Utah Grizzlies (1995–2005)

This article is about the former IHL and AHL team that folded in 2005. For the ECHL team, see Utah Grizzlies.
Utah Grizzlies
City 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 E Center
Colors Maroon and White
Affiliates New York Islanders (1994-98)
Dallas Stars (2000-2004)
Phoenix Coyotes (2004-2005)
Franchise history
1994–1995 Denver Grizzlies (IHL)
1995–2001 Utah Grizzlies (IHL)
2001–2005 Utah Grizzlies (AHL)
2007–present Lake Erie Monsters
Championships
Regular season titles 1 (1994–95)
Division Championships 1 (1994–95)
Turner Cups 2 (1994–95, 1995–96)

The Utah Grizzlies were an ice hockey team in the International Hockey League (IHL) and American Hockey League (AHL). They played in the Salt Lake City suburb of West Valley City, Utah, USA at the E Center.

History

The original Utah Grizzlies moved to Utah in 1995 after one IHL season in Denver, Colorado after the NHL's Quebec Nordiques relocated 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 couple seasons after their arrival in Salt Lake.

While in Denver, the Grizzlies won the 1994–95 Turner Cup, the official 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 4 games to 0 to win the 1995–96 Turner Cup. The fourth (and final) game of the series was played in the Delta Center; 17,381 fans attended, which set a national record for largest attendance at a minor league hockey game.[1]

The franchise was granted a voluntary suspension for the 2005–06 season and on May 16, 2006 the franchise was sold to an ownership group from Cleveland, Ohio led by Dan Gilbert, the owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers NBA team and Quicken Loans.

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.

Franchise and area facts

The franchise was replaced by:

Affiliates

Season-by-season results

Regular season

Season Games WonLostTiedOTLSOLPoints Goals
for 		Goals
against 		Standing
1994–95815718— 6—1203392351st, Southwest
1995–96824929— 4—1022912322nd, Southwest
1996–97824333— 6— 922592543rd, Southwest
1997–98824727— 8—1022762343rd, Southwest
1998–99823934— 9— 872442543rd, Southwest
1999–00824525—12—1022652202nd, West
2000–01823836— 8— 842082204th, West
2001–02 804029 6 5— 912402253rd, West
2002–03 803734 4 5— 832272435th, West
2003–04 802742 6 5— 651622307th, West
2004–05 802350 5 2— 531562657th, West

Playoffs

SeasonPrelim1st round2nd round3rd roundFinals
1994–95 —W, 3-0, MIN W, 4-1, PHX W, 4-1, MIL W, 4-0, KC
1995–96 —W, 3-2, KC W, 4-3, PEO W, 4-2, LV W, 4-0, ORL
1996–97 —W, 3-0, KC L, 0-4, LB ——
1997–98 —L, 1-3, KC ———
1998–99 Out of playoffs.
1999–00 —L, 1-4, HOU ———
2000–01 Out of playoffs.
2001–02 —L, 2-3, HOU ———
2002–03 L, 0-2, WBS ————
2003–04 Out of playoffs.
2004–05 Out of playoffs.

Team records

Single season

Goals: 46 United States Kip Miller (1994–95)
Assists: 60 United States Kip Miller (1994–95)
Points: 106 United States Kip Miller (1994–95)
Penalty minutes: 317 Canada Mike MacWilliam (1995–96)
GAA: 2.21 Canada Rich Parent (1999–00)
SV%: .928 Canada Wade Flaherty (2001–02)
Wins: 45 Sweden Tommy Salo (1994–95)
Shutouts: 5 Canada Mike Bales (2000–01)

Career

Career goals: 111 CanadaChris Taylor (1994–98)
Career assists: 167 Canada Chris Taylor
Career points: 278 Canada Chris Taylor
Career penalty minutes: 694 John Erskine (2000-2003)
Career goaltending wins: 73 Sweden Tommy Salo (1994–96)
Career shutouts: 7 Sweden Tommy Salo
Career games: 440 Canada Gord Dineen (1994–2000)

References

  1. ↑ "Orlando Ousted in OT" (Orlando Sentinel)

External links

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