Utah Grizzlies (1995–2005)

The Utah Grizzlies were an American ice hockey team in the International Hockey League (IHL) and American Hockey League (AHL). They originally played at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, before relocating to the E Center in the Salt Lake City suburb of West Valley City in 1997. After the 2004–05 season, the franchise was suspended. It was sold in 2006 and moved to Cleveland where it returned to play in 2007 as the Lake Erie Monsters. A new Utah Grizzlies franchise in the ECHL began play in 2005.

This article is about the former IHL and AHL team that folded in 2005. For the ECHL team, see Utah Grizzlies.

Utah Grizzlies
City	West Valley City, Utah
League	IHL (1994–2001) AHL (2001–2005)
Founded	1994 (In the IHL)
Operated	1994–1995 as the Denver Grizzlies 1995–2005 as the Utah Grizzlies
Home arena	E Center
Colors	Maroon and White
Affiliates	New York Islanders (1994-98) Dallas Stars (2000–04) Phoenix Coyotes (2004–05)
Franchise history
1994–1995	Denver Grizzlies
1995–2005	Utah Grizzlies
2007–2016	Lake Erie Monsters
2016–present	Cleveland Monsters
Championships
Regular season titles	1 (1994–95)
Division Championships	1 (1994–95)
Turner Cups	2 (1994–95, 1995–96)

History

The original Utah Grizzlies moved to Utah in 1995 after one IHL season in Denver, Colorado, as the NHL's Quebec Nordiques relocated to Denver to become the Colorado Avalanche. The Grizzlies were admitted to the AHL in 2001 after the IHL folded. They played their home games in the Delta Center until the E Center was built a couple seasons after their arrival in Salt Lake.

While in Denver, the Grizzlies won the 1994–95 Turner Cup, the championship of the IHL. After relocating to the Salt Lake City area, the Utah Grizzlies once again marched to victory in the IHL playoffs. Utah swept the Orlando Solar Bears 4 games to 0 to win the 1995–96 Turner Cup. The fourth (and final) game of the series was played in the Delta Center; 17,381 fans attended, which, at the time, set a national record for largest attendance at a minor league ice hockey game.[1]

The franchise was granted a voluntary suspension for the 2005–06 season and on May 16, 2006 it was sold to an ownership group from Cleveland led by Dan Gilbert, the owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Quicken Loans. The franchise was moved to Cleveland to replace the departed Cleveland Barons and resumed play in 2007 as the Lake Erie Monsters.

After the suspension of the IHL/AHL Grizzlies, a new ownership group purchased the Utah Grizzlies identity and resurrected a team of the same name in the ECHL that started playing in the 2005–06 season.

Market facts

The Salt Lake City market was previously served by:

• Salt Lake Golden Eagles of the WHL (1969–74)
• Salt Lake Golden Eagles of the CHL (1974–84)
• Salt Lake Golden Eagles of the IHL (1984–94)

The franchise was replaced by:

• Utah Grizzlies of the ECHL (2005–present)

Affiliates

• New York Islanders (1995–98)
• Dallas Stars (2000–04)
• Phoenix Coyotes (2004–05)

Season-by-season results

• Denver Grizzlies 1994–95 (International Hockey League)
• Utah Grizzlies 1995–2001 (International Hockey League)
• Utah Grizzlies 2001–05 (American Hockey League)

Regular season											Playoffs
Season	GP	W	L	T	OTL	SOL	Pts	GF	GA	Standing	Year	Prelim	1st round	2nd round	3rd round	Finals
1994–95	81	57	18	—	6	—	120	339	235	1st, Southwest	1995	—	W, 3-0, MIN	W, 4-1, PHX	W, 4-1, MIL	W, 4-0, KC
1995–96	82	49	29	—	4	—	102	291	232	2nd, Southwest	1996	—	W, 3-2, KC	W, 4-3, PEO	W, 4-2, LV	W, 4-0, ORL
1996–97	82	43	33	—	6	—	92	259	254	3rd, Southwest	1997	—	W, 3-0, KC	L, 0-4, LB	—	—
1997–98	82	47	27	—	8	—	102	276	234	3rd, Southwest	1998	—	L, 1-3, KC	—	—	—
1998–99	82	39	34	—	9	—	87	244	254	3rd, Southwest	1999	—	Out of playoffs
1999–00	82	45	25	—	12	—	102	265	220	2nd, West	2000	—	BYE	L, 1-4, HOU	—	—
2000–01	82	38	36	—	8	—	84	208	220	4th, West	2001	—	—	Out of playoffs
2001–02	80	40	29	6	5	—	91	240	225	3rd, West	2002	BYE	L, 2-3, HOU	—	—	—
2002–03	80	37	34	4	5	—	83	227	243	5th, West	2003	L, 0-2, WBS	—	—	—	—
2003–04	80	27	42	6	5	—	65	162	230	7th, West	2004	Out of playoffs
2004–05	80	23	50	5	2	—	53	156	265	7th, West	2005	—	Out of playoffs

Team records

Single season

Goals: 46 Kip Miller (1994–95)

Assists: 60 Kip Miller (1994–95)

Points: 106 Kip Miller (1994–95)

Penalty minutes: 317 Mike MacWilliam (1995–96)

GAA: 2.21 Rich Parent (1999–00)

SV%: .928 Wade Flaherty (2001–02)

Wins: 45 Tommy Salo (1994–95)

Shutouts: 5 Mike Bales (2000–01)

• Goaltending records need a minimum 25 games played by the goaltender

Career

Career goals: 111 Chris Taylor (1994–98)

Career assists: 167 Chris Taylor

Career points: 278 Chris Taylor

Career penalty minutes: 694 John Erskine (2000–03)

Career goaltending wins: 73 Tommy Salo (1994–96)

Career shutouts: 7 Tommy Salo

Career games: 440 Gord Dineen (1994–2000)

References

1. "Orlando Ousted in OT" (Orlando Sentinel)

External links

• The Internet Hockey Database - Utah Grizzlies