Jan. 2025| Vol. 11 Iss. 1
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UTAH GRIZZLIES CELEBRATE THEIR 30TH ANNIVERSARY By Tom Haraldsen | t.haraldsen@mycityjournals.com
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t’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 Continued page 9
The team’s annual Teddy Bear Toss benefits children charities around the valley. (Photo courtesy of Utah Grizzlies)
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