Utah Mammoth captain Clayton Keller makes Team USA's Olympic roster

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah Mammoth captain Clayton Keller will represent the Stars and Stripes in Milan next month after the 27-year-old forward was officially named as one of 20 skaters on Team USA's Olympic roster.

Another member of the Utah Mammoth, defenseman Olli Määttä, will also be heading to the Olympics, representing his home country of Finland.

Keller, a Chesterfield, Missouri, native, has been a standout this season, tied for the team lead in both points and assists.

"It's a big deal to go to the Olympics; that's something you want on your resume for sure," said KSL Sports Zone host David James. "Everybody wants a horse in the race, and now there's somebody for Mammoth fans to watch, like, 'That's my guy.' And every time he gets a shift, every time he hits the ice, they'll be hoping he does something."

The news came Thursday despite some uncertainty and somewhat of a down year in terms of production, and Keller earned his spot on the Olympic roster with a complete body of work over the last 15 months.

In addition to being named Utah's first-ever captain, Keller finished the 2024-25 season with 60 assists (second-most among all Americans in the NHL) and 90 total points (third-most among all Americans).

"It means everything," Keller said in regard to representing the United States. "It's the best feeling ever. I loved so much my time playing at the U.S. program. Can't thank them enough for my development and just everything. Shaped me into the person I am today. USA Hockey has come a long way, and it's only getting better."

While the Mammoth did miss the playoffs in their inaugural season, Keller followed up an excellent individual campaign by captaining the United States to their first gold medal at the IIHF World Championship tournament in nearly a century.

During the tournament, Keller scored three goals and added seven assists for the United States.

"It was super cool," Keller told KSL Sports. "It's something that I haven't done in a long time — something I will remember forever. So, it was a great experience, and it was cool to win it."

With 46 years removed from Team USA's last gold medal in the sport in 1980, the goal is simple: Win the tournament.

According to the newly named Olympian, it will be gold or bust for the U.S. in Milan, given their talent and progress in recent years.

"It's gold, or it's a failure," Keller told KSL Sports. "Simple as that. With the talent we have and what we expect out of going there, we expect to win. That's it."

Keller and the United States will open the men's tournament against Latvia on Feb. 12.

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