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Utah bans overtly political flags from classrooms, government buildings

Utah has banned the display of overtly political flags at government buildings and public schools, prompting concerns from both sides of the aisle …

By Ryan Foley, Christian Post Reporter
A progress pride flag is held above the crowd of LGBT activists during the Los Angeles LGBT Center in West Hollywood, California, on April 9, 2023.
A progress pride flag is held above the crowd of LGBT activists during the Los Angeles LGBT Center in West Hollywood, California, on April 9, 2023. | ALLISON DINNER/AFP via Getty Images

Utah has banned the display of overtly political flags at government buildings and public schools, prompting concerns from both sides of the aisle. 

House Bill 77 became law in Utah Thursday without the signature of Republican Gov. Spencer Cox. The measure passed the Republican-controlled Utah House of Representatives in a 49-20 vote on Feb. 21, while the Republican-controlled Utah Senate passed its bill in a 21-8 vote on March 6.

The votes in both chambers fell along party lines, with all support coming from Republicans and most opposition coming from Democrats. Two Republicans joined Democrats to oppose the legislation in the Senate while seven House Republicans did the same. 

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Scheduled to take effect on May 7, House Bill 77 prohibits a “government entity, or an employee of a school district or school within the public education system acting within the employee’s official duties” from displaying “a flag in or on the grounds of government property.”

The measure contains a long list of exceptions to this requirement, including the United States flag, the Utah state flag, and flags representing other countries, states, municipalities, Native American tribes, colleges or universities.

The legislation tasks the state auditor with investigating alleged violations of the law and gives violators a 30-day window to comply with the measure. Failure to comply with the measure will subject violators to fines of $500 per day. 

Cox expressed support for the bill’s intention while outlining the reservations that prevented him from signing it in a letter to the leaders of the state legislature published Thursday.

“I deeply believe that our classrooms need to be a place where everyone feels welcome — free from the politics that are fracturing our country. Parents are rightly upset when they bring their kids to publicly funded schools and see culture-war symbols in a place that should be apolitical,” he wrote. 

“In an attempt to make some kids feel more welcome, other kids feel less welcome. I appreciate that the bill is neutral on the types of flags in question (and I find it strange that no headline reads ‘MAGA flags banned from classrooms’),” he added. “I agree with the underlying intent of those legislators who supported this bill in an attempt to bring political neutrality to the classroom. Unfortunately, this bill does not do that.”

However, Cox believes that requiring the removal of “flags only” does little to prevent other political displays like posters, signs, drawings and furniture from entering the classroom. 

“Furthermore, the bill is overly prescriptive on flags themselves,” Cox stressed. “To those legislators who supported this bill, I’m sure it will not fix what you are trying to fix.”

In a letter following Utah Senate’s approval of House Bill 77, the ACLU of Utah urged Cox to veto and condemned the legislation as an attempt to ban LGBT pride flags.

“HB77 would ban the display of Pride flags in public schools and on public property, restricting free expression and sending a clear message that some students and community members are not welcome or protected,” the ACLU letter reads. “The government should not be in the business of banning symbols that help people feel seen and welcomed.” 

“Beyond stoking fear among LGBTQ+ Utahns, this bill sets a dangerous precedent that threatens free speech for everyone,” the letter warned. “The bill sponsor’s comments at the Capitol and public events make the intent clear: this isn’t about flags but about othering and erasing LGBTQ+ people from public life.”

The ACLU of Utah argues that such a law could open the door for “broader restrictions on speech, education, or expression for even more Utahns.”

Cox responded to some of these arguments in his letter to lawmakers.

“The idea that kids can only feel welcome in a school if a teacher puts up a rainbow flag is just wrong,” he wrote. “Let’s do everything possible to make our classrooms one of the last remaining politically neutral places in our state.”

Utah’s House Bill 77 comes amid concerns about promoting progressive political ideologies in public school classrooms.

In 2023, the Central Bucks School District in Pennsylvania voted to ban public school employees from discussing their political views in addition to displaying “any flag, banner, poster, sign, sticker, pin, button, insignia, paraphernalia, photograph, or other similar material that advocates concerning any partisan, political, or social issue.”

The implementation of Utah’s House Bill 77 also occurs in the context of backlash to the promotion of progressive political ideology in American culture as a whole. Outrage over LGBT advocacy as well as diversity, equity and inclusion has prompted several major companies in the U.S. to scale back such activism over the past year.

Ryan Foley is a reporter for The Christian Post. He can be reached at: ryan.foley@christianpost.com

Source: Utah News

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Game Preview, 4/1: Utah Hockey Club vs. Calgary Flames

SEG+, UtahHC+, Utah 16 | RADIO: KSL Sports Zone 97.5 FM, NHL App The Utah Hockey Club (33-29-12) returns to Delta Center tonight to face the Calgary Flames (35-26-12). This evening is the first of a f …

WHEN: 7:00 p.m. MT

WHERE: Delta Center – Salt Lake City, Utah

TV: SEG+, UtahHC+, Utah 16 | RADIO: KSL Sports Zone 97.5 FM, NHL App

The Utah Hockey Club (33-29-12) returns to Delta Center tonight to face the Calgary Flames (35-26-12). This evening is the first of a five-game homestand for Utah as the team wraps up its home calendar for the Inaugural Season. Utah has beaten Calgary twice in the previous two meetings and enters tonight off a 5-2 win on Sunday against the Chicago Blackhawks.

ONE-TIMERS

  • Clayton Keller leads the team with 79 points (25G, 55A).
  • Nick DeSimone scored his third NHL goal on Sunday against Chicago.
  • After reaching 78 points for the campaign with two points on Sunday, Utah has now surpassed the Arizona Coyotes’ season total last season of 77 points.
  • Utah is a combined 7-1-0 against the three teams it immediately trails in the wild card standings: St. Louis, Calgary, and Vancouver.
  • Ian Cole played in his 900th NHL game on Sunday.

TONIGHT’S MATCHUP

Calgary comes to Salt Lake City after a dramatic 3-2 comeback win over the Colorado Avalanche in Denver last night, erasing a 2-0 deficit in the third period. Still in the postseason race, the Flames are now five points behind the St. Louis Blues with two games in hand.

Calgary has struggled to score this season, and their 2.60 goals per game ranks third worst in the NHL. Fortunately for the Flames, Calder Trophy candidate goaltender Dustin Wolf has kept them afloat more nights than not with his 24-15-6 record, 2.67 goals-against average, and .909 save percentage. Dan Vladar started in net last night for Calgary, so expect to see Wolf tonight at Delta Center.

The Flames are one of only six teams in the NHL without a 60-point scorer (Anaheim, Chicago, New York Islanders, San Jose, Seattle). Nazem Kadri (30G, 28A) and Jonathan Huburdeau are tied for the team lead with 58 points (27G, 31A).

STANDINGS UPDATE

WC1: Minnesota Wild – 88 points

WC2: St. Louis Blues – 87 points

—

  1. Calgary Flames – 82 points
  2. Vancouver Canucks – 81 points
  3. Utah Hockey Club – 78 points

WHO TO WATCH

UTAH: #15 ALEXANDER KERFOOT – With a goal and two assists against Chicago on Sunday, Kerfoot tabbed his first three-point game of the season and the 12th of his career. The Harvard product is now up to 23 points (11G, 12A) this season and will be playing in his 599th NHL game tonight.

CALGARY: #91 NAZEM KADRI – Last night’s game against Colorado snapped what was a six-game point streak for Kadri during which he amassed seven goals and four mutli-point games. Kadri’s goals come in bunches, and he now has two four-game goal streaks this season.

LAST MEETING

Utah snapped a five-game losing streak on Jan. 2 in Calgary with a 5-3 win over the Flames. Utah trailed 3-2 entering the third period, but two quick scores within 1:58 of each other from Clayton Keller and Lawson Crouse gave Utah the advantage. Crouse finished with two goals on the night for Utah to bring his total to six on the season. Logan Cooley netted a power-play goal after a setup by Dylan Guenther, and Kevin Stenlund provided the empty-netter to seal the victory.

LOOK BACK

Utah snapped a three-game losing streak with a 5-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks at United Center on Sunday afternoon. After a scoreless first, the two clubs exploded for five combined goals in the second. Utah scored all three of its second-period tallies on shots from the blue line. Nick DeSimone opened the scoring with a seeing-eye shot that gave the rearguard the third NHL goal of his career. Mikhail Sergachev also scored on a shot from the blue line that snaked its way through traffic, and Alexander Kerfoot tipped a Sergachev drive later in the second to give Utah a 3-2 lead.

In the third, Kailer Yamamoto scored his first goal in Mountain Blue after collecting a Nick Schmaltz rebound. Logan Cooley netted his 22nd goal of the season to make it 5-2 Utah.

Utah finished its season series against the Blackhawks with a 3-0-1 record, taking seven out of a possible eight points.

EXTRA TIME

Utah and Calgary both love playing extra hockey. After reaching overtime and then a shootout last night against the Avalanche, the Flames have now reached the extra frame 21 times this season, tied with Vancouver and Pittsburgh for the most in the NHL. With 20 extra-time games, Utah is tied for fourth.

Calgary is 9-12 in extra-time games while Utah is 8-12. When a game finishes in 3-on-3 overtime, Utah is 7-9 and Calgary is 5-10. In the shootout, Utah is 1-3 compared to Calgary’s 4-2 mark.

Dylan Guenther leads Utah with three overtime goals this season, and Nazem Kadri leads Calgary with two.

900 FOR COLE

Sunday marked the 900th NHL game for veteran blueliner Ian Cole. Cole is one of six Utah skaters this season to appear in all 74 games so far this season (Barrett Hayton, Michael Kesselring, Alexander Kerfoot, Jack McBain, Kevin Stenlund), and his 185 blocked shots rank second in the NHL behind only Anaheim’s Jacob Trouba (192).

Originally drafted by the Blues in 2007, Cole has seen action with St. Louis, Pittsburgh, Columbus, Colorado, Minnesota, Carolina, Tampa Bay, and Vancouver before coming to Utah. On Mar. 5, Cole signed a one-year contract extension that will begin next season. He is the 15th player from the 2007 draft class to reach 900 NHL games.

LOOK AHEAD

Utah continues the final home stretch of the season on Thursday, Apr. 3 against the Los Angeles Kings. Utah will also face the Winnipeg Jets, Seattle Kraken, and Nashville Predators during the homestand.

Source: Utah News

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Will Hornets capture the Flagg? Win over Utah has ramifications in chase for Duke star

The race to secure the best possible odds to land Cooper Flagg is heating up with less than two weeks remaining in 2024-25 regular season.

Mar 31, 2025; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams (5) gets a dunk over Utah Jazz center Oscar Tshiebwe (34) during the second half at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams (5) gets a dunk over Utah Jazz center Oscar Tshiebwe (34) during the second half at Spectrum Center.


Jim Dedmon

USA TODAY NETWORK

Before electronics took over, before the Y2K hysteria and worries about computers making things more difficult in everyday life, there were certain staples of youth.

Such as participating in games that required social skills mixed in with ingenuity, sprinkled with a dose of luck. Ones like musical chairs, blaring tunes while hopefuls plotted their landing spot, carefully eyeing the place they wanted to plop down once dust settles and things are quiet.

That analogy is what the Charlotte Hornets are currently facing as they speed toward another fruitless season, extending the NBA’s longest playoff drought to nine years, while keeping an eye on the prize. And it’s why Monday night’s outing against the Western Conference’s cellar-dwellar may wind up being one of the season’s biggest games.

Not because the Hornets edged the Utah Jazz 110-106 at Spectrum Center, but because Charlotte’s latest victory was more about May 12 and the reverberations will likely be felt inside a conference room at the McCormick Place Convention Center off the shores of Lake Michigan in Chicago.

That’s where the NBA Draft Lottery will be held, the event a longtime and well-respected front office executive referred to years ago as a “convention of losers.” The winner of this batch featuring those with failed 2024-25 regular seasons gets a rather notable prize, though, even if he’s not quite at the phenom level of Victor Wembanyama.

But Duke’s Cooper Flagg isn’t too shabby and he’s been the projected No. 1 pick in the upcoming June draft for months, a consensus that only grows with each stellar performance, particularly in the NCAA Tournament while helping guide the Blue Devils to the Final Four in San Antonio this weekend.

Mar 31, 2025; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges (0) goes to the basket against Utah Jazz forward Kyle Filipowski (22) during the first quarter at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges (0) goes to the basket against Utah Jazz forward Kyle Filipowski (22) during the first quarter at Spectrum Center. Jim Dedmon USA TODAY NETWORK

“I think he has a chance to be great,” fellow Duke product Mark Williams said after posting 18 points and 13 rebounds against the Jazz. “Obviously, for Duke he does a little bit of everything for them. Defensively, does a great job, offensively is the engine. Finding his teammates, attacking the basket, taking a lot of the right shots, rebounding — you name it.

“So, I think for them he’s definitely one of the keys, and as far as his future I think the sky’s the limit for him.”

Flagg’s potential has some teams quietly and carefully maneuvering in a way that won’t draw the suspicion or ire of the NBA’s head honchos in the glass offices in New York. Tanking is frowned upon and it’s why the NBA altered the odds in 2020, attempting to rid the league of any sort of repeat of dark times like “The Process” in Philadelphia, when the 76ers kept purposefully making losing moves to gain better position in the draft.

Now, the three teams that finish with the worst record are each handed 14% odds of securing the top selection in the yearly draft, all so one team doesn’t unfairly try to tip the scales in its favor. That context is a necessity to explain why the Hornets faced an opening-game lineup Monday night featuring Isaiah Collier, Brice Sensabaugh, KJ Martin, Johnny Juzang and Duke product Kyle Filipowski, evoking a line from the movie “Major League” featuring the hilarious Bob Uecker.

“Who are these guys?”

Utah tossed its 46th different starting five of the season out against the Hornets, undoubtedly looking to keep from gaining any ground in the race for the bottom three. Utah is tied with Washington for the worst record overall, posting only 16 victories, and the Jazz are now three games below the Hornets in the loss column with six games remaining.

Charlotte’s defeat in New Orleans on Sunday night could turn out to be ridiculously large in the grand scheme of things because only one game separates them with the Pelicans in the standings, and the team that finishes with the fourth-worst record has a 12.5% of grabbing the No. 1 pick.

Mar 31, 2025; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Charlotte Hornets head coach Charles Lee during the first quarter against the Utah Jazz at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
Charlotte Hornets head coach Charles Lee during the first quarter against the Utah Jazz at Spectrum Center. Jim Dedmon USA TODAY NETWORK

So, over these final seven matchups, beginning with Wednesday’s tilt in Indiana, the Hornets stand to lose in the odds game if they, uh, win too much. The thing they’ll have going for them is their schedule. All but one of their final games — with the exception of next Wednesday in Toronto — are against teams fighting for postseason berths or potential seeding.

Indiana, Sacramento, Chicago and Memphis won’t be rolling over and the lone wildcard is Boston given the Hornets finish the season with a pair of matchups against the Celtics and who knows how coach Joe Mazzulla will play things.

New Orleans threw up the proverbial white flag while the Hornets were squaring off versus the Jazz, shutting down South Carolina native Zion Williamson and CJ McCollum for the rest of the season. Subtle moves like that — akin to Hornets’ star LaMelo Ball ending his season early to have surgery on his right wrist and right ankle — are going to be the norm over the coming days.

The race to capture the Flagg is heating up and ready to explode. And as another disappointing season nears its conclusion, one featuring 38 different starting lineups for Charlotte, the Hornets are tiptoeing on a balance beam, teetering on the brink of putting themselves in the best position possible to get a game-changer.

But in true fashion, nothing is ever easy for the Hornets, and properly stumbling down the stretch will probably be a bit too much to ask. The other three teams hovering around them in the overall standings are certainly going to do their part to purposefully struggle.

Will the Hornets do the same and follow suit? Whether they can secure a versatile cog like Flagg and possibly put an end to their playoff-berth malaise in 2025-26 could depend on it.


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Roderick Boone joined the Observer in September 2021 to cover the Charlotte Hornets and NBA. In his more than two decades of writing about the world of sports, he’s chronicled everything from high school rodeo to a major league baseball no-hitter to the Super Bowl to the Finals. The Long Island native has deep North Carolina roots and enjoys watching “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air” endlessly.
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Source: Utah News

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How to watch Utah Hockey Club vs. Flames on TV or streaming on Tuesday, April 1

This affiliate content is not influenced by our advertising relationships, but AP and Data Skrive might earn commissions from our partners’ links in this content.

This affiliate content is not influenced by our advertising relationships, but AP and Data Skrive might earn commissions from our partners’ links in this content.

When the Utah Hockey Club and Calgary Flames meet up at Delta Center on Tuesday, April 1 at 9 p.m. ET, Clayton Keller and Jonathan Huberdeau will be two of the top players to keep an eye on.

ESPN+ is the spot to tune in to see the Utah Hockey Club and the Flames square off.

Sign up for ESPN+ today to watch 1,000+ out-of-market NHL games, ESPN+ Hockey Night & more.

How to Watch Utah Hockey Club vs. Flames

Watch 1,000+ out-of-market NHL games, ESPN+ Hockey Night & more streaming all season on ESPN+.

Utah Hockey Club vs. Flames Stat Rankings

Utah Hockey Club Rank Utah Hockey Club AVG Flames AVG Flames Rank
23rd 2.81 Goals Scored 2.59 30th
18th 3.04 Goals Allowed 2.93 14th
18th 28 Shots 29.2 8th
13th 27.6 Shots Allowed 28.9 23rd
16th 21.53% Power Play % 21.05% 20th
10th 80.8% Penalty Kill % 75.48% 25th

Get tickets for any NHL game this season at StubHub.

Utah Hockey Club’s Top Scorers

  • Dylan Guenther: 26 goals and 25 assists
  • Keller: 24 goals and 55 assists
  • Logan Cooley: 22 goals and 34 assists
  • Karel Vejmelka: 22-20-7 record, .903 save percentage, 127 goals allowed

Flames’ Top Scorers

  • Nazem Kadri: 29 goals and 29 assists
  • Huberdeau: 27 goals and 31 assists
  • Matthew Coronato: 20 goals and 19 assists
  • Dustin Wolf: 24-15-6 record, .909 save percentage, 120 goals conceded

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Upcoming Utah Hockey Club Games

  • April 1 vs. Flames: 9 p.m. ET on ESPN+ (Watch on Fubo)
  • April 3 vs. Kings: 9 p.m. ET on ESPN+ (Watch on Fubo)
  • April 5 vs. Jets: 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+ (Watch on Fubo)
  • April 8 vs. Kraken: 9 p.m. ET on ESPN+
  • April 10 vs. Predators: 9 p.m. ET on ESPN+
  • April 12 at Stars: 8 p.m. ET on ESPN+
  • April 14 at Predators: 8 p.m. ET on ESPN+
  • April 15 at Blues: 8 p.m. ET on ESPN+

Upcoming Flames Games

  • April 1 at Utah Hockey Club: 9 p.m. ET on ESPN+ (Watch on Fubo)
  • April 3 vs. Ducks: 9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+ (Watch on Fubo)
  • April 5 vs. Golden Knights: 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+ (Watch on Fubo)
  • April 7 at Sharks: 10:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+
  • April 9 at Ducks: 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+
  • April 11 vs. Wild: 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+
  • April 13 vs. Sharks: 8 p.m. ET on ESPN+
  • April 15 vs. Golden Knights: 9 p.m. ET on ESPN+
  • April 17 at Kings: 9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN (Watch on Fubo)

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Source: Utah News

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Disappointing end for the Runnin’ Utes: 3 takeaways from Utah’s loss to Butler in the College Basketball Crown

The Utah Runnin’ Utes have officially entered the Alex Jensen Era. Instead of playing at least one more game under interim head coach Josh Eilert, Utah’s season …

The Utah Runnin’ Utes have officially entered the Alex Jensen Era.

Instead of playing at least one more game under interim head coach Josh Eilert, Utah’s season came to a painful end when it blew a double-digit lead in the second half and lost 86-84 to the Butler Bulldogs in the College Basketball Crown at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Monday.

The Utes (16-17) were in control for most of the first 25 minutes and had a 60-49 lead. But they suddenly went cold as Butler (15-19) went on a 19-5 run to take a 71-67 lead with just less than eight minutes left. 

Utah got back into it behind Keanu Dawes and Gabe Madsen. The lead see-sawed until it was finally tied at 84-84 after Madsen made his third 3-pointer in a span of about just more than two minutes.

Each team missed a shot and Butler’s Pierre Brooks came up with a defensive rebound. Butler called a timeout with 12 seconds left to set up a play. The Bulldogs cleared out and Brooks drove the lane against Madsen for the winning layup with 3.2 seconds left. After a Utah timeout, Ezra Asuar heaved a desperation shot that hit off the back of the rim. 

And just like that, a difficult season ended. Utah lost its last four games and eight of 11.

Dawes had 19 points and 11 rebounds while Madsen scored 17 and Asuar 15.

Brooks had 22 points and nine boards for Butler, which moves on to play Boise State. Finley Bizjack scored 16. 

One of the Butler players made the “pay me” gesture with both hands after the win.

The winner of the 16-team College Basketball Crown will receive an NIL package of $300,000, with the runner-up taking home $100,000. The semifinal losers get $50,000 apiece.

Here are three takeaways from Utah’s season-ending loss.

This was the last game for Eilert, who took over after Craig Smith was fired in late February. Jensen, the former Utes star, was hired on March 6, formally introduced on March 17 and will take over full-time once the NBA season ends for the Dallas Mavericks, where he’s an assistant to Jason Kidd.

Jensen has spent about 10 hours a week focusing on the Utes while finishing the season with the Mavericks. He’s already hired an assistant coach and a general manager.

At least seven players have already entered the transfer portal and that number is expected to grow as Jensen continues to shape the program with the ultimate goal of getting back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2016. 

The Utes had a good flow in the first half, using 3-pointers and a strong inside game. Dawes scored eight straight points and Zach Keller buried a 3 to give Utah a 41-33 lead. Butler closed to 46-42 at halftime. 

Utah quickly pushed the lead to double digits early in the second half as Butler struggled with air-balled 3’s and a mind-boggling seven missed layups. 

But all of a sudden the Bulldogs, playing up to the “Dawgs” nickname on the front of their jerseys, used a 10-0 run to tie it at 62. They kept pushing until it was 71-67 with 7:46 left. Madsen and Asuar pulled the Utes back into it, but they could never take more than a one-point lead.

There were 13 lead changes and 10 ties.

Dawes is one of at least seven Utes players known to have entered the transfer portal. The others are Lawson Lovering, Jake Wahlin, Hunter Erickson, Miro Little, Jayden Teat and Ayomide Bamisile.

It’s expected that they’ll be joined by others.

Madsen was in his fifth year of eligibility.

MORE UTAH NEWS & ANALYSIS

Source: Utah News

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Utah Hockey Club monthly prospect report: A look at the players in the NCAA, CHL and European playoffs

Normally, the Utah Hockey Club monthly prospect report focuses on a handful of players in order to go a little more in depth on their development. But the playoffs are not a normal time of year. With …

Normally, the Utah Hockey Club monthly prospect report focuses on a handful of players in order to go a little more in depth on their development. But the playoffs are not a normal time of year.

With the postseason in full flower in the NCAA Tournament, the CHL’s three leagues, and all across Europe, Utah director of player development Lee Stempniak and the team wanted to give you a different look this month. Instead of diving deep on three or four players, we created capsules on every player who is competing or who recently competed in the aforementioned postseasons.

Stempniak and the Utah development staff provided the scouting synopses.

“I had the [development] coach that works most closely with them write the capsule and then I added/edited them with my own thoughts,” Stempniak said. “I thought it would be interesting for you to get a slightly different voice on it.”

Some of the players’ mentioned below have concluded their seasons, but we included everyone who made the postseason in these capsules.

Utah prospect playoff capsules

Forwards

Daniil But

Team (League): Yaroslav Lokomotiv (Kontinental Hockey League [KHL], Russia)

Current postseason situation: Lokomotiv was the No.1 overall seed after winning the Tarasov Division with 102 points in 68 games. Lokomotiv leads Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod 2-0 in the conference quarterfinals.

Stats (regular season): 54 games, nine goals, 28 points.Draft year (overall pick number): 2023 (No. 12)Age: 20

Scouting synopsis: “Daniil’s play has progressed, having set personal bests in goals, assists and points. He is learning how to use his big frame more effectively and showing more confidence and poise with the puck.” — Stempniak and development coach Jeff Shantz

Noel Nordh

Team (League): Sault Ste. Marie (Ontario Hockey League [OHL], Canada)

Current postseason situation: The Soo trail Windsor 2-0 in the first round.

Stats (regular season): 21 goals, 52 points, 47 games.Draft year (overall pick number): 2023 (No. 72)Age: 20

Scouting synopsis: “Noel is a big reason his team made the playoffs during the final stretch. He had seven goals in the last two weeks of the season to help the Soo sneak into seventh place by a few points. He has been playing more direct, getting to the net and middle of the ice to generate more offensive opportunities.” — Stempniak and Shantz

Samu Bau

Team (League): Tampereen Ilves (Liiga, Finland)

Current postseason situation: Ilves leads Tappara, 2-0, in the quarterfinals

Stats (regular season): Eight goals, 22 points, 51 gamesDraft year (overall pick number): 2023 (No. 162)Age: 20

Scouting synopsis: “Samu’s last few weeks of the regular season were the best he’s played offensively this year. He has always been a good defensive player but lately has shown more poise with the puck and the ability to generate more offensive opportunities.” — Stempniak and Shantz

Vojtěch Hradec

Team (League): BK Mladá Boleslav (Extraliga, Czechia)

Current postseason situation: Mladá Boleslav lost to Mountfield HK in the quarterfinals, 4-3.

Stats (regular season): 37 games, four goals, 12 points
Draft year (overall pick number): 2024 (No. 167)
Age: 19

Scouting synopsis: “Vojtech has shown all season that he is a good defensive player with a strong work ethic. He slowly is getting better with the puck – making more plays and helping to generate more offense.” — Stempniak and Shantz

Vadim Moroz

Team (League): Dinamo Minsk (KHL)

Current postseason situation: Dinamo leads CSKA Moscow, 2-1, in the quarterfinals.

Stats (regular season): 66 games, 26 goals, 44 pointsDraft year (overall pick number): 2023 (No. 88)
Age: 21

Scouting synopsis: “Vadim doubled his point total this season. He’s created more opportunities from the inside and found ways to maximize possessions with improved puck protection. This growth, combined with his playmaking and ability to play a two-way game, has allowed him to take a big step with a breakout year.” — Stempniak and development coach Nathaniel Brooks

Jonathan Castagna

Team (League): Cornell (Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference [ECAC], NCAA)

Current postseason situation: Cornell upset No. 2 overall seed Michigan State in the first round but lost in OT to Boston University in the quarterfinals on Saturday.

Stats (regular season): 31 games, five goals, 15 points

Draft year (overall pick number): 2023 (No. 70)

Age: 19

Scouting synopsis: “Jonathan had a below-average season offensively but played against the opponents’ top lines and in all key situations. His game in the playoffs has been strong as he’s making a big impact on both sides of the puck. His play away from the puck and his efficiency in the faceoff circle took major steps.” — Stempniak and Brooks

Owen Allard

Team (League): Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)

Current postseason situation: The Soo trail Windsor 2-0 in the first round with Game 2 scheduled for Saturday.

Stats: (regular season): 31 games, 14 goals, 28 points
Draft year (overall pick number): 2024 (No. 135)Age: 21

Scouting synopsis: “Owen’s season was slowed down at times by unfortunate injuries, but when he was in the lineup, he was nearly a point- per-game player. He has found ways to utilize his speed more effectively. It’s evident when jumping into open space, closing on opponents, and winning races. His speed and explosiveness are exceptional.” — Stempniak and Brooks

Gabe Smith

Team (League): Moncton (Québec Major Junior Hockey League [QMJHL], Canada)

Current postseason situation: Moncton, the No. 1 overall seed, leads Québec, 2-0 in the first round.

Stats (regular season): 52 games, 20 goals, 39 points
Draft year (overall pick number): 2024 (No. 103)Age: 18

Scouting synopsis: “Gabe possesses a unique combination of size, sense, skill, and has identified the foundation of his game this season through simplicity. There has been improvement in his puck touches and decision making, along with his play away from the puck. He will be a big piece of Moncton’s upcoming playoff run.” — Stempniak and Brooks

Cole Beaudoin

Team (League): Barrie (OHL)

Current postseason situation: Barrie, the No. 2 seed from the Eastern Conference, leads Niagara 1-0 in the first round.

Stats (regular season): 52 games, 22 goals, 51 points
Draft year (overall pick number): 2024 (No. 24)
Age: 18

Scouting synopsis: “Cole is a high-effort, competitive player that plays a complete game. He’s generating higher danger chances for himself this season by improving his ability to get off the boards and attack the inside of the ice. He continues to improve in these areas while not compromising the small details and playing a dependable two-way game.” — Stempniak and Brooks

Tanner Ludtke

Team (League): Omaha (National Collegiate Hockey Conference [NCHC], NCAA)

Current postseason situation: Omaha lost to North Dakota in the first round of the NCHC playoffs and did not qualify for the NCAA Tournament.

Stats (regular season): Eight games, one goal, two points

Draft year (overall pick number): 2023 (No. 81)

Age: 20

Scouting synopsis: “Tanner had a tough start to his season. He re-injured his shoulder and had to have surgery. He spent the time off both rehabbing and working on his skating and strength (and having lasik surgery) as he was back on the ice for a month before he was able to use a stick. He came back and played a few games at the end of the season for Omaha and looked both stronger and faster on the ice, so the time was well spent.” — StempniakDefensemen

Tomas Lavoie

Team (League): Cape Breton (QMJHL)

Current postseason situation: Cape Breton trails Baie-Comeau Drakkar, 2-0 in the first round.

Stats (regular season): 60 games, 15 goals, 55 pointsDraft year (overall pick number): 2024 (No. 89)Age: 18

Scouting synopsis: “Tomas had a very strong year in Cape Breton playing big minutes in every situation as the No. 1 D. We saw growth in his play with the puck — holding onto it and then using his feet to connect the next play. Tomas also played much more physically and was harder to play against. It is impressive, his level of professionalism for a junior player.” — Stempniak and defenseman development coach Kurtis Foster

Veeti Väisänen

Team (League): Medicine Hat (Western Hockey League [WHL], Canada)

Current postseason situation: Medicine Hat, the Eastern Conference champ, leads Swift Current 2-0 in the first round.

Stats (regular season): 58 games, four goals, 24 pointsDraft year (overall pick number): 2024 (No. 96)Age: 19

Scouting synopsis: “Veeti went into a new league, a new country with new teammates and it took time for him to get comfortable. In the second half of the season after his return from World Juniors, his game has flourished. He is playing on the top pair and playing in every defensive situation. He’s improving his puck play; showing more poise when under pressure.” — Stempniak and Foster

Justin Kipkie

Team (League): Victoria (WHL)

Current postseason situation: Victoria, the No. 2 seed from the Western Conference, leads Tri-City, 2-0, in the first round.

Stats (regular season): 64 games, 12 goals, 62 pointsDraft year (overall pick number): 2023 (No. 160)Age: 19

Scouting synopsis: “Justin captained his Victoria team to a No. 2 seed in the Western Conference. He played a vital role, being the No. 1 D, playing big minutes in all situations. We saw growth in his game without the puck this season — closing space quickly, playing with tight gaps through the neutral zone and defending with his length to go along with an active stick.” — Stempniak and Foster

Terrell Goldsmith

Team (League): Tri-City (WHL)

Current postseason situation: Tri-City trails Victoria, 2-0, in the first round.

Stats (regular season): 56 games, four goals, 16 points
Draft year (overall pick number): 2023 (No. 102)Age: 19

Scouting synopsis: “Terrell went into a new situation in Tri-City after the trade from Prince Albert and found himself playing all key defensive minutes, with an increased opportunity at times in offensive situations. He was an assistant captain in his first year with the team which showed the respect he garnered throughout the league. He continued to play to his identity, physical and hard to play against. He played his offside all season and saw big improvement in his play and confidence with the puck.” — Stempniak and Foster

Cal Thomas

Team (League): Minnesota (Big Ten, NCAA)

Current postseason situation: Minnesota was upset by Massachusetts in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Stats (regular season): 27 games, one goal, nine pointsDraft year (overall pick number): 2021 (No. 171)Age: 21

Scouting synopsis: “Cal had another solid season playing for a top NCAA program. Cal was used on the top pair, playing against the opposing teams’ top line consistently. He was a mainstay in all defensive situations, especially on the penalty kill. His assertiveness to join the rush or activate in the offensive zone are the key improvements we saw in his play on the offensive side of the game.” — Stempniak and Foster

Matthew Morden

Team (League): Harvard (ECAC, NCAA)

Current postseason situation: Harvard lost to Clarkson in the quarterfinals of the ECAC Tournament and did not qualify for the NCAA Tournament.

Stats (regular season): 31 games, one goal, six points
Draft year (overall pick number): 2022 (No. 131)Age: 20

Scouting synopsis: “Matthew saw an increased role this season at Harvard. In the second half of the season, his play took off. He played on the top pair, with the responsibility of shutting down the opposing teams’ best players. We saw vast improvement in his physical play, using his length and size to kill plays through the neutral zone, and along walls in the defensive zone. His offensive play was much more composed, and he saw an improvement in his offensive playmaking abilities.” — Stempniak and Foster

Will Skahan

Team (League): Boston College (Hockey East, NCAA)

Current postseason situation: No. 1 overall seed Boston College beat Bentley, 3-1 in the first round but lost to defending national champion Denver in the quarterfinals on Sunday.

Stats (regular season): 29 games, two goals, seven points
Draft year (overall pick number): 2024 (No. 65)
Age: 18

Scouting synopsis: “Will had a successful freshman season playing on a top NCAA team at Boston College. He played consistently in the top six with some opportunities on the penalty kill. We saw an improvement in his puck decisions and he showed more composure on the offensive blue line than expected. His defensive game has grown as well, being harder to play against in his battles, to go along with a great stick.”
— Stempniak and Foster

Dmitri Simashev

Team (League): Yaroslavl Lokomotiv (KHL)

Current postseason situation: Lokomotiv was the No.1 overall seed after winning the Tarasov Division with 102 points in 68 games. Lokomotiv leads Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod 2-0 in the conference quarterfinals.

Stats (regular season): 56 games, one goal, six pointsDraft year (overall pick number): 2023 (No. 6)
Age: 20

Scouting synopsis: “Dmitri had another solid season playing for a strong Lokomotiv team. He has consistently played in the top six, with a role on the penalty kill. His size, stick and elite skating ability make him hard to play against, playing tight through the neutral zone or closing space quickly in the defensive zone. He showed improvement in his puck play in all three zones, especially when under pressure.” — Stempniak and Foster

Ludvig Lafton

Team (League): Färjestad (J20, Sweden)

Current postseason situation: Färjestad lost its first-round J20 series, 2-0, to Mora.

Stats (regular season): 42 games, four goals, 19 points

Draft year (overall pick number): 2024 (No. 190)Age: 19

Scouting synopsis: “Ludvig had a solid season playing for the Färjestad U20 team. It took some time to work his way back from his injury in the summer, but he started to find his game before Christmas. He’s a kid who competes and is efficient with the puck. He saw significant opportunity on the power play and was used in key offensive situations. We saw improvement in his defensive play, especially in his physical play.” — Stempniak and Foster

Gregor Biber

Team (League): Rögle (J20, SHL, Sweden)

Current postseason situation: Rögle lost to Malmö in the second round of the J20 playoffs

Stats (regular season): 50 games, two goals, three points
Draft year (overall pick number): 2024 (No. 98)Age: 18

Scouting synopsis: “Gregor had a very strong season as he made the jump at the beginning of season from the Rogle U20 team to the Rogle professional team (but returned to J20 for the playoffs). He was also able to spend time with the Austrian National Team in a few tournaments which helped his confidence immensely. Gregor plays to his identity consistently — strong defensively with an edge physically. His puck play when under pressure on retrievals and through transition is an area he improved throughout the season.” — Stempniak and Foster

Aleš Čech

Team (League): BK Mladá Boleslav (Extraliga)

Current postseason situation: Mladá Boleslav lost to Mountfield HK in the quarterfinals, 4-3.

Stats (regular season): 32 games, no goals, two pointsDraft year (overall pick number): 2024 (No. 153)

Age: 20

Scouting synopsis: “Aleš had a solid season playing for Mladá Boleslav. He was able to find a consistent role in the top four at even strength and on the penalty kill. He is a heavy player who skates very well and is hard to play against defensively. His poise and composure under pressure with the puck are also impressive for a young player at the pro level.” — Stempniak and Foster

Goalies

Michael Hrabal

Team (League): Massachusetts (Hockey East)

Current postseason situation: Massachusetts upset Minnesota in the first round of the NCAA Tournament but lost to No. 4 overall seed Western Michigan in the quarterfinals on Saturday.

Stats (regular season): 35 games, 2.38 GAA, .924 SPDraft year (overall pick number): 2023 (No. 38)
Age: 20

Scouting synopsis: “Michael improved his consistency throughout the second half of this season. In 18 of his last 19 games, he had a save percentage above .903. This earned him a record of 13-4-3 to propel UMass into the NCAA Tournament.” — Stempniak and goalie development coach Clay Adams

Melker Thelin

Team (League): Björklöven (Allsvenskan, Sweden)

Current postseason situation: Björklöven lost to AIK in overtime of Game 7 of their quarterfinal series, to fall, 4-3.

Stats (regular season): 23 games, 2.56 GAA, .908 SP
Draft year (overall pick number): 2023 (No. 134)Age: 19

Scouting synopsis: “Melker’s ability to elevate his performance and bounce back after losses in the second half helped him win the starting job for the No. 4 seed Björklöven heading into the playoffs. He has gone 10-5-1 in the second pro league in Sweden, going 3-1 to date in the playoffs as his team looks to be promoted to the SHL (top Swedish pro league).” — Stempniak and Adams

Carsen Musser

Team (League): Colorado College (NCHC)

Current postseason situation: Colorado College lost to Denver in the first round of the NCHC playoffs and did not qualify for the NCAA Tournament.

Stats (regular season): Nine games, 3.94 GAA, .879 SP

Draft year (overall pick number): 2023 (No. 166)Age: 19

Scouting synopsis: “Despite only appearing in nine games this season, Carsen was able to make the transition to NCAA hockey and play meaningful games in the second half. We saw continued effort throughout the season to improve the little details of his game to ready himself to carry a heavier workload next year.” — Adams

Rasmus Korhonen

Team (League): Västerås IK (Allsvenskan)

Current postseason situation: Västerås lost a play-in game to Mora.

Stats (regular season): 44 games, 2.90 GAA, .900 SP

Draft year (overall pick number): 2021 (No. 122)

Age: 22

Scouting synopsis: “Rasmus played 46 games for Vasteras as the starter, leading them into the playoffs on the last day of the regular season. We were happy with the growth of his game this season, especially with the last month and his ability to win important games for his club down the stretch.” — Adams

Source: Utah News

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Why Utah’s housing prices are getting closer to a buyer’s market, according to a mortgage manager

Even though homes are pricier in Utah than nearly anywhere else in the country, buyers do have some advantages, said Jeremy Holmgren, mortgage manager for Zions Bank. More available homes, longer …

Even though homes are pricier in Utah than nearly anywhere else in the country, buyers do have some advantages, said Jeremy Holmgren, mortgage manager for Zions Bank.

More available homes, longer times on the market and more moderate increases in housing prices, Holmgren explained, are giving homebuyers more power in the market.

There’s a lot of motivation for sellers to offer buyers concessions, he said, often in the realm of $10,000 to $15,000 they can use to pay closing costs or buy down their interest rate.

“Most of the contracts we see have some sort of a seller concession,” Holmgren said.

He clarified the market hasn’t fully shifted toward buyers, and is “still, in some ways, a seller’s market,” but recommended people buy now if they can while competition is low.

Here are three reasons Holmgren said the market is shifting and how buyers can use that knowledge to act.

More inventory

As of February, there were 14,084 homes on the market in Utah, according to data from Redfin, an online real estate brokerage that posts data from multiple listing services.

That’s 1,898 more homes than were on the market statewide last February and almost double the number of homes available three years ago.

Inventory is crucial as Utah faces a shortage, but the increase also means more options for buyers and less competition.

New construction permits are also down, Holmgren said, and that could point to “maybe a little bit less appetite to buy a new build.”

That means builders and owners who are selling are having to give concessions, he said, and builders are sitting on a lot of inventory.

More days on market

When Utah’s growth was still close to its peak three years ago, homes typically stayed on the market for less than two weeks, based on Redfin data.

The median days homes stayed on the market in Feb. 2022 was 14, and that dropped to nine in April 22.

Homes now stay on the market about 4 1/2 times as long. The median days on market in February was 64.

How long a home stays on the market indicates how competitive the market is, according to the brokerage service.

The quicker homes go under contract, the more competitive the market is, and the faster buyers need to act in order to compete. The longer homes spend on the market, the more time and control buyers have.

Sellers are incentivized to get homes off the market the longer they stay on, Holmgren said, and more likely to offer concessions.

More moderate price increases

Though housing prices are still high, the growth in cost has slowed since the pandemic-driven boom.

Between February of 2020 and May of 2022, the median housing price increased 64% – an average of about $8,500 a month.

Utah’s typical — or median — home price dropped to around $500,000 two years ago and has mostly stayed steady since.

Statewide, the median home price was $547,700 in February, a 2.3% increase compared to last year at that time.

Previous years saw price jumps as large as 29%.

And fewer homes are selling for more than the listing price – about 21% of homes last month compared to more than half of homes in February 2022 and 22% of homes last February.

Holmgren said less demand from buyers amid higher mortgage rates and economic uncertainties has led to a slower inflation rate for housing prices.

How to take advantage

Though people likely are waiting for interest rates, values or purchase prices to come down, there’s “no reason to wait,” Holmgren said.

“Homes are continuing to go up in value over time, and you don’t want to be in a competitive situation where you may not get the home,” he said.

He always encourages people to buy and start getting equity now rather than face the risks of waiting. People who have the down payment and the needed income can always refinance later, he said.

“You date the rate, and you marry the home,” Holmgren said.

He encouraged people to learn about home-buying programs like down payment assistance and to spend time figuring out what it takes to qualify. They may be able to adjust their debt and get a game plan, he said.

“It’s just education,” he said. “A lot of times, it’s easier than you may think.”

Megan Banta is The Salt Lake Tribune’s data enterprise reporter, a philanthropically supported position. The Tribune retains control over all editorial decisions.

Source: Utah News

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Breaking down how the Blackhawks’ ultra-young defensemen played in loss to Utah

Sam Rinzel impressed in his NHL debut, Alex Vlasic survived an injury scare, Artyom Levshunov officially burned a contract year and Kevin Korchinski’s lack of strength was exploited in the Hawks’ 5-2 …

The Blackhawks might have deployed one of the youngest defensive lineups in NHL history Sunday in their 5-2 loss to Utah.

Connor Murphy, 32, was the only veteran in a group featuring 23-year-old Alex Vlasic, 22-year-old Wyatt Kaiser, 20-year-old Kevin Korchinski, 20-year-old Sam Rinzel and 19-year-old Artyom Levshunov. That was even with Louis Crevier, 23, and Ethan Del Mastro (22, who skated in Murphy’s spot in practice Saturday) sitting out as healthy scratches.

The Hawks took a brief 2-1 lead late in the second period, but things crumbled from there in their third consecutive defeat.

“When we have a little hiccup, we have a hard time stopping [the spiral] after that,” interim coach Anders Sorensen said. “But a lot of the young guys are doing a lot of good things.”

Rinzel was stellar in his debut, logging 20:15 and showing off his powerful stride, offensive instincts and willingness to shoot the puck. He took seven shots, getting four on goal. He was one of six Hawks with a five-on-five scoring-chance ratio of 50% or higher; forward debutant Oliver Moore, his former University of Minnesota teammate, was another.

“His mentality of attacking off the blue line or just advancing pucks with his feet, those are attributes that — at this level — are really positive,” Sorensen said. “To see that [in] a first game, that was pretty impressive.”

Rinzel had a good chance to score when Connor Bedard set him up in the low slot during one of his first shifts, but he had an even better chance in the second period — off a juicy Lukas Reichel-created rebound — that Utah goalie Karel Vejmelka robbed.

He also survived a crushing welcome-to-the-NHL hit by Utah forward Jack McBain, who faced Pat Maroon’s wrath moments later. Rinzel and Moore said they had six or eight Gophers teammates at the United Center supporting them, plus plenty of family members.

“[I] learned a lot of things today,” Rinzel said. “Scoring is hard — that was one of them.”

Here are some thoughts on how the four other ultra-young defensemen fared:

Levshunov: This was his 10th NHL game, officially burning the first year of his three-year entry-level contract and making him a restricted free agent in 2027 rather than 2028, which the Hawks hope will make his second contract cheaper.

Through those 10 games, Levshunov has had a mixture of dazzling and bewildering plays. He earned his fifth career assist by jumping into a rush and setting up a tap-in by Joe Veleno and made several nifty breakout passes. But he looks out of sync on power-play breakouts right now, and he mishandled a pass from Vlasic that led to Utah’s fourth goal.

Korchinski: He had the worst game of the group. His energy and skating agility always stand out — he looks like a figure skater, the way he twirls and circles at the blue line — but his lack of strength continues to hold him back from consistent NHL success.

He endured a brutal sequence of two goals against in 31 seconds in the second period. The first of those was an unlucky deflection off his leg, but the second occurred after he tried but failed to move Utah forward Alex Kerfoot from in front of the net. Korchinski easily could’ve been called for cross-checking, but Kerfoot maneuvered, unfazed, and eventually tipped in a point shot. Korchinski’s body language had a defeated look after that.

“[Kevin has done] some good things, and there are some things that we have to improve on,” Sorensen said. “Overall, he’s had a really good year of development. Coming up here now, it’s not an easy environment.”

Kaiser: Coming off arguably his best all-around NHL performance Friday, he wasn’t as noticeable Sunday. But his quick reaction time and ability to adapt his playing style to complement whoever his partner is make him an underrated stabilizing presence.

“I’m just trying to make plays up at the blue line,” Kaiser said recently. “With my skating and with the way I can play, it’s almost a waste to dump it down and try to reset [the cycle].”

Vlasic: He survived an injury scare in the second period that looked bad at first. Although he’s barely older than the other young defensemen, he’s much more established in the NHL.

Source: Utah News

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Olympic prep water polo championship comes to Utah

According to Walker, one or two athletes from each team will likely be selected to participate in a USA Water Polo camp with a chance to be chosen to represent Team USA globally by competing in …

KEARNS, Utah (ABC4) — The USA Water Polo’s 2025 Girls Olympic Development Program (ODP) National Championship came to Utah Sunday for the first time in its history.

“The Olympic Development Program is about producing future Olympians but also future great players and great people,” said Brad Peercy, aquatics director at Kearns Recreation Center.

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According to Peercy, the ODP is a pipeline for young players to eventually compete at the highest level, while also being discovered by both college and Olympic coaches.

The tournament brought in 18 teams from across the country representing 13 different regions. Players from Utah also competed on the Mountain Zone team, coached by Mitchell Walker.

Utah woman receives 100 cancer treatments, living far beyond doctors’ expectations

“These athletes have been working incredibly hard for the last several months to progress through the pipeline for this ODP cycle,” Walker told ABC4.com.

According to Walker, one or two athletes from each team will likely be selected to participate in a USA Water Polo camp with a chance to represent Team USA globally by competing in tournaments.

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USA Water Polo says the championship is centered on competition but still focuses on athlete development and experience.

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Source: Utah News