Two teenage forwards, Tij Iginla and Caleb Desnoyers, are aiming to break into the Utah Mammoth lineup after development camp in Salt Lake City wrapped up July 2. Team management has signaled that roster spots are available for prospects who prove ready at training camp.
Rising Stars: Iginla and Desnoyers Prepare for Training Camp
Iginla, 19, enters camp riding momentum from a standout season with Kelowna in the Western Hockey League. After earlier injury setbacks in his junior career, he stayed healthy and posted 90 points (41 goals, 49 assists) in 48 games, earning a place on the Canadian Hockey League Second All-Star Team. He has been sharpening finer details of his game during the offseason, including on-ice work with forward Gavin McKenna, the 2026 first overall draft pick by Toronto. Iginla is targeting a full-time NHL role and has embraced playing center, adding more two-way responsibility to his well-known scoring touch.
Desnoyers, also 19, is coming off a strong third season with Moncton in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League, where he produced 78 points (22 goals, 56 assists) in 45 games in 2025-26. Since the season ended, he has focused on adding strength and improving his skating. His versatility stood out at the World Junior Championship, where he moved from center to wing and performed effectively, reinforcing the view that his hockey sense allows him to adapt to different roles and linemates.
Utah’s offseason brought in veteran help down the middle, creating a crowded competition at center. The club signed Anders Lee on July 1 and Barrett Hayton on July 8, and acquired Vincent Trocheck in a July 1 trade with the New York Rangers. Those moves leave as many as eight players vying for four center spots.
The Mammoth see the depth as a positive, expecting internal competition to raise standards throughout camp. Coaches and management want young players to arrive with an assertive mindset, ready to win jobs during exhibition play. Both Iginla and Desnoyers can also shift to wing on either side, giving the team additional lineup flexibility.
Utah selected Iginla with the No. 6 pick in the 2024 NHL Draft and Desnoyers with the No. 4 pick in 2025. With openings available to those who seize them, the Mammoth believe one or both prospects could influence the roster sooner rather than later. The upcoming training camp will be crucial for both players as they look to make their mark in the league.