Hockey is back for the Utah Mammoth — kind of.
The team will host its development camp from June 29 through July 3, during which Mammoth prospects — and possibly invited undrafted free agents — will receive NHL coaching instruction both at and away from the rink. The camp offers the opportunity for players to show their progress and get a taste of the pro pace, and for the organization to get an up-close look at the assets in its system.
The on-ice sessions are set for June 30 and July 1 at Park City Ice Arena and happen in two groups (scheduled for 9:45-11:45 a.m. and 12:15-2:15 p.m.). Those practices will be open to the public.
Development camp will conclude on July 3 with a scrimmage at Utah’s Olympic Oval. The prospects will play in a four-on-four, intra-squad competition to simulate a mock game with officials. While the scrimmage is closed to the public, the Mammoth will host 500 youth hockey players from the Utah Amateur Hockey Association to watch.
A full roster for development camp will be released following the NHL draft (which is June 27 and 28). Until then, here are eight top prospects who are expected to attend and what you need to know about them.
Tij Iginla
Tij Iginla was the sixth pick for the Utah Mammoth in the 2024 NHL Draft — and the first-ever selection for the franchise after last April’s relocation. The organization has high expectations for the 18-year-old forward, however, Iginla was dealing with an injury the last time he was in Salt Lake City.
Iginla was sidelined for the majority of the Mammoth’s rookie and training camp last season with that lower-body injury and eventually underwent successful hip surgery in December. He played 21 games for the Kelowna Rockets in the Western Hockey League before the surgery and posted 32 points (14 goals, 18 assists) as an alternate captain. The season prior, when Iginla skated in 64 games, he had 84 points (47 goals, 37 assists).
Tij Iginla, center, poses after being selected by the Utah Hockey Club during the first round of the NHL hockey draft Friday, June 28, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Steve Marcus)
The past few months have been all about rehabilitation for Iginla and he should be ready to go for development camp and everything that is to come after. Utah will see what a fully healthy Iginla is like and how he could fit in on its team. Iginla stands at 6 feet, 182 pounds and can play both center and the wing. He signed a three-year, entry-level contract in July 2024.
Dmitri Simashev
Dmitri Simashev is one of Utah’s most highly anticipated prospects. The 20-year-old defenseman was the sixth overall pick by the Arizona Coyotes (now Mammoth) in the 2023 NHL Draft and signed his three-year, entry-level contract with the team in late May.
Simashev has spent the last three years in the Kontinental Hockey League (in Russia) with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl and recently won the league championship before deciding to turn pro. The 6-foot-4, 198-pound blueliner had six points (one goal, five assists) in 56 games this season. He also set new career highs in blocked shots (54) and ice time per game (15:57).
Dmitriy Simashev puts on a Arizona Coyotes jersey after being picked by the team during the first round of the NHL hockey draft Wednesday, June 28, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Despite his towering stature — which is a positive for Utah — Simashev is a strong, swift skater. The Mammoth believe there is room for improvement in Simashev’s offensive game but the immediate upside is his responsible and aggressive defense. He will be fighting for an opening-night roster spot come October.
Daniil But
Daniil But has a similar path as Simashev, except that he is a forward. But, the 20-year-old winger, has been teammates with Simashev on the KHL’s Lokomotiv Yaroslavl and also got to raise the Gagarin Cup in May. But signed his matching three-year, entry-level contract the same day as Simashev and now the two will enter the next stage of their hockey careers together.
But was the 12th overall pick by the Coyotes in the 2023 NHL Draft and has the potential to bring size and a powerful shot to the Mammoth’s forward group if he can break through. At 6-5, 203 pounds, But logged 28 points (nine goals, 19 assists) in 54 games this season and set new career highs in assists, points, power-play goals (two) and TOI (11:47).
Cole Beaudoin
Cole Beaudoin arguably had one of the best training camps of any young player for Utah last season and now it is time for him to further prove himself. The 19-year-old center was the 24th overall pick by the Mammoth in the 2024 NHL Draft, following Iginla.
Beaudoin — who is 6-2, 209 pounds — was an alternate captain for the Ontario Hockey League’s Barrie Colts this season and had 51 points (22 goals, 29 assists) in 52 matchups. The Ottawa, Ontario native has a strong two-way game, high compete level and skates with an edge while also producing. He can offer the Mammoth depth down the middle in the coming years if things pan out well.
Beaudoin signed his entry-level contract in July 2024.
Michael Hrabal
Michael Hrabal is Utah’s top goaltender prospect in the pipeline. He was selected in the second round (38th overall) by Arizona in 2023 and has been developing in the NCAA with UMass Amherst’s Division I program.
The 20-year-old netminder has a unique build for his position — Hrabal is 6-7, 216 pounds — but has been able to use it to his advantage. In his first two seasons with UMass, Hrabal worked to find consistency in his play and finished his sophomore showing with a .924 save percentage and 2.37 goals against average in 36 games. The plan is for Hrabal to return for his junior year in college hockey.
(Thom Kendall | UMass athletics) Goalkeeper Michael Hrabal (30) plays in a NCAA hockey game Jan. 12, 2025.
The World Juniors stage is another place where Hrabal has strengthened his game. He has represented Czechia in international tournaments for the last four years and earned Bronze at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship.
Gabe Smith
Utah signed Gabe Smith to a three-year, entry-level contract at the end of May after the 18-year-old forward had an impressive run in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League this season with the Moncton Wildcats.
Smith (6-foot-5, 207 pounds) had 39 points (20 goals, 19 assists) in 52 regular-season games before garnering 22 points (six goals, 16 assists) in 19 playoff games. It helped Moncton win the Giles-Corteau Trophy (league championship). Smith set career highs in goals, assists, points, power-play goals (four) and game-winning goals (four) this year, too.
Smith was selected in the fourth round (103rd overall) by the Mammoth in the 2024 NHL Draft.
Tomas Lavoie
Tomas Lavoie is another product of last year’s draft. The 19-year-old defenseman was selected in the third round (89th overall) by the Mammoth and signed his three-year, entry-level contract in April.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Hockey Club Head Coach Andr Tourigny gives instructions during practice at the Olympic Oval in Kearns, on Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024.
Lavoie was an alternate captain for the Cape Breton Eagles in the QMJHL this season and had 55 points (15 goals, 40 assists) in 60 games. The numbers alone show his offensive capabilities on the backend. Lavoie is 6-4, 215 pounds.
Will Skahan
Will Skahan was a second-round pick (65th overall) for the Mammoth in the 2024 NHL Draft. The 19-year-old defenseman just finished his freshman season of NCAA hockey with Boston College.
Skahan had seven points (two goals, five assists) in 30 games for the Eagles. He, at times, was the seventh defenseman because of the depth Boston College had — the team was ranked No. 1 in the nation for the majority of the year before falling in the regional tournament. However, Skahan got to learn from the veterans on his team and will likely get more opportunities in the next few seasons.
The 19-year-old — who is 6-foot-4, 216 pounds — was teammates with James Hagens at Boston College. Hagens is a highly-touted player in this year’s draft who could be in Utah’s range at No. 4.
