
Durzi has also shown up at other events across Salt Lake City like at KSL studios to help promote the “switch” to Christmas music for the holiday season. It’s been a tandem between him and Marino who have helped the team create a presence in the community. It’s been helpful to Durzi to have someone alongside him during this challenging time.
“I don’t want to ever wish injury on anyone, but for me and John to be going through it together keeps us motivated, pushing each other every day,” Durzi said. “It’s unfortunate that you got to go through it. But there couldn’t be a better guy right now to be going through it with. For us to be bonding and pushing each other and competing to try to get back on the ice as quick as we can, it’s as good as it can be.”
The two have been hungry to get back on the ice. With the absence of the two defensemen, it created an opportunity for rookie Maveric Lamoureux to make his NHL debut. In 15 games, he proved why Armstrong drafted him in the first round back in 2022, producing three points and playing like a defenseman twice his age. Unfortunately, luck wouldn’t go Utah’s way as Lamoureux was also struck with injury, sidelining him for about four to six weeks.
Robert Bortuzzo was also injured, forcing Utah to acquire Olli Määttä from the Detroit Red Wings and claim Dakota Mermis off of waivers. It hasn’t been the improved blue line Utah and Durzi imagined at the beginning of the season but it has given the chance for Durzi, Marino, and Lamoureux to get to know each other off the ice, have fun while doing community events, and push each other to get back in the lineup.
“You hate to miss games,” Durzi said. “At the same time, it’s part of our game. It’s why we do what we do….Having a guy like John Marino and now Mav joining us. It’s a group of guys who are hungry to get back and a good group of guys who keep it fun and push each other to get better.”
The three players’ main goal is to obviously get back to playing. However, their other main goal has been using their unique personalities to create a connection with the fans. Ultimately, it’s helped Durzi and the other two defensemen give back, an important part of having a new team.
“I think that if we can’t do it on the ice right now, it’s nice for us to contribute in other ways,” Durzi said. “Let the guys focus on what they do on the ice…With this free time, it’s really important for us to come here and show everybody that we love this community, and we’d love to give back.”
Battling to Come Back
Although Durzi has loved spending time helping out the Utah community, he’s eager to get back on the ice. He’s been working hard to continue getting better. He’s no longer in a sling and has been at the rink, stickhandling from the bench. He’s impressed many with his determination to recover, including head coach André Tourigny who knows how important he and Marino are to the locker room even though he has to remind Durzi not to rush back into action too quickly.
“We need to put an anchor on Durzi to make sure we slow him down a little bit,” Tourigny said. “Those guys bring energy. They’re good teammates, great guys, great leaders. It’s good to have them around.”
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