It’s the 30-year anniversary of the Utah Grizzlies Hockey Club, a franchise continuing a proud history of ice hockey to the Beehive State. Since 1995, the Grizzlies have been members of the International Hockey League, the American Hockey League, and now the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL).

The Salt Lake market has always been hockey country, going back to the highly-successful Salt Lake Golden Eagles in the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s. The Grizzlies have continued with their success, qualifying for postseason play in all but four years since taking the Maverik Center ice.

For the past 12 years, Tyson Whiting has served in communications and as broadcaster of the Grizz. He said this year has been a bit of a challenge thus far for the Grizzlies, due in large part to injuries and call-ups to the NHL Colorado Avalanche and its AHL affiliate, the Colorado Eagles. Utah was in 14th place in the Western Conference as of Dec.12, our press deadline.

“We have to right our ship, and we can,” he said. 

Fan support has remained solid through the years, even this season after the arrival of the Utah Hockey Club in the NHL at the Delta Center.

“Attendance has been pretty similar to what the Grizzlies normally see at this time of year,” Whiting said. “It always seems like we get a boost once football season ends, and I expect attendance to jump over the next few weeks. The NHL team and our team are at two different price points, with us having a more affordable ticket price by comparison. There are a lot of fans who go to both our games and Utah’s. I don’t think it’s completely an either/or thing.”

He points out that the Grizzlies are able to hold some unique special events. On Dec. 21, for example, the Grizzlies held their annual Teddy Bear Toss, where fans can throw teddy bears and stuffed animals onto the ice after the Grizz score their first goal.

“It’s great, because we collect those teddy bears and stuffed animals and donate them to local charities or hospitals,” Whiting said. “There's a couple things like that that you can do with the minor leagues, you know, especially with jerseys, and more of those creative promotions. We make the most out of those promotions you can't necessarily do at the NHL level. So I think right now, just taking advantage of that as much as we can for our fans.” 

It adds to the Grizzlies’ experience, hoping fans have a good time, be creative during intermissions, and share what Whiting calls “the grassroots kind of hockey. It’s a pretty good product for the fans’ entertainment dollars.”

The ECHL offers not only a great longtime rivalry between the Grizzlies and the Idaho Steelheads, but also some of the coolest franchise names in sports. Among the Grizzlies’ opponents are the Tahoe Night Monsters, Toledo Walleye, Iowa Heartlanders, Tulsa Oilers, Wichita Thunder, Fort Wayne Komets, Indy Fuel, Bloomington Bison and Rapid City Rush.

“There always seems like a little bit of heat when the Grizzlies play Rapid City,” Whiting said. “This past week, there was a goalie fight. It seems since you play most of your games within the division, a lot of good rivalries develop–a lot of spirited action.”

He said there will be a 30th anniversary celebration in March, where players will wear throwback jerseys and there will be other promotions. Former Grizzlies players often come to games when they can. Whiting is hopeful that former Grizzlies and New York Islanders great Butch Goring might make it to the E Center when the Islanders are in town to play the Utah Hockey Club on Jan. 11.

Could the Grizzlies someday become the farm team for the UHC? 

“I think down the road that is a possibility,” Whiting said. “I'm sure over the next few months, we'll probably know a lot more about that. I did think it was interesting that when the Utah Hockey Club did announce their ECHL affiliate with the Allen Americans, they were pretty clear to mention it was a one year deal. We have a great partnership right now with Colorado, as it's the sixth year that they've been affiliated with the Avalanche.”

One way or the other, the Utah Grizzlies remain a firm fixture in the Utah sports market at the Maverik Center. λ