Utah Mammoth Goaltender Connor Ingram Departs
In a significant move for the Utah Mammoth organization, veteran goaltender Connor Ingram has mutually agreed to depart from the team, and he will be absent from the upcoming training camp. General manager Bill Armstrong confirmed that Ingram will be waived, providing him the opportunity to join another team ahead of the regular season, which is set to commence in October. Ingram notably did not show up for the first day of training camp at the Mammoth’s state-of-the-art practice facility in Sandy, Utah.
Management’s Perspective
Armstrong remarked on their decision, stating that it was in the best interests of all parties, given the presence of other goaltenders on the roster.
“We had a mutual agreement where we said, ‘Hey, listen, we have our goaltenders.’ It’s probably best for him not to come to camp and put himself in a [difficult] situation,”
he explained.
Ingram’s Performance and Challenges
The 28-year-old goaltender enjoyed a promising start to last season but faced challenges, finishing with a record of 9 wins, 8 losses, and 4 ties, as well as a 3.27 goals-against average and an .882 save percentage across 22 games. He struggled with injuries during the year and took a leave from play starting March 9, when he entered the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program following the death of his mother due to breast cancer.
Notably, this is not Ingram’s first encounter with the assistance program; he previously sought help in 2021 for issues related to depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Armstrong conveyed optimism regarding Ingram’s recovery journey, highlighting his potential prospects, whether in the NHL or the American Hockey League.
“We’re excited for him and his path to recovery. He will either get a chance to play for another NHL team or he will go to the American Hockey League and resume his play. But at the end of the day, he will be playing, and that’s what we’re so excited for,”
said Armstrong.
Team’s Future Without Ingram
Despite being cleared to return to play on August 20, the Mammoth opted to move forward without Ingram, securing Karel Vejmelka to a contract extension back in March and subsequently signing Vitek Vanecek for one year in July. Last season, Vejmelka had a solid performance, posting a record of 26 wins, 22 losses, and 8 ties, establishing career highs with a 2.58 goals-against average and a .904 save percentage while starting 55 out of 58 games.
Mammoth head coach André Tourigny praised Vejmelka’s consistency and ability to lead the team during tough matches, saying,
“He showed us he can win games. He can show up for us some nights when we struggle [offensively] and win the game for us. He proved a lot to himself and to everybody last year.”
Looking Ahead
As for Vejmelka, he expressed confidence going into the new season, stating,
“I feel comfortable game by game, and I just feel more comfortable in every moment.”
With Vanecek joining the roster, the Mammoth now have another seasoned goaltender to bolster their lineup. Over five seasons in the NHL, Vanecek has accumulated a career record of 96 wins, 56 losses, and 21 ties, boasting a 2.83 goals-against average and a .902 save percentage across 188 games played with teams such as Florida, San Jose, New Jersey, and Washington.
