Utah Grizzlies (1995–2005)

This article is about the former IHL and AHL team which folded in 2005. For the ECHL team, see Utah Grizzlies.

Utah Grizzlies
City	Salt Lake City, Utah
League	IHL (1995–2001) AHL (2001–2005)
Operated	1994–2005
Home arena	E Center
Colors	Maroon and White
Affiliates	New York Islanders
Franchise history
1994–1995	Denver Grizzlies
1995–2005	Utah Grizzlies
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 and American Hockey League. They played in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA at the E Center.

History

The Utah Grizzlies, which moved to Utah following their only season in Denver, Colorado shortly after the NHL's Quebec Nordiques announced their relocation to become the Colorado Avalanche, were admitted to the AHL when the IHL folded in 2001. They played their home games in the Delta Center (now known as EnergySolutions Arena) 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 official championship of the International Hockey League. After relocating to Salt Lake City, 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.

The franchise was granted a voluntary suspension for the 2005–06 season while the owner found a buyer for the AHL franchise. That buyer arrived in May 2006, as the owner of the NBA Cleveland Cavaliers, Dan Gilbert, purchased the franchise to replace the departing Cleveland Barons. On January 25, 2007, it was announced at a press conference that the new Cleveland team will be called the Lake Erie Monsters. The Monsters took the ice for the 2007–08 AHL season.

After the departure of the IHL/AHL Grizzlies, a new ownership group purchased the Utah Grizzlies identity, and resurrected the team in the ECHL, where they play currently.

Franchise and area facts

• Salt Lake Golden Eagles of the WHL (1969–1974)
• Salt Lake Golden Eagles of the CHL (1974–1984)
• Salt Lake Golden Eagles of the IHL (1984–1994)

The franchise was replaced by:

• Utah Grizzlies of the ECHL (2005–present)

The franchise is now known as:

• Lake Erie Monsters (2007–present)

Season-by-season results

• Denver Grizzlies 1994–1995 (International Hockey League)
• Utah Grizzlies 1995–2001 (International Hockey League)
• Utah Grizzlies 2001–2005 (American Hockey League)

Regular season

Season	Games	Won	Lost	Tied	OTL	SOL	Points	Goals for	Goals against	Standing
1994–95	81	57	18	—	6	—	120	339	235	1st, Southwest
1995–96	82	49	29	—	4	—	102	291	232	2nd, Southwest
1996–97	82	43	33	—	6	—	92	259	254	3rd, Southwest
1997–98	82	47	27	—	8	—	102	276	234	3rd, Southwest
1998–99	82	39	34	—	9	—	87	244	254	3rd, Southwest
1999–00	82	45	25	—	12	—	102	265	220	2nd, West
2000–01	82	38	36	—	8	—	84	208	220	4th, West
2001–02	80	40	29	6	5	—	91	240	225	3rd, West
2002–03	80	37	34	4	5	—	83	227	243	5th, West
2003–04	80	27	42	6	5	—	65	162	230	7th, West
2004–05	80	23	50	5	2	—	53	156	265	7th, West

Playoffs

Season	Prelim	1st round	2nd round	3rd round	Finals
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 Kip Miller (1994–95)

Assists: 60 Kip Miller (1994–95)

Points: 106 Kip Miller (1994–95)

Penalty minutes: 317 Mike MacWilliam (1995–96)

GAA: 2.21 Rich Parent (1999–00)

SV%: .928 Wade Flaherty (2001–02)

Wins: 45 Tommy Salo (1994–95)

Shutouts: 5 Mike Bales (2000–01)

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

Career

Career goals: 111 Chris Taylor (1994–98)

Career assists: 167 Chris Taylor

Career points: 278 Chris Taylor

Career penalty minutes: 694 John Erskine (2000-2003)

Career goaltending wins: 73 Tommy Salo (1994–96)

Career shutouts: 7 Tommy Salo

Career games: 440 Gord Dineen (1994–2000)

External links

• The Internet Hockey Database - Utah Grizzlies
• Denver Grizzlies on FunWhileItLasted.net