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Utah Grizzlies

Professional minor league ice hockey team in Salt Lake City, Utah


Summary

Professional minor league ice hockey team in Salt Lake City, Utah

FieldValue
current2025–26 ECHL season
bg_colorbackground:#FFFFFF; border-top:#00483A 5px solid; border-bottom:#231F20 5px solid;
text_color#000000
teamUtah Grizzlies
logoUtah Grizzlies Logo.svg
logo_size250px
cityWest Valley City, Utah
leagueECHL
conferenceWestern
divisionMountain
founded1981 (in the CHL)
arenaMaverik Center
colorsGreen, black, copper, white
ownerPro Hockey Partners, LLC
gmErik Hudson
coachJohn Becanic
mediaKSOP
FloTv
affiliatesColorado Avalanche (NHL)
Colorado Eagles (AHL)
website
name1Nashville South Stars
dates11981–1983
name2Virginia Lancers
dates21983–1990
name3Roanoke Valley Rebels
dates31990–1992
name4Roanoke Valley Rampage
dates41992–1993
name5Huntsville Blast
dates51993–1994
name6Tallahassee Tiger Sharks
dates61994–2001
name7Macon Whoopee
dates72001–2002
name8Lexington Men O' War
dates82002–2003
name9Utah Grizzlies
dates92005–2026
name10Trenton Ironhawks
dates102026
division_titles1 (2021–22)

the ECHL franchise

FloTv Colorado Eagles (AHL) 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.

History

Pre-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 in 2005, David Elmore and Donna Tuttle of the Elmore Sports Group bought the rights to the dormant ECHL franchise and moved the team to the E Center to replace the previous Grizzlies franchise.

ECHL Grizzlies

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. 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.

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 then-closest geographical NHL club.

Despite the arrival of the NHL in Utah in 2024, with the Utah Mammoth, the Grizzlies and Mammoth aren't currently affiliated.

Relocation to Trenton, New Jersey

On July 23, 2025, West Valley City officials announced that they had agreed to a deal to sell the team to Delaware-based Pro Hockey Partners, LLC who will relocate the team to a different market for the 2026–27 season. The former ECHL market Trenton, New Jersey, was the rumored destination for the Grizzlies. The team was reported be playing at the CURE Insurance Arena which is the former home of the Trenton Titans/Trenton Devils. On September 9, 2025, the Grizzlies confirmed the sale to Pro Hockey Partners, LLC and the relocation to Trenton. The Grizzlies will be rebranded to the Trenton Ironhawks.

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 seasonPlayoffsSeasonGPWLOTLSOLPtsGFGAPIMStandingYear1st 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, Western2021L, 0–3, ALN
2021–2272422721872402259591st of 7, Mountain2022W, 4–3, TULW, 4–2, RCL, 1–4, TOL
2022–23723533407423025913164th of 7, Mountain2023L, 2–4, IDH
2023–2472313650672272647505th of 7, Mountain2024did not qualify
2024–2572253962582262927417th of 8, Mountain2025did not qualify

References

References

  1. Email response from Communications and Broadcasting VP Adrian Denny: "Copper is the third color."
  2. (2013-08-07). "Utah Grizzlies announce affiliation with the Anaheim Ducks".
  3. (2016-01-20). "Ducks announce affiliation extension with the Utah Grizzlies". [[Anaheim Ducks]].
  4. (2018-06-28). "Grizzlies announce affiliation with Avalanche".
  5. (2018-06-28). "Avalanche enters in to ECHL partnership with the Utah Grizzlies". [[Colorado Avalanche]].
  6. "West Valley City ‘reluctantly’ OKs the sale of the Utah Grizzlies. Here’s what happens next to the Maverik Center.".
  7. "West Valley City authorizes sale of Utah Grizzlies, setting up relocation". KSL news.
  8. "ECHL returning to Trenton with Transfers of Controlling Interest and Home Territory of Utah Membership". ECHL.
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