The Utah Hockey Club has signed Kailer Yamamoto to a one-year, two-way contract. Yamamoto initially joined the team on a player tryout agreement last month, where he impressed by scoring three goals in four preseason games. Last season, the 26-year-old played for the Seattle Kraken, accumulating eight goals and eight assists for a total of 16 points over 59 games.
Before turning pro, the Spokane, Washington native excelled in the Western Hockey League with the Spokane Chiefs, netting 105 goals and 186 assists in 230 games, with a standout season in 2016-17 where he achieved 99 points. On the international stage, Yamamoto has represented the U.S. multiple times, earning silver at the 2014 U-17 tournament and bronze at both the U-18 tournament in 2016 and the 2018 World Junior Championships.
The Utah Hockey Club will launch its 2024-25 season with its inaugural home game on October 8 against the Chicago Blackhawks. Yamamoto was drafted 22nd overall by the Edmonton Oilers in 2017 and has since recorded 134 points in 303 NHL games, along with 12 points in 34 playoff appearances.
