Utah Grizzlies (1995–2005)


The Utah Grizzlies were an ice hockey team in the International Hockey League and American Hockey League. They originally played at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, before relocating to the E Center in the Salt Lake City suburb of West Valley City in 1997. After the 2004–05 season, the franchise was suspended. It was sold in 2006 by Elmore Sports Group to Dan Gilbert and moved to Cleveland where it returned to play in 2007 as the Lake Erie Monsters. A new Utah Grizzlies franchise in the ECHL began play in 2005.

History

The original Utah Grizzlies moved to Utah in 1995 after [1994–95 International Hockey League (1945–2001)|IHL season|one IHL season] in Denver, Colorado, as the NHL's Quebec Nordiques relocated to Denver to become the Colorado Avalanche. The Grizzlies were admitted to the AHL in 2001 after the IHL folded. They played their home games in the Delta Center until the E Center was built a few seasons after their arrival in Salt Lake.
While in Denver, the Grizzlies won the 1994–95 Turner Cup, the championship of the IHL. After relocating to the Salt Lake City area, the Utah Grizzlies once again marched to victory in the IHL playoffs. Utah swept the Orlando Solar Bears in four games to win the 1995–96 Turner Cup. The fourth game of the series was played in the Delta Center; 17,381 fans attended, which, at the time, set a national record for largest attendance at a minor league ice hockey game.
The franchise was granted a voluntary suspension for the 2005–06 season, and on May 16, 2006, it was sold to an ownership group from Cleveland led by Dan Gilbert, the owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Quicken Loans. The franchise was moved to Cleveland to replace the departed Cleveland Barons and resumed play in 2007 as the Lake Erie Monsters.
After the suspension of the IHL/AHL Grizzlies, a new ownership group purchased the Utah Grizzlies identity and resurrected a team of the same name in the ECHL that started playing in the 2005–06 season.
The NHL would eventually place a team in Salt Lake City with the Utah Mammoth, who play at the Grizzlies' old home of Delta Center.

Market facts

The Salt Lake City market was previously served by:
The franchise was replaced by:

Affiliates

Season-by-season results

  • Denver Grizzlies 1994–95
  • Utah Grizzlies 1995–2001
  • Utah Grizzlies 2001–05

Team records

Single season

  • Goaltending records need a minimum 25 games played by the goaltender