Utah Grizzlies (1995–2005) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Utah Grizzlies |
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| City | Denver, Colorado Salt Lake City, Utah 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 | McNichols Sports Arena (1994–1995) Delta Center (1995–1997) E Center (1997–2005) |
| Colors | Maroon, black, 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) |
The Utah Grizzlies were a professional ice hockey team. They played in two different leagues: the International Hockey League (IHL) and the American Hockey League (AHL). The team first played in Salt Lake City at the Delta Center. In 1997, they moved to the E Center in West Valley City, a nearby suburb. After the 2004–05 season, the team stopped playing. It was sold in 2006 and moved to Cleveland. There, it started playing again in 2007 as the Lake Erie Monsters. A different team, also called the Utah Grizzlies, began playing in the ECHL in 2005.
Contents
Team History
The original Utah Grizzlies team moved to Utah in 1995. Before that, they played for one season in Denver, Colorado. This move happened because the NHL team, the Quebec Nordiques, moved to Denver. They became the Colorado Avalanche.
The Grizzlies joined the AHL in 2001. This was after the IHL league stopped operating. The team played its home games at the Delta Center at first. Later, the E Center was built, and they moved there.
Championship Wins
While in Denver, the Grizzlies won the Turner Cup in the 1994–95 season. This was the championship trophy for the IHL. After moving to Salt Lake City, the Utah Grizzlies won the Turner Cup again. They beat the Orlando Solar Bears in four games in the 1995–96 playoffs. The final game was played at the Delta Center. A huge crowd of 17,381 fans watched. This set a new record for attendance at a minor league ice hockey game at that time.
Team Moves and Changes
The team took a break for the 2005–06 season. On May 16, 2006, the team was sold. A group from Cleveland bought it. This group was led by Dan Gilbert. He also owns the Cleveland Cavaliers basketball team. The team then moved to Cleveland. It replaced another team called the Cleveland Barons. The team started playing again in 2007 as the Lake Erie Monsters.
After the IHL/AHL Grizzlies stopped playing, a new group bought the "Utah Grizzlies" name. They started a new team with the same name. This new team plays in the ECHL and began in the 2005–06 season.
Salt Lake City eventually got an NHL team. The Utah Mammoth now play at the Delta Center. This was the Grizzlies' old home arena.
Hockey Teams in Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City has been home to several hockey teams over the years:
- Salt Lake Golden Eagles (1969–74) in the WHL
- Salt Lake Golden Eagles (1974–84) in the CHL
- Salt Lake Golden Eagles (1984–94) in the IHL
The original Utah Grizzlies team was later replaced by:
- Utah Grizzlies (2005–present) in the ECHL
Team Affiliates
Hockey teams often have "affiliates." These are smaller teams that work with a bigger NHL team. Players can move between the affiliate and the NHL team. The Utah Grizzlies were affiliated with these NHL teams:
- New York Islanders (1995–98)
- Dallas Stars (2000–04)
- Phoenix Coyotes (2004–05)
Season-by-Season Results
This table shows how the Utah Grizzlies performed each season. It includes their wins, losses, and how they finished in the standings.
| 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 | — | Did not qualify | |||
| 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 | — | — | Did not qualify | ||
| 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 | Did not qualify | ||||
| 2004–05 | 80 | 23 | 50 | 5 | 2 | — | 53 | 156 | 265 | 7th, West | 2005 | — | Did not qualify | |||
Team Records
These are some of the best records set by players for the Utah Grizzlies.
Single Season Records
- Most Goals: 46 by
Kip Miller (1994–95 season) - Most Assists: 60 by Kip Miller (1994–95 season)
- Most Points: 106 by Kip Miller (1994–95 season)
- Most Penalty Minutes: 317 by
Mike MacWilliam (1995–96 season) - Best Goals Against Average (GAA): 2.21 by Rich Parent (1999–00 season)
- Best Save Percentage (SV%): .928 by Wade Flaherty (2001–02 season)
- Most Wins (Goalie): 45 by
Tommy Salo (1994–95 season) - Most Shutouts: 5 by Mike Bales (2000–01 season)
Note: Goaltending records require a minimum of 25 games played by the goalie.
Career Records
- Most Career Goals: 111 by Chris Taylor (1994–98)
- Most Career Assists: 167 by Chris Taylor
- Most Career Points: 278 by Chris Taylor
- Most Career Penalty Minutes: 694 by John Erskine (2000–03)
- Most Career Goaltending Wins: 73 by Tommy Salo (1994–96)
- Most Career Shutouts: 7 by Tommy Salo
- Most Career Games Played: 440 by Gord Dineen (1994–2000)
