Mammoth's Keller Plays After Father's Death

Utah Mammoth captain Clayton Keller took the ice Friday night against the Dallas Stars, just one day after the unexpected death of his father, Bryan, who passed away in his sleep on Thanksgiving Day at age 64.

Keller, a 27-year-old native of Chesterfield, Missouri, near St. Louis, chose to join his teammates in Dallas despite the personal tragedy. Mammoth coach Andre Tourigny confirmed early Friday that Keller wanted to play and be with the group. "We want to express our condolences to the family, Clayton, his mom Kelley, his brother Jake," Tourigny said. "It's a tough time for the family, and we will support him in any way we can. We and the family ask everyone to respect their privacy."

The decision underscored the tight-knit nature of the team, with Tourigny emphasizing loyalty. "There's nothing really you can say or do in that moment but be there," he said. "Big thing for us is to be there to support him. Loyalty is when people need you to be there; it's not when you pick and choose. In this tough time, we want to make sure we show up for Keller and his family."

Keller has spent his entire 10-year NHL career with the franchise, originally based in Arizona before relocating to...