Utah Grizzlies

The Utah Grizzlies are a professional ice hockey team in the ECHL. They play their home games at 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
CityWest Valley City, Utah
LeagueECHL
ConferenceWestern
DivisionMountain
Founded1981 (in the CHL)
Home arenaMaverik Center
ColorsGreen, black, copper, white
       [1]
General managerRyan Kinasewich[2]
Head coachRyan Kinasewich
MediaKSOP
FloTv
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
Championships
Division titles1 (2021–22)
Current season

Franchise history

The current Utah Grizzlies franchise started in 1981 as the Nashville South Stars in Nashville, Tennessee, in the Central Hockey League. Henry Brabham then took over the team in 1983 and relocated them to Vinton, Virginia mid-season, to become the Virginia Lancers. Brabham and the Lancers were then one of the founding members of the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) in 1988. The franchise was sold and relocated several times until it went dormant after the 2002–03 season. After the American Hockey League (AHL) incarnation of the Grizzlies suspended operations, David Elmore and Donna Tuttle bought the rights to the dormant ECHL 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.[3] 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.[4]

Following the 2017–18 season, 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.[5][6]

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 the COVID-19 pandemic
2020–21723526568120721910374th of 7, Western2021—L, 0–3, ALN——
2021–2272422721872402259591st of 7, Mountain2022W, 4–3, TULW, 4–2, RCL, 1–4, TOL—
2022–237235334074230259131 64th of 7, Mountain2023L, 2–4, IDH———

Players

Current roster
Updated August 22, 2023.[7][8]
Team roster
No. Nat Player Pos S/G Age Acquired Birthplace Contract
42 Canada Victor Bartley D L 35 2022 Ottawa, Ontario Grizzlies
61 Canada Kyle Betts C L 26 2022 Flesherton, Ontario Grizzlies
– Canada Cody Caron RW R 27 2023 Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario Grizzlies
13 Canada Dylan Fitze (A) RW R 30 2022 Peterborough, Ontario Grizzlies
– Canada Dante Giannuzzi G L 21 2023 Winnipeg, Manitoba Grizzlies
– Canada Kade Jensen D L 26 2023 Calgary, Alberta Grizzlies
27 Canada Jordan Martel RW R 25 2022 Chicoutimi, Quebec Grizzlies
14 Canada Brycen Martin D L 27 2022 Calgary, Alberta Grizzlies
5 United States Connor McDonald (C) D R 28 2021 Westerville, Ohio Grizzlies
25 United States Mick Messner LW L 24 2023 Madison, Wisconsin Grizzlies
21 Canada Tyler Penner RW R 28 2021 Winnipeg, Manitoba Grizzlies
20 Canada Jared Power F L 25 2023 Calgary, Alberta Grizzlies
22 United States Dakota Raabe F L 26 2022 Capistrano Beach, California Grizzlies
40 United States Jacob Semik D L 23 2023 Canton, Michigan Grizzlies
24 United States Christian Simeone F L 26 2021 Milton, Massachusetts Grizzlies
– Canada Dylan Stewart LW L 26 2023 Edmonton, Alberta Grizzlies
26 United States Cam Strong LW L 28 2022 Billings, Montana Grizzlies
– United States Keoni Texeira D L 26 2023 Fontana, California Grizzlies
3 Canada Cory Thomas D L 25 2022 St. Brieux, Saskatchewan Grizzlies
25 Canada Aaron Thow D L 28 2022 East York, Ontario Grizzlies
– United States Bryan Yoon D R 25 2023 Parker, Colorado Grizzlies

References
  1. Email response from Communications and Broadcasting VP Adrian Denny: "Copper is the third color."
  2. "Ryan Kinasewich Named Grizzlies Head Coach and General Manager". utahgrizzlies.com. 2021-09-27. Retrieved 2023-05-05.
  3. "Utah Grizzlies announce affiliation with the Anaheim Ducks". desertnews.com. 2013-08-07. Retrieved 2013-08-07.
  4. "Ducks announce affiliation extension with the Utah Grizzlies". Anaheim Ducks. 2016-01-20. Retrieved 2016-01-20.
  5. "Grizzlies announce affiliation with Avalanche". utahgrizzlies.com. 2018-06-28. Retrieved 2018-06-28.
  6. "Avalanche enters in to ECHL partnership with the Utah Grizzlies". Colorado Avalanche. 2018-06-28. Retrieved 2018-06-28.
  7. "Utah Grizzlies team roster". utahgrizzlies.com. 2023-08-22. Retrieved 2023-08-22.
  8. "Utah Grizzlies Roster". EliteProspects.com. 2023-08-22. Retrieved 2023-08-22.
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