SportsHockeyComedy

SLC Puck!

Austin Facer

SLC Puck! Powered by BigTuskEnergy.com From the mountains to the madness on the ice, SLC Puck is your go-to podcast for all things Utah hockey. Hosted by Austin Facer — part fanboy, part chaos agent — we cover the Utah Mammoth, the NHL, the local youth leagues that keep the dream alive, and everything in between. Think Last Week Tonight meets SportsCenter. Streaming on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever hockey nerds hang out. Potential advertisers can inquire at austin@slcpuck.com

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48 episodes
Avg 34 min
English

Episodes 48

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July 22 · 32 min
John Marino Owes Nate Schmidt Dinner
John Marino just cashed in with the Utah Mammoth — and I think Nate Schmidt deserves a little thank-you present for helping make it happen. On this episode of SLC Puck, I break down Marino’s massive 8-year, $54 million extension and why Utah clearly believes he’s a long-term top-four piece. Marino is coming off a career year: 80 games played, 4 goals, 32 assists, 36 points, and a plus-42 season after averaging more than 20 minutes a night. That’s a huge jump from the 35-game, 14-point season he had the year before. The biggest reason? That second pair with Nate Schmidt was absolutely lights out. Marino and Schmidt played 991 five-on-five minutes together, posted a 56.3% expected goal share, allowed just 2.19 goals against per 60, and finished plus-29 in actual goal differential as a pair. I get into why Schmidt’s arrival helped unlock Marino’s best season, why this contract makes sense with the cap rising, and why the JJ Moser contract comp is a really interesting wrinkle when you look back at the Mikhail Sergachev trade. Also: I open the show by showing some love to firefighter and Utah Puck Report host Jay Stevens after the end of that KSL Sports chapter. A true Utah hockey guy. SLC Puck is powered by BigTuskEnergy.com CONNECT WITH SLC PUCK! 🤝 Patreon ➡️ https://www.patreon.com/slcpuck 🛍️ Merch ➡️ https://www.bigtuskenergy.com 🤑 SLC Picks (DFS) ➡️ https://www.slcpuck.com/t/slc-picks 📸 Instagram ➡️ https://instagram.com/slcpuck 🎥 TikTok ➡️ https://tiktok.com/@slcpuck ✳️ Spotify ➡️ 🐦 Twitter ➡️ https://x.com/slcpuck 👍 Facebook ➡️ https://www.facebook.com/slcpuck ☕️ Buy Me A Coffee ➡️ https://buymeacoffee.com/slcpuck This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.slcpuck.com
July 21 · 33 min
Utah Mammoth Playoff Race Just Got Harder
The Utah Mammoth got better this offseason. The problem is a bunch of the teams behind them did too — and that’s what makes this playoff chase feel a lot more dangerous. On this episode of SLC Puck, Austin breaks down why Utah’s path back to the postseason may be tougher than fans want to admit. Nashville added names like Ross Colton, Jack Drury, Nils Hoglander and Alexander Kerfoot. St. Louis brought in Mason McTavish, Brandon Carlo and Connor McMichael. San Jose added Michael Kesselring, Jacob Trouba, Mason Marchment and Darnell Nurse, plus drafted Ivar Stenberg with the No. 2 pick. If Utah is aiming for 100 points, that still looks a whole lot like wildcard territory. Austin also digs into the Mammoth’s brutal late-season schedule, including an April run against Anaheim, Vegas, Winnipeg, Dallas, Dallas and St. Louis. He also compares that stretch to what Nashville and Winnipeg have down the stretch, and explains why those head-to-head games could decide everything. SLC Puck is powered by BigTuskEnergy.com CONNECT WITH SLC PUCK! 🤝 Patreon ➡️ https://www.patreon.com/slcpuck 🛍️ Merch ➡️ https://www.bigtuskenergy.com 🤑 SLC Picks (DFS) ➡️ https://www.slcpuck.com/t/slc-picks 📸 Instagram ➡️ https://instagram.com/slcpuck 🎥 TikTok ➡️ https://tiktok.com/@slcpuck ✳️ Spotify ➡️ 🐦 Twitter ➡️ https://x.com/slcpuck 👍 Facebook ➡️ https://www.facebook.com/slcpuck ☕️ Buy Me A Coffee ➡️ https://buymeacoffee.com/slcpuck This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.slcpuck.com
July 20 · 34 min
The Utah Mammoth and the Road to 100 Points
Bill Armstrong said it out loud: the Utah Mammoth want 100 points next season. The question is whether this roster can actually do it. On this episode of SLC Puck, Austin breaks down the real roadmap after Utah finished 43-33-6 with 92 points last year. Even with the NHL moving to an 84-game schedule, Utah’s same 0.561 points percentage would only get them to about 94.2 points. That means the Mammoth still need to find roughly six more points somewhere, and that’s where this gets interesting. Austin looks at where Utah stole points last season against teams like Colorado, Dallas, Vegas, and Toronto, and where they flat-out gave points away against bad teams. The big offenders? A winless season series against the Chicago Blackhawks, a rough showing against the Calgary Flames, and dropped points against the San Jose Sharks. He also maps out the season month by month, with a brutal October and November, a critical January-February window, and a tough finish in March and April. There’s also a bigger conversation here about risk: Vinnie Trocheck needing to justify the move, Sebastian Cossa needing to be better than Vitek Vanecek in backup duty, and the young core like Logan Cooley, Dylan Guenther, Clayton Keller, and Nick Schmaltz needing to stay healthy. If Utah is going to hit 100, they have to stop donating points and start punishing weak teams. SLC Puck is powered by BigTuskEnergy.com CONNECT WITH SLC PUCK! 🤝 Patreon ➡️ https://www.patreon.com/slcpuck 🛍️ Merch ➡️ https://www.bigtuskenergy.com 🤑 SLC Picks (DFS) ➡️ https://www.slcpuck.com/t/slc-picks 📸 Instagram ➡️ https://instagram.com/slcpuck 🎥 TikTok ➡️ https://tiktok.com/@slcpuck ✳️ Spotify ➡️ 🐦 Twitter ➡️ https://x.com/slcpuck 👍 Facebook ➡️ https://www.facebook.com/slcpuck ☕️ Buy Me A Coffee ➡️ https://buymeacoffee.com/slcpuck This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.slcpuck.com
July 16 · 35 min
Utah Mammoth Schedule Breakdown: Winter Classic, Opening Night and Key Games
The Utah Mammoth schedule is out, and yeah... April 3 against the Vegas Golden Knights already feels absolutely feral. On this episode of SLC Puck, Austin breaks down the full 2026-27 Utah Mammoth schedule month by month, from Opening Night against the Chicago Blackhawks on October 1 to the Winter Classic against the Colorado Avalanche on December 31 at Rice-Eccles Stadium. He digs into the brutal early road-heavy stretch, the six-game trip from late October into mid-November, and why simply staying around .500 early would be a huge win. There are also some massive dates to circle at Delta Center: Toronto on October 13, Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins on October 19, Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals on January 29, and Florida on February 26. Austin also explains why January could be the Utah Mammoth’s biggest chance to stack points with nine home games and a six-game homestand. Plus, a little hockey-related facial damage, because apparently that’s how we’re opening the show now. SLC Puck is powered by BigTuskEnergy.com CONNECT WITH SLC PUCK! 🤝 Patreon ➡️ https://www.patreon.com/slcpuck 🛍️ Merch ➡️ https://www.bigtuskenergy.com 🤑 SLC Picks (DFS) ➡️ https://www.slcpuck.com/t/slc-picks 📸 Instagram ➡️ https://instagram.com/slcpuck 🎥 TikTok ➡️ https://tiktok.com/@slcpuck ✳️ Spotify ➡️ 🐦 Twitter ➡️ https://x.com/slcpuck 👍 Facebook ➡️ https://www.facebook.com/slcpuck ☕️ Buy Me A Coffee ➡️ https://buymeacoffee.com/slcpuck This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.slcpuck.com
July 15 · 26 min
Anders Lee Is A Mammoth Now
Anders Lee is a huge pickup for the Utah Mammoth — literally and stylistically. On this episode of SLC Puck, Austin breaks down who Lee is, why Utah gave the former New York Islanders captain a 3-year deal worth $5.4 million AAV, and why his game fits a very specific Mammoth need. Lee spent 14 NHL seasons with the Islanders, played 923 games, scored 308 goals, and served as captain for the last 8 seasons. He also won the 2024 King Clancy Trophy and helped raise more than $2.5 million for families affected by cancer. But the biggest on-ice number in this episode might be this one: 107 high-danger shots last season, including 86 from right outside the crease and 21 from inside it. Utah needed more net-front offense, more dirty goals, and more power-play jam. That’s why this signing matters. Austin also gets into the funniest and most fascinating part of Lee’s background: the man was a legit high school quarterback at Edina in Minnesota, with more than 2,000 passing yards and 1,100 rushing yards in his senior year before choosing hockey at Notre Dame. Plus, why it says something real that Lee chose Utah over other suitors — including the Minnesota Wild. SLC Puck is powered by BigTuskEnergy.com CONNECT WITH SLC PUCK! 🤝 Patreon ➡️ https://www.patreon.com/slcpuck 🛍️ Merch ➡️ https://www.bigtuskenergy.com 🤑 SLC Picks (DFS) ➡️ https://www.slcpuck.com/t/slc-picks 📸 Instagram ➡️ https://instagram.com/slcpuck 🎥 TikTok ➡️ https://tiktok.com/@slcpuck ✳️ Spotify ➡️ 🐦 Twitter ➡️ https://x.com/slcpuck 👍 Facebook ➡️ https://www.facebook.com/slcpuck ☕️ Buy Me A Coffee ➡️ https://buymeacoffee.com/slcpuck This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.slcpuck.com
July 13 · 29 min
Logan Cooley's Deal Just Hit Different
Logan Cooley’s contract with the Utah Mammoth suddenly looks like an absolute bargain. On this episode of SLC Puck, Austin breaks down why Cooley’s 8-year, $10 million AAV deal looks so good after the Anaheim Ducks were forced to match Philadelphia’s 5-year, $90 million offer sheet for Leo Carlsson. The comparison is wild: Cooley has 69 goals in 211 NHL games, Carlsson has 61 in 201, and their points-per-game rates are nearly identical. But Cooley takes up just 9.62% of Utah’s cap, while Carlsson comes in at 17.31%. We also get into what this says about Bill Armstrong’s long-term cap planning, why Utah is in a much healthier spot than Anaheim, and how the Mammoth stack up against the Ducks as both teams try to become real Western Conference powers. There’s also some classic SLC Puck nonsense about Orange County, Salt Lake City, Mammoth Ice Center, and what kind of life $10 million actually buys in Utah compared to $18 million in Anaheim. If you’re a Utah Mammoth fan wondering whether Cooley’s deal was too rich last summer, this episode makes the case that it may already be a win. SLC Puck is powered by BigTuskEnergy.com CONNECT WITH SLC PUCK! 🤝 Patreon ➡️ https://www.patreon.com/slcpuck 🛍️ Merch ➡️ https://www.bigtuskenergy.com 🤑 SLC Picks (DFS) ➡️ https://www.slcpuck.com/t/slc-picks 📸 Instagram ➡️ https://instagram.com/slcpuck 🎥 TikTok ➡️ https://tiktok.com/@slcpuck ✳️ Spotify ➡️ 🐦 Twitter ➡️ https://x.com/slcpuck 👍 Facebook ➡️ https://www.facebook.com/slcpuck ☕️ Buy Me A Coffee ➡️ https://buymeacoffee.com/slcpuck This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.slcpuck.com
July 11 · 23 min
Anders Lee And Trocheck Signal Utah Mammoth Win-Now Push
Vincent Trocheck and Anders Lee don’t feel like random additions. They feel like a message. The Utah Mammoth are trying to get tougher, nastier, deeper, and a whole lot harder to play against. On this episode of SLC Puck, I break down what stood out from Friday’s Utah media availability with Trocheck, Lee, and Bill Armstrong. Trocheck revealed he’s been skating with Logan Cooley in Pittsburgh and texting with him over the last two weeks, which tells you this move had been in the works. I also get into Trocheck’s take on all the centers in this lineup, and why his versatility could matter just as much as his edge. Then there’s Anders Lee: 36 years old, 6-foot-3, 234 pounds, and exactly the kind of net-front pain-in-the-neck Utah needs more of. He signed a three-year deal and is switching from No. 27 to No. 72 with Barrett Hayton keeping 27. If the Mammoth want more greasy goals and more bite in games that matter, Lee should help. These are experienced East Coast guys — Trocheck from the Rangers, Lee from the Islanders — and both sound like they believe Utah gives them a real shot to chase a Stanley Cup. SLC Puck is powered by BigTuskEnergy.com CONNECT WITH SLC PUCK! 🤝 Patreon ➡️ https://www.patreon.com/slcpuck 🛍️ Merch ➡️ https://www.bigtuskenergy.com 🤑 SLC Picks (DFS) ➡️ https://www.slcpuck.com/t/slc-picks 📸 Instagram ➡️ https://instagram.com/slcpuck 🎥 TikTok ➡️ https://tiktok.com/@slcpuck ✳️ Spotify ➡️ 🐦 Twitter ➡️ https://x.com/slcpuck 👍 Facebook ➡️ https://www.facebook.com/slcpuck ☕️ Buy Me A Coffee ➡️ https://buymeacoffee.com/slcpuck This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.slcpuck.com
July 8 · 26 min
Utah Mammoth Match Barrett Hayton Offer Sheet
Well, egg on my face: the Utah Mammoth matched the New Jersey Devils’ offer sheet for Barrett Hayton after all. On this episode of SLC Puck, Austin reacts to Utah bringing Hayton back on a one-year, $4.775 million contract, why Bill Armstrong felt a second-round pick wasn’t enough compensation, and what Hayton’s 52.6% faceoff win rate and defensive value say about this decision. Austin also gets into the cap angle, with Utah now sitting around $4.6 million in space instead of having closer to $10 million to work with. But the most interesting part might be what happens next. If Hayton is back in the top nine, where does that leave Teej Iginla? Austin looks at a projected lineup featuring Vincent Trocheck, Clayton Keller, Nick Schmaltz, Logan Cooley, Anders Lee, Dylan Guenther, Lawson Crouse, Kyler Yamamoto, Michael Carcone, Kevin Stenlund, and Jack McBain — and why Iginla and Daniil Boot suddenly have a much tougher path to opening-night ice time. This one is about more than just Barrett Hayton. It’s about roster pressure, training camp battles, and who gets squeezed as the Mammoth try to build a real contender in Utah. SLC Puck is powered by BigTuskEnergy.com CONNECT WITH SLC PUCK! 🤝 Patreon ➡️ https://www.patreon.com/slcpuck 🛍️ Merch ➡️ https://www.bigtuskenergy.com 🤑 SLC Picks (DFS) ➡️ https://www.slcpuck.com/t/slc-picks 📸 Instagram ➡️ https://instagram.com/slcpuck 🎥 TikTok ➡️ https://tiktok.com/@slcpuck ✳️ Spotify ➡️ 🐦 Twitter ➡️ https://x.com/slcpuck 👍 Facebook ➡️ https://www.facebook.com/slcpuck ☕️ Buy Me A Coffee ➡️ https://buymeacoffee.com/slcpuck This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.slcpuck.com

Showing 41–48 of 48 episodes