SALT LAKE CITY — For Utah, it's kinda like February 7, 1964, right?
That's the day The Beatles arrived in New York City on their first visit to America, and nothing was ever the same again.
Wednesday morning, hundreds of youth hockey players from around the area gathered in a hanger at Salt Lake City International Airport to welcome the players on Utah's new NHL team when they touched down in the Beehive State.
WATCH: Hockey fans itching to get hands on Utah NHL merchandise
It's the first time the team has witnessed in person the fan enthusiasm that has taken over the Wasatch Front. As players entered the hanger, they signed jerseys and signs for the kids, high-fiving and fist-bumping their newest fans.
The chartered plane ferried the team from its former home in Phoenix to Salt Lake City, just ahead of the massive afternoon party being held in their honor at the Delta Center.
While it's safe to assume that at least a few players have previously ventured into Utah, this will be the first team appearance for the entire roster and will provide a chance for the players to get an up close look at the support they'll receive when the games start in the fall.
