Utah Mammoth captain Clayton Keller mourns his father while leading his team

Send up a prayer and give an extra-loud cheer for Mammoth captain Clayton Keller. He could use both.

Two days before his father shockingly died, slipping away in his sleep to whatever comes after this mortal existence, Keller was with his Utah Mammoth teammates, visiting kids in a Salt Lake City hospital. While there, he said the annual visit is one of his and his team’s favorite off-ice activities.

“What [patients here] are going through is more important than anything we’re going through,” he said. “Any way we can give back, meet new faces, try to put a smile on their face, is the best feeling. That’s why we all love this event. … There’s some coloring going on, some slime, and some bracelets, too. It’s great … I haven’t colored anything in a long time.”

A grin spread across his own f