is one of them, standing one point ahead of
the Kraken heading into game twenty nine on the Kraken
side and game thirty three already on the Utah side.
The Mammoth have lost three in a row, but the
Kracking getting back on the winning path two nights ago
(01:44):
when they found a way in the last minute of regulation,
pulling goaltender Joey to cord and embarking on a lay
power play up.
Speaker 4 (01:53):
Off the draw Cope Paitar wins at Edmondson around the boards, done,
saves it near corner.
Speaker 5 (01:58):
Here's Tobaden to the face off dot sinery.
Speaker 4 (02:00):
Passaires he directs the shot home on the power play.
The Seattle pecking tie the Tame two to two, two.
Speaker 3 (02:15):
Forty eight twenty four point eight left in this third well.
Speaker 5 (02:19):
Seattle loses not draw at the offensive end of the ice,
but it's fits done down inchestside the blue line, keeping
the puck in. He gets it down to Tolvan and Tolvean.
It sells the shot, lets it go. It's a deflection
by Matty Vaniers that ties this game up in two.
Speaker 4 (02:33):
Every it's a tolven and across done stems fence gets
it done and over time free two Seattle Well.
Speaker 5 (02:50):
A great setup by Jordan Eberley who feeds the puck
over to Toby and Toban waits for Fvitz time to
get in a position for a one timer in the
high slot, slides it over to him. It's Bob crack
and win.
Speaker 3 (03:02):
Three to two. Bring on the five kicks.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
So that riveting plot twist gave the Kraken a victory
in their first matchup of the season over the Kings,
eradicating an oz five and one skid in the last
six games and Done putting up three points in the contest,
becoming the fourth fastest active defenseman to post two hundred
points with an NHL franchise. He also follows Jared McCann
(03:27):
as a second player in Cracking history to reach two
hundred points with the franchise as well, now putting Done
up to seventeen points on the season right now tied
for second in Crack and scoring.
Speaker 3 (03:41):
They can use a little bit more of it.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
May be here for this evening as we await the
status of Jared McCann, who left the game lighton period three,
which by the way, led to the Kraken power play.
As he was tangled up with goaltender Anton Forrestburg, McCann's
legs swept out from underneath them. You would need help
getting off toward the dressing room tunnel. Forrestburg given a
two minute tripping penalty and the course of Crack and
(04:04):
cashing in, but also amiss the victory, holding their breath
for one of their top scores. Nonetheless, it was a
win that gave the Crack and a breath of fresh air.
And Done talked more about it after the game with
the media.
Speaker 6 (04:17):
I think it was a pretty satisfying game, honestly, Like
I know, the five on five offense was close in there.
We had our chances, and I didn't really see like
a lot of frustration with their team right to the end.
I thought that the guys stay pretty disciplined and really
trust the process all the way to the end. Guys
stuck to it when they weren't getting necessarily results on
the scoreboard for us. But I think overall we can
(04:40):
all feel pretty good about that game. It took everyone
to draw penalties to defend to PK. I'm sure you
notice our PK has changed a little bit too, and
you know, stuff happens. They get the breakaways. It's an
only play by them, and we'll live with those sometimes.
And I thought, Ray, when we bound bounce right back,
we get a good kill to finish it off and
(05:02):
then get a lucky PPR way at the end to
get back in it. So it's just important right now
to to just stick with it all the way to
the end. I think with wins and losses, the way
we've had the games for us, it's it's always like
a one goal or two goal games, so anything can
really happen going both ways. So it's important for us
to just stick with it right to the end. What
are you guys dofferently on that power play?
Speaker 3 (05:23):
It's the third time you score in four games.
Speaker 6 (05:27):
I love our attack right now. I think we're just
throwing everything at the net. It's it's disappointing when it
gets blocked, but I think that maybe changes the way
that they'll see us in front of them and makes
them not feel so good when they know we're not
just gonna pass it around and look for the highlight
reel seams and things like that. So the guys did
(05:47):
a great job, you see. Uh, you know, it was
kind of a chaotic first power play goal and then
Maddie's goal there, it's not much to it. It's throwing
the puck where where guys are going to the net
and you know eventually it's going to go in for us.
And same thing at the very end. It's not anything
specially drawing up. It's just taking the shot that's there
and you know, hoping good things happen.
Speaker 3 (06:09):
How you manage to keep on that well, I think
just reading where the d r.
Speaker 6 (06:17):
You know, if it's a left handed guy and on
the inside, it's gonna come out the other side, and
I'm just anticipating that. And I got fortunate it kind
of got glued on the wall and settled down pretty nice.
Sometimes pretty hard on your backhand there, So I got
pretty fortunate that it wasn't too difficult for me to
keep it. And then you know, the other guys do do.
Speaker 3 (06:35):
All the work for me.
Speaker 6 (06:36):
Just got to pass it around and you know, let
them try to finish it, and they did a great job.
Speaker 3 (06:42):
You were for TV.
Speaker 5 (06:44):
You censor your comments or did you speak just the
way you always speak?
Speaker 6 (06:50):
I think, uh, it's always kind of in the back
of your mind. But you know, it was a pretty
friendly match there. I think, you know, the reps that
we had and the team that we're playing, it's a
fun team to kind of chat with and bicker with,
and a very competitive atmosphere whenever we play them. So
you know, that's that's the fun part, and it's it's
good to kind of get that kind of attention out
(07:11):
and let people kind of see the you know, the
ends of the game. So you know, I don't mind
doing that sometimes. It's pretty fun to be a part
of it and being the guy miked up.
Speaker 3 (07:19):
Yeah, tough to see Jared get hurt on the play
that Yeah, the layer.
Speaker 6 (07:22):
Yeah, it's been chaos.
Speaker 3 (07:24):
I haven't even stepped out of the room.
Speaker 6 (07:25):
Really. I got my brother over there, so you know,
it's just a lot right now. I don't really know
what's going on with him. So, you know, he played
a really, really good game. I was telling them all game.
I mean he made some elite plays. He was feeling
good with the puck in Obviously, shooting the puck is
what we need him to do every single night, So
I hope it's nothing too bad.
Speaker 2 (07:43):
First matchup coming up and all a part of the
dad's trip. This should sound familiar because the last team,
the Utah Man the Face also had a parents' trip
also in there as well, the mom's side of it.
So what do you know, right back into Utah for
the second round of this, I guess anyway. Mike Foulton
joining us here radio played by a play voice for
the Utah Mammoth ninety seven to five FM twelve ADAMKSL
(08:07):
Sports Owners where you can hear him Mike.
Speaker 3 (08:10):
Great to hear from you.
Speaker 2 (08:11):
Looking forward to having you back out in these parts
here sooner than later. But before I get into the
meat of this first off, well done with the Mammoth nickname,
the logo pops, the jersey's pop. The name sticks like glue.
But what's been the overall reception once this took over,
replacing effectively what was Utah Hockey Club.
Speaker 7 (08:32):
I think people are pretty fired up about it, and
it was a unique process because it was opened up
to the public. It was a fan boat. It wasn't
just created in some lab behind the curtains. This was
kind of a whole state of Utah coming together and say, hey,
this is what we want. I think I think hearing
(08:52):
from the power the d at the league office and
maybe even some folks higher up in the organization, I
think sentiment is that was awesome. It was really rewarding.
We have what we want. Let's never do that again,
because there's a lot that had to that had to
go into it. But they absolutely nailed the logo. Everybody
(09:14):
looks great in Mountain Blue, and it's been fun to
go to different arenas and see that blue stand out
in the crowd.
Speaker 3 (09:21):
Yeah, certainly.
Speaker 2 (09:22):
I mean I can say, you know, just from the
past teams on my resume and the past stops, if
you can combine black and glacier blue and white, you're
doing a pretty good job. Shout out there to the
Alaska Aces who are no longer with this, but still
those colors just certainly pop. But great to have you
and a strong start that was eight and two just
seemed like a dream. And the team recently hitting the skids,
(09:44):
and I think we all know that by now it's
a condensed schedule, injuries will happen, and this is the
way that the NHL rolls in twenty twenty five and
twenty six. So you're still hanging around with the picture
right now. You're doing something, all right, But I mean,
I think you could point to a crunch in the schedule,
which I think caught them pretty good. But how do
you look at this here with the challenges that they
(10:05):
have faced recently.
Speaker 7 (10:07):
Yeah, I think first of all, even despite the last
couple of losses, Utah still played really good games. And
we've kind of had a run of that back through
November where the Mammoths have played really well. It came
out with great intensity, They've shown a willingness to go
to the dirty areas of the ice and all those cliches,
and yet they can't find a way to come out
(10:27):
on top like they were back in October. The Mamoth
are seven games below five hundred since that eight and
two start, and since that seven game win streak we
saw in November, Utah really struggled on the power play.
A big part of that was just the team wasn't
generating a lot of power play opportunities, so there wasn't
(10:48):
much rhythm in that regard. There were a few games
that I think the goaltenders, both for Alva Malka and
VTech Vanichick would have liked to have back. And when
you add that on to some of the power play struggles,
it kind of propagated into a couple losing skids here
and there, and you know, you throw a six game
road trip in there, six games in nine days, and
(11:10):
all of a sudden, the man has had the worst
record in the league through November. But on the flip
side of that, the power play has now scored goals
in three of the last five games. We're seeing great
goaltending from Corel ba Melca, probably his best four games
stretch of the season that started with a seven zero
shutout win against the Anaheim Ducks last week, and a
(11:32):
lot of other indicators are trending up. When you kind
of open the hood and look at the analytics, it's
just the team has to figure out a way to
get the shift across the finish line at the end.
They've had a couple of heartbreakers in the last two
losses against La and Florida.
Speaker 3 (11:49):
Last time the Kraken visited Utah.
Speaker 2 (11:51):
It was back in April, and it was a game
where Philip grew Bauer, Joey decortold me and grew Bauer
fell ill and the cord was press into starting duty
at the eleventh hour and Utah got into fifth gear
pretty quick and the crack and couldn't get out of
first gear from the jump. They will non see Logan
Cooley in this game.
Speaker 3 (12:10):
Out of the lineup.
Speaker 2 (12:11):
Two leg injuries and short order and he'll be out indefinitely. Mike,
what are they missing with him out and how are
they working on trying to repair the holes with them
out right now?
Speaker 7 (12:21):
Well, he's a huge missy piece and he still leads
the team in goals as we stand right now, he's
missed the last three games. And it's actually funny, as
we just started recording Mike news came down from the
Utah Twitter account that he's going to be out eight weeks.
So we just now have a timeline on that that
basically takes us all the way up until the Olympic break.
(12:45):
So the Mammuthter Olympic break a little buffer for Cooley
as he comes back hopefully for the last twenty five
games of the year right after the Olympic break in February.
But he's Utah's most creative and dynamic player, and he
also plays that crucial role of center where the Mammoths
are a little thin compared to some of the other
(13:07):
contenders in the Western Conference. Nick Schmaltz has moved over
from wing to center. That's something that he's done a
little bit throughout his career. Hasn't done it full time
for the last four seasons, but he's playing a pivot
role with Clayton Keller on one side of them at
JJ Fittka on the other. When that line has a
(13:27):
puck in the offensive zone and when they're humming boys,
they are fun to watch because they can zip it
around and there's a ton of skill. But not having Logan,
Logan and Coolie in the lineup takes a lot of
spark out of out of Utah's game and to the
rest of the crew to make that up. And the
Mamots have played the last two games without him really
(13:48):
well here on home mikes, and a lot of that
has been due to some line shakeups we've seen from
head coach Andre Turney. But obviously everybody knows the Mammoths
are a much more dangerous team, much more exciting team
than my better number ninety two.
Speaker 3 (14:04):
He was their leading goal scorer with fourteen. He's out.
Speaker 2 (14:07):
Dylan Gunther, former Seattle Thunderbird is next with thirteen. Right
now Clayton Keller, though, is still a constant here in
this organization. Twenty eight points leads him again in scoring.
No surprise there, and he went through a heartbreaking period
last month, Mike, he lost his father. What do you
think people had to understand with the weight he carried
and the magnitude of the game he played to score
(14:29):
a goal in his first game since his father passed.
Speaker 7 (14:32):
Well, I think it's really weighed on him, and you
wouldn't necessarily know just from being around him. I think
he loved the game first and foremost, so he definitely
wanted to play, and his dad, Brian loved loved locking
him play. His dad kind of helped make a rank
in their unfinished basement, and so their basement walls all
(14:54):
dented up, like you know, like a lot of families
who have raised hockey players. But it was a really
emotion few days in the aftermath. We got the news
on Thanksgiving and Clayton played the next day in Dallas,
was super charged in that game, playing on a lot
of adrenaline, and then a couple of days later he
(15:15):
went back to his hometown of Saint Louis and played
the Blues there, and at that time you could kind
of see it had been a few days since the
news and the whole team was really carrying that emotion.
And there's been a bunch of guys that have been
with Clayton the last few years. You think of Nick
Schmaltz and Lawson crowds who are watching their watching their teammate,
(15:36):
their captain, and their friends go through just a really,
really difficult time. And the tragedy didn't just weigh on Clayton.
If you go back and listen to some of the
post game sound it waited on the rest of the
team as well. But Clayton loved the game and his dad, Brian,
loved the game as well, and a couple of games back,
(15:57):
Clayton got a goal and kind of pointed up to
heaven and Brian's walking with the best seat in the house.
But it's definitely been tough for Youasoner.
Speaker 2 (16:05):
Mike Folter joining us again. Radio play by a play
voice of the Utah Mammoth here on Cracking this morning.
Mike All of a sudden, Andre Tourney is the league's
fourth longest tenure coach. It's crazy here to consider, and
he was higher back in twenty twenty one when this
team was still the Arizona Coyotes playing in not just
one but two buildings prior. Even in this tough stretch,
(16:25):
this team is still getting high marks for their effort.
And this team's got a young core as well. How
much more digging does he have to do to unearth
their full potential?
Speaker 7 (16:35):
Yeah, I think that's what we're all trying to figure out,
because every time that this team gets called out, whether
it's by Bear or whether it's by one of the
veterans of this group, there's a response, and that's what
you want to see, and that's what tells you that
they're still full buy in with this crew. Mammosata had
a bad loss six to three against San Jose the
(16:57):
other week, and they had a spirited pro the next
day with lots of one way conversations from Andre Turney
to the group. And what happened the next game, Well,
they came out and they won seven nothing against an
Anaheim Duck team that at the time was the second
best team in the Pacific Division, actively leading the Pacific Division,
(17:18):
i should say. And so when you see that type
of response, that tells you that the coach still has
a handle on the group. And I think one thing
that I've come to appreciate about Bear is his steadiness
and his commitment to the process. And I think you
need that when you're trying to come out of a rebuild.
(17:38):
But this Mammoth team is clearly still learning how to win.
And as we've seen from the last couple of games,
you can play a really good game, and the NHL
is so competitive, especially this year, you can play your
A game and all that means is that it's going
to be a one shot game in the third period.
Just because you bring your A game does not mean
that you're going to win. The game is just too
(18:00):
good for that.
Speaker 2 (18:01):
He Finally, Delta Center's undergone a renovation, and what I
really appreciate about it is that it maintains its soul,
It maintains its foundation as one of the smaller venues
here in the league and kind of out of here
to the league's tapestry of uniqueness when it comes to
different venues across the NHL. Certainly Climb the Pledge Arena
fits that mold. But to you, what's the biggest change
(18:24):
MIC and what's your favorite part about the makeover?
Speaker 7 (18:26):
Well, the favorite part is the dvantage point because where
we call the game from and wherever Fitsy is going
to call the game from, we're right at the top
of the lower bowl, so you're really as close as
you can possibly get in the NHL to the action.
At a lot of places, we're up in a gondola
like a Climate Pledge, which is at a great vantage point.
(18:47):
But sometimes, like in Edmonton, you're a million miles.
Speaker 3 (18:50):
Away, halfway to Red Deer.
Speaker 7 (18:53):
Yeah, I just guys will be calling the game from Regina.
But at Delta Center you are right there and it's
not just easier to see, but you can feel the
intensity of the crowd as well. It's a very steep arena.
It's not as steep for basketball, but because the hockey
rink is bigger than the basketball floor, the stands are
(19:14):
actually on risers and so the angles of the seat
change for hockey compared to basketball. So it's very very steep,
which can make it very very loud at times too,
especially when the Mountain Blue are rolling. But the home
team hasn't hasn't lost in this all time series yet.
Between Battle and Utah, it should be a fun one
(19:37):
here Friday night.
Speaker 2 (19:38):
I remember, ever it fits you and al Kiniski raving
about the proximity of the ice cream machine and the
ice cream Man to what was their press base last year.
I'm not sure if that has changed. If it has,
please give them a hug for me, and one of
these days I'll look forward to making the trip out there, Mike,
Thank you man.
Speaker 7 (19:54):
Of course, Chick fil A is nearby as well. Dinners
on me whenever it's in the house.
Speaker 2 (19:59):
All right on bottoms up? Why not Mike Folta joining
us once again. Mammoth Radio play by play voice says
the Kracking getting set for one of three matchups on
the season here with Utah and can the Kraken finally
break a trend in this head to head series? Last
year the home team won every game in the head
to head series, and this time the Kraken looking to
(20:21):
turn tables after they took a seven to one loss
and their only visited to Delta Center last week, but
as we pointed out, the Kraken with some extra energy
and family presence on the trip. This game also marking
the final leg of the Fathers and Mentor's trip, and
we caught up with plenty of Kraken players with plenty
(20:41):
of great stories. Vince done with his brother along here
for the ride. Brandon Montur has his father in on
the trip as well, plenty of players also sharing similar testimonies,
and the Kraken trying to capitalize off a little something
extra here in this one off stop before they come
back home for two in a row against the Buffalo
Sabers and the Colorado Avalanche once again. Utah coming off
(21:05):
a four to two loss to the Los Angeles Kings.
They have hit the skids recently after beginning of the
year eight and two. They are six thirteen and three
since October twenty eight, but they still boast plenty of
top end firepower even with the loss of Logan Cooley.
Dylan Gunther, the former Seattle Thunderbird, has goals in back
(21:26):
to back games. He leads him with thirteen goals on
the season. Clayton Keller right now no surprise, top of
the pack for Utah, scoring with twenty eight points on
the campaign. Without question, he's a go to guy the
Kraken want to go after defensively, who leads all active
players on the Mammoth roster against the Kraken with ten
points in twelve games.
Speaker 3 (21:45):
Gonna be a fun one here this evening.
Speaker 2 (21:47):
Hope you can join us once again if you're around
the area at Tom's Watch Bar right across from Climb
the Pledge Arena for our watch party airtime opening up
at five thirty. Ever it fits you al Katiski at
Delta Center with the call that opens up little past
six pm Pacific all across the Global Credit Union crake
In Audio Network. Hey, thanks again to Mike Folter for
(22:08):
joining us and for kracking this morning. I'm Mike Benton.
Speaker 3 (22:11):
Enjoy the game. You're home for the Kraken.
Speaker 1 (22:13):
Sports Radio ninety three point three kJ R FM
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