Utah Grizzlies

The Utah Grizzlies are a professional ice hockey team in the ECHL. They play their home games at the Maverik Center in West Valley City, Utah.

This article is about the ECHL franchise. For the former IHL and AHL franchise, see Utah Grizzlies (1995–2005).
Utah Grizzlies
2019–20 ECHL season
CityWest Valley City, Utah
LeagueECHL
ConferenceWestern
DivisionMountain
Founded1981 (in the CHL)
Home arenaMaverik Center
ColorsGreen, black, copper, white
                   [1]
Owner(s)David Elmore
Donna Tuttle
Head coachTim Branham
MediaKFAN (AM 1320) or KJQS (AM 1230)
AffiliatesColorado Avalanche (NHL)
Colorado Eagles (AHL)
Franchise history
1981–1983Nashville South Stars
1983–1990Virginia Lancers
1990–1992Roanoke Valley Rebels
1992–1993Roanoke Valley Rampage
1993–1994Huntsville Blast
1994–2001Tallahassee Tiger Sharks
2001–2002Macon Whoopee
2002–2003Lexington Men O' War
2005–presentUtah Grizzlies

Franchise history

The current Utah Grizzlies franchise started as the Virginia Lancers, one of the founding members of the East Coast Hockey League. The franchise was under seven different names in five different southeastern cities from 1988 to 2003 when the Lexington Men O' War franchise suspended operations after one season. Notably, the Denver Grizzlies won the IHL Turner Cup in 1995, in the McNichols Sports Arena. After the AHL incarnation of the Grizzlies suspended operations, David Elmore and Donna Tuttle bought the rights to the dormant Lexington Men O' War franchise and moved the team to the E Center to replace the previous Grizzlies franchise.

Prior to the 2013–14 season, their NHL affiliate Calgary Flames changed their affiliation to the Alaska Aces. Incoming head coach and general manager Tim Branham announced a three-year agreement with the Anaheim Ducks on August 7, 2013.[2] After the Grizzlies made the post-season in every season within the Ducks organization, the Grizzlies and Ducks agreed to a multi-year extension during the 2015–16 season.[3]

Following the 2017–18, the Grizzlies missed the post-season for the first time in 11 years. At that time, their ECHL rival, the Colorado Eagles, joined the American Hockey League as an affiliate of the Colorado Avalanche after previously serving as the Avalanche affiliate in the ECHL. The Grizzlies ended their agreement with the Ducks and affiliated with the Avalanche, their closest geographical NHL club.[4][5]

The market was previously served by:

Season-by-season record

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, OTL = Overtime losses, SOL=Shootout losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, PIM = Penalty infraction minutes

Regular season Playoffs
SeasonGPWLOTLSOLPtsGFGAPIMStandingYear1st round2nd round3rd roundKelly Cup
2005–06723630517823523617124th of 6, West2006L, 0–4, AK———
2006–07722242445218429419535th of 5, West2007Did not qualify
2007–08723230287423925915954th of 5, West2008W, 4–2, FREW, 4–1, VICL, 0–4, LV—
2008–097228286107222024613724th of 6, West2009L, 1–4, AK———
2009–10723429457726025312923rd of 4, West2010W, 3–2, LVL, 0–4, IDH——
2010–11723332437318922716743rd of 4, Mountain2011W, 3–1, STKL, 0–4, VIC——
2011–12723333067218322315733rd of 4, Mountain2012L, 0–3, LV———
2012–13722930497121727717414th of 4, Mountain2013L, 0–4, ONT———
2013–14713824368518717313293rd of 4, Mountain2014L, 1–4, BAK———
2014–15723727538221321911704th of 7, Pacific2015W, 4–2, IDHL, 1–4, ONT——
2015–1672392733842232069423rd of 5, West2016W, 4–2, COLL, 0–4, FW——
2016–17723629527922524013124th of 7, Mountain2017L, 1–4, ALN———
2017–18722829967123025612126th of 7, Mountain2018Did not qualify
2018–19723726458323221812643rd of 7, Mountain2019L, 1–4, IDH———
2019–2062341774792071648843rd of 7, Mountain2020Season Cancelled due to COVID-19

Players

Current roster
Updated August 14, 2020.[6][7]
# Nat Player Pos S/G Age Acquired Birthplace Contract
30 Brad Barone G L 29 2019 Medfield, Massachusetts Grizzlies
44 Austin Beaulieu RW R 23 2020 Coral Springs, Florida Grizzlies
14 J.C. Brassard D L 24 2019 Scituate, Massachusetts Grizzlies
– Brayden Gelsinger LW L 25 2020 Regina, Saskatchewan Grizzlies
– Edwin Hookenson D R 24 2020 Lampman, Saskatchewan Grizzlies
– Matt Hoover LW L 24 2020 Peoria, Illinois Grizzlies
26 Jack Jenkins C R 25 2019 Lake Bluff, Illinois Grizzlies
– Alex Lepkowski D L 27 2020 Buffalo, New York Grizzlies
13 Mitch Maxwell LW L 29 2018 Magrath, Alberta Grizzlies
– Jared Pike F L 24 2020 Sandy, Utah Grizzlies
40 Yuri Terao RW R 25 2019 Nikko, Japan Grizzlies

References
  1. Email response from Communications and Broadcasting VP Adrian Denny: "Copper is the third color."
  2. "Utah Grizzlies announce affiliation with the Anaheim Ducks". desertnews.com. 2013-08-07. Retrieved 2013-08-07.
  3. "Ducks announce affiliation extension with the Utah Grizzlies". Anaheim Ducks. 2016-01-20. Retrieved 2016-01-20.
  4. "Grizzlies announce affiliation with Avalanche". utahgrizzlies.com. 2018-06-28. Retrieved 2018-06-28.
  5. "Avalanche enters in to ECHL partnership with the Utah Grizzlies". Colorado Avalanche. 2018-06-28. Retrieved 2018-06-28.
  6. "Utah Grizzlies team roster". utahgrizzlies.com. 2018-06-28. Retrieved 2018-06-28.
  7. "Utah Grizzlies Roster". EliteProspects.com. 2018-06-28. Retrieved 2018-06-28.
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