The unexpected crossover between Utah Mammoth analyst Dominic Moore and BYU men’s tennis

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Practice was in full swing for BYU men’s tennis as the team played on its indoor courts to avoid the scorching sun on a hot 90-degree September day.

Seniors Wally Thayne and Zach Fuchs, as well as newer names like Sacramento State transfer Adam Chodur and first year Hardy Owen, were all preparing for their upcoming individual tournaments, ready to fly across the country on a moment’s notice, as the team awaited the regular season that was still months away.

But as practice came to a close, there would be an even newer face joining, tennis racket in hand and ready to play.

His name was Dominic Moore. He was a dark brown-haired man in his mid-40’s and had just barely moved from Boston with his family. Sporting a beard that was a mix of brown and white, it was clear he wasn’t there to try out for the team.

But what Moore was looking for was some skilled tennis players to hit with, and BYU had just that.

“I knew nobody really yet,” said Moore. “So I was trying to find some people to hit with. And obviously, like back in Boston, I was really tied in with the Harvard men’s tennis team, and so I was able to go down and play with those guys pretty regularly.”

Even though Moore would be unable to play with Harvard’s men’s team anymore, Moore wasn’t going to let moving to the West Coast stop him from playing tennis.

Luckily for him, reaching out to Zach Warren, the head coach for BYU men’s tennis, was all it took for him to get access to some courts and some high-level competition.

“And I was literally just in bed one night, and I looked at the BYU website and found Zach’s contact info and sent him an email,” said Moore. “And literally the next morning before I even woke up, there was a reply from Zach, and it could not have been more welcoming and warm. He just said, ‘Come on out.’”

With practice concluded, Warren welcomed Moore onto the court and the two would start by running some drills. But it wouldn’t be long before Warren would realize that drills involving himself were not going to be enough for Moore.

“I hit with Dominic on the first day. He hits a really high-level ball. And I remember thinking, ‘Wow, I’m getting a heck of a workout here’ … he could’ve gone all day long,” said Warren. “That’s when I was like, ‘Okay, I’m gonna have to level up with this guy, maybe bring in my assistant coach.’ He doesn’t want to just come and casually hit; he wants to get a great workout, and he wants to be pushed here.”

It became evident quickly to Warren that playing full-point matches would be the best strategy for getting Moore a good workout, even though he was still adjusting to the elevation the Utah mountains bring.

Moore was clearly no amateur, managing to make a collegiate tennis coach like Warren sweat and breathe heavily. Moore had come to play and was a serious tennis player.

“He just has a great feel for the game … you could tell that he obviously had been playing for a good portion of his life, but he is an incredible athlete,” said Warren.

Soon, Moore would be playing matches against players on the team, who all are top-end athletes themselves. After all, players on this team would eventually secure one of the best wins in BYU history with a win over then- No. 11 ranked UCF six months later.

While Moore isn’t a collegiate tennis athlete — he’s long past his college days at Harvard — holding your own against BYU athletes takes considerable skill. But unlike most people BYU men’s tennis comes across, Moore has loads of experience both in tennis and as a longtime center in the NHL.

Dec 11, 2010; Vancouver, British Columbia, CANADA; Tampa Bay Lightning forward Dominic Moore (19) celebrates forward Steven Stamkos (91) goal against Vancouver Canucks goaltender Cory Schneider (35) during the second period at Rogers Arena. The Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Vancouver Canucks 5-4 in overtime.

Photo by Anne-Marie Sorvin-Imagn Images

After being drafted as a third-round pick, Moore started his career with the New York Rangers. Though his first stint with the Rangers would be short lived, being traded in 2005-06 season, Moore would go on to play 15 seasons in the league, playing for ten different teams.

Eventually, Moore would return to the Rangers in the 2013-14 season and have the biggest goal of his career, scoring a game-winning goal that would send the Rangers into the Stanley Cup Finals to play the LA Kings.

Moore is also a recipient of the Bill Masterton Trophy, awarded to the player who “exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey,” not only for making his return to the league after the tragic passing of his first wife, but for playing incredible hockey for a Rangers team that reached the finals.

NHL.com called Moore “one of the NHL’s most valuable checking forwards” due to his strong defensive presence that provided him consistent playing time despite rarely playing on the same team for more than two seasons.

Now that his playing days are over, his success in the NHL has helped provide him newfound success, this time as a hockey analyst working for major media outlets like ESPN, NBC and now, with his latest venture, the Utah Mammoth broadcast team.

Most wouldn’t expect a former professional athlete like Moore to end up playing tennis with both BYU and Harvard men’s tennis teams. However, there is much more crossover between the sports than people realize.

As Moore explains it, “There is actually a lot of overlap in terms of the demands of the sport, which may surprise people, but for me, that was always a feather in my cap because I would train for hockey all summer …You’re pushing laterally, which is the exact motion from skating. There’s a lot of rotational movement, obviously, for both sports. In terms of core rotation, there’s a lot of agility in both sports. There’s a lot of hand-eye coordination in both sports. Both sports demand kinds of explosive movement … So there’s quite a few overlaps, which make it an excellent sport for me.”

Playing at the highest level like Moore did is sure to make you quite the athlete, but it’s Moore’s hard work of regularly playing tennis across his professional career, and now in his new phase of life commentating on Utah Mammoth’s games, that makes him a skilled player.

His hard work hasn’t gone unnoticed, with Warren saying Moore has improved since coming to Provo in September, as he has adjusted to the effects Utah’s altitude has on both the ball and his own body.

“I was genuinely surprised ‘cause he hits just as well as us. I think with a little match experience, he’d probably hit a little better,” said Jack Barnett, a BYU assistant coach. “But for someone that was such a good professional at another sport, it is super cool to see someone that good in [an equally tough] sport.”

Just this May, Moore showed his improved play as he made it all the way to the Semi Finals in the UTSA Men’s National 45’s Hardcourt Championships, before inevitably losing in a closing match.

Moore is still finding ways to compete at a high level — this time under the sun rather than in the closed, icy domes of the NHL — and remains dedicated to improving his game, even if finding time during the Utah Mammoth season makes for a tricky schedule.

Oftentimes, the best place for Moore to improve is by practing with BYU tennis.

“Having that support [from Dominic] is very cool because I know that BYU can sometimes get a weird rap for being the LDS school. People like to bash on BYU and to have that support from someone on the outside is always, always good,” said Barnett. “I think of it as something cool. I want the support for the guys, and when that happens, it’s outreach as well. We want to be reaching as many kids, people, different communities as we can, and through him we’ve hopefully connected with a few more.”

Moore has gotten to the point where he’s comfortable enough to set up games with the players directly. Oftentimes, Otto Schreiner is the name he calls up.

Schreiner, a sophomore rejoining the team after serving a mission in Florianópolis, Brazil, has a unique connection with Moore that runs a bit deeper than the other BYU tennis players.

“Otto was the guy that was looking for the extra time on the court. He’s an incredibly hardworking guy. You know, I think it was two years that he was away for his mission, and, he didn’t touch a racket,” said Moore. “So he was really motivated to get his game back.”

It was perfect that Schreiner was the one who wanted the extra practice since both he and Moore share a similar background as both grew up laying hard hits in hockey skates. Schreiner stems from Minnesota while Moore comes from Thornhill, Ontario, Canada.

With Warren setting the two up, what would start as a practice session between the two would soon turn into a regular occurrence.

“I knew he was a retired NHL player, so I was excited to hit with him, but yeah, it was cool ‘cause he was a top athlete,” he said. “Obviously tennis is kind of my sport, not his main sport, but it felt good to know that I could hang with a top professional like that.”

And while the two met in Provo, their time together would even extend to the ice rink this past March, where they played tennis on skates.

Even now, nearly 10 months later, they’re still consistently playing tennis with each other. Just days after Moore got back from the UTSA tournament, the two were already back on the court playing sets and giving each other quite the workout.

“I didn’t know much about him, didn’t know he was that good. Then I started hitting with him. He just shows up and was like, ‘Yeah, I haven’t hit in a few weeks,’ and then he just started roping balls. I’m like, ‘Geez, this guy is crazy,’” said Schreiner. “He’s just super fit, his legs are so strong, and he has super good movement [and his] forehand [and] backhand are super solid.”

So does an athlete of Moore’s caliber have the skills to translate to tennis? Absolutely. The physical demands of being a professional hockey player are certainly going to give you some skills even if you aren’t specifically playing tennis.

But in Moore’s case, he isn’t just relying on the skills he learned on the ice — he, too, was once a collegiate tennis athlete, just like Schreiner.

Growing up in Thornhill, hockey was certainly the priority for Moore, but when the sun got extra bright in the summers, Moore would be on the tennis courts playing with his dad and his brothers. Once he was admitted to Harvard, he would be good enough to play both hockey and tennis for Harvard.

Photo by Harvard University

Moore is more known for his time as a highly touted NHL draft prospect. In fact, he was drafted into the NHL while he was still actively playing hockey at Harvard alongside his two older brothers. He would even get inducted into Harvard’s Athletics Hall of Fame for his terrific accomplishments, becoming a first team All-American for its hockey team.

But still, Moore was committed to playing both sports, even though it required a lot of physical effort and rest. He simply loved both tennis and hockey.

“It’s great to have that crossover where you get these really high-level athletes playing tennis,” said Warren. “Having Dominic play tennis and being able to promote that just helps our sport. I believe it helps hockey.”

However, the added responsibility and pressure of being a top hockey player for the school would soon make being a multi-sport athlete impossible, as Moore’s hockey coach asked the tennis team not to let Moore play tennis collegiately anymore in order to avoid any risk of injury.

Still, Moore never stopped playing tennis and would head to the courts whenever he wasn’t skating, slamming, and scoring, even as he transitioned to life as a professional hockey player.

Apr 28, 2010; Washington, DC USA; Montreal Canadiens center Dominic Moore (42) scores on Washington Capitals goalie Semyon Varlamov (40) as Capitals right wing Mike Knuble (22) defends during the third period in game seven of the first round of the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Verizon Center. The Canadiens won the game 2-1and the series four games to three.

Photo by Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

“I really like how he’s super humble,” said Schreiner. “He was a world-class athlete, playing in the NHL for many years. Obviously he’s accomplished a lot, but looking at him or talking with him, you wouldn’t necessarily know it. He doesn’t brag or exaggerate or anything. He is very humble and down to earth and just a super nice guy. [He’s] super easy to talk to. So I think that’s something admirable about him.”

Similarly, Schreiner grew up playing both sports, even practicing figure skating with the rest of his family. Skilled on skates, he was on track to be another hockey player of the future — that is, until he turned the TV on and saw Roger Federer playing at Wimbledon.

That changed everything.

His mother bought him a racket and got him on the court, and soon he fell in love with the sport. What began as a childhood fascination would turn into a full tennis career and ultimately become his full-time sport in high school.

Moore’s and Schreiner’s early lives mirror each other, but with both committing to opposite sports, their paths now offer a glimpse of what could have been if they had chosen differently all those years ago.

March 19, 2025; Provo, Utah, Dominic Moore and Otto Schreiner play tennis on skates at Peaks Ice Arena

Photo by Zach Warren

But with no regrets on either side, both now can enjoy having a friendly relationship that goes a bit deeper than tennis, though Schreiner will still be rooting for the Minnesota Wild first and foremost.

At first glance, one wouldn’t expect the retired center to end up practicing with BYU’s tennis team, let alone play tennis, when people have spent years watching him dawn skates, hockey pads and even throw down his gloves to land a few heavy hitters in the NHL.

Mar 27, 2009; Buffalo, NY, USA; Buffalo Sabres center Dominic Moore (17) and Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Luke Schenn (2) fight in the second period at the HSBC Arena.

Photo by Kevin Hoffman-Imagn Images

This is a man whose job was to play opposite to famous athletes like Kings’ center Anze Kopitar in the finals, as well as being teammates with well-known stars like Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby and New York’s Henrik Lundqvist — who is currently covering the Stanley Cup Final for TNT.

But for Moore, tennis isn’t just a leisurely activity, it’s a new competitive venture and avenue to compete at a high level, looking for as much spare time to serve, swing and spike whenever he can.

Regardless of what’s expected or not, Moore has become somewhat of a regular with BYU tennis, continuing to join in after practice, often playing full games with its athletes, looking to further progress and improve his own game.

Even with Moore’s busy in-season schedule analyzing Utah Mammoth games, it’s certainly clear that his limited time with BYU has left an impression on him.

“The warmth and generosity of Zach and the rest of the guys on the team have made me a BYU fan, so I root for them and wear the apparel proudly,” said Moore. “The values, too, that carry through sports are very evident on the campus.”

Moore would even compare the values he sees at BYU athletics to “the ultimate team sport,” hockey, because both BYU and hockey have strong team values.

BYU men’s tennis may always be in a full swing of trying to compete at the highest level despite the limited window each of its athletes have, but the values of its athletes is going to continue impressing professional athletes like Moore and even those unfamiliar with BYU.

“It makes me proud. Well, I’m obviously glad he’s a BYU fan, but more importantly than that, I think, is to recognize that we have something special here at BYU and that we have good values and we try to be good people,” said Schreiner. “That’s the whole goal for any BYU sports athlete is to represent the school well and to draw people in. Maybe I’ve played a little part in that, but [so did] my teammates and my coaches … I’m just really happy that Dominic had a really good experience with BYU.”

And with a program like BYU, it’s never just about winning games. It’s also about connecting and resonating with people, just like Schreiner has with Moore. Becoming Big 12 champions will always be one of the ultimate goals, but being able to inspire others like Schreiner has takes work in itself.

But it’s more than just BYU tennis that has made an impact. Moore has been able to have an impact on the program too.

“You wanna be around people that are gonna make you better, and he is just a terrific individual,” Warren said. “He was so grateful to be out there and appreciative. Just a high character individual that you want the people you care about, which are our players, to be around … He’s first class all the way. We’re blessed to get to spend a little bit of time with Dominic.”

Establishing this relationship may have started simply because Moore was looking to have someone to play with, but it has certainly grown into more than a casual working relationship, with Moore even willing to take time out of his job to shoot photos with the team at Utah Mammoth games. It’s a relationship of high respect from both parties.

Being in Provo of all places is certainly unexpected, considering Moore had no previous connection with BYU. But Moore wanting to be a part of the Utah Mammoth’s broadcast — in large part due to owners Ryan and Ashley Smith’s “commitment to having exceptional people involved [in the] organization” — has led to an unexpected relationship with BYU.

Now with a year under his belt working as an analyst, his reasons for staying have only grown as he continues to build relationships with everyone at Utah Mammoth and the rest of Utah.

“This is my first time working as an analyst for a team, and it’s been awesome,” said Moore. “I’ve loved every minute of it. You’re a part of a team. We have more of a team camaraderie than you do doing the national broadcast. I’ve developed great friendships and rapport with my fellow broadcast teammates, which has been incredible and rewarding.”

Staying in Utah with his new job also provides him a long-term, stable and flexible lifestyle that allows him to stay close to family.

Plus, Utah isn’t an unfamiliar place for Moore — he has plenty of family across the state. His mother-in-law lives in Mantua, and other extended family members are spread throughout Utah, including in Provo.

A month before Utah even offered him a job as analyst, Moore was at the Little Valley Days in Mantua with family.

While a few road trips around Utah are to be expected, Moore isn’t planning on trying to get back to ESPN anytime soon.

“I stepped away from that,” said Moore. “It was a conscious decision on the part of me and my wife to make the move to Utah, where we’ve been incredibly grateful for that opportunity, and it’s been an incredible experience thus far.“

Certainly, having a Utah Mammoth offseason gives Moore extended time to play with BYU tennis or even plan summer road trips to California to compete in tournaments.

Offseasons will always feel short. Whether it is hockey or tennis, life never stops for too long for athletes looking to achieve greatness in next year’s Big 12 tournament or the Stanley Cup Final.

But while the big moments in all sports are going to be the most treasured, it’s important to appreciate the work athletes go through behind the scenes.

For Schreiner and Moore, moments like playing a practice amidst a tennis tournament season are the moments that help athletes continue their growth into becoming the best they can be.

Even if Moore is long past competing in the NHL, he has found plenty of meaningful things to fill his time with, whether it’s as an analyst, a tennis player or simply as a husband and a father.

And while the journey may not end up on the Provo courts, it’s important to keep working hard, no matter where it leads.





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