Utah Hockey Club to hold press conference in Park City on Monday to sign Durzi’s contract

The Utah Hockey Club closed business on Monday in Park City.

The club held a press conference this afternoon at the Park City Hotel to announce the signing of star defender Sean Durzi.

Durzi was joined at the podium by head coach André Tourigny and general manager Bill Armstrong to discuss his signing, the roster and the team’s prospects.

Durzi joined the Arizona Coyotes last season after spending the first two years of his career in Los Angeles. The Canadian posted a career-best 41 points and 63 power play minutes in his year. Durzi was the defense’s best player in shooting, scoring and blocking shots.

Durzi is only 25 years old.

“There are many reasons,” Tourigny said of the signing. “What strikes me most is his competitiveness. He is willing to do the dirty work.”

Tourigny said Durzi is a high-character, hard-working player. Tourigny has coached the team, which formerly played in Arizona, since 2021.

Durzi agreed with a reporter that some of his trademark toughness comes from the Kings, saying the team’s veterans helped him on and off the ice from 2021-23.

Armstrong said adding some defensemen was a priority for the team this offseason. In addition to Durzi, Utah traded for veteran stars Mikhail Sergachev and John Marino during the NHL Draft over the weekend.

Armstrong and Durzi hope the new additions and existing camaraderie will help the team take another leap. They haven’t reached the postseason since 2020, but have won more points in each of the last two seasons.

“We just showed what greatness means to me,” Durzi said of last year’s team. “With the new additions and knowing the coaches and staff a little bit, I’m pretty confident we’re taking a step in the right direction. For me as a player who wants to win, that’s exciting.”

Durzi knows the playoff experience Sergachev and Marino bring to the locker room will be just as important as their play on the ice. Sargachev won two consecutive Stanley Cups with Tampa Bay in 2020 and 2021.

Durzi wants to immediately present Utah fans with a winning team that is contending for the playoffs. He said it has been incredible to see the commitment from the owners and the interest from the fans so far.

Durzi and Armstrong want to give back and help inspire children across the state.

“These guys are professional athletes, the coolest players, the best players in the world. You want to be like them one day,” Durzi said of inspiring the next generation. “Being in the community, inspiring young kids, inspiring people as a whole, just striving for greatness is really important.”

Tourigny knows that this season will be the team’s first taste of history, and the team knows how long Utah has wanted an NHL team.

“The most important thing is not just to go through the routine, but to learn from it,” Durzi said. “Meaningful games at the end will help us through this process and ultimately lead us to the championship. It starts with learning and everyone is getting better every day.”