| Utah Grizzlies | |
 | |
| City: | Salt Lake City, Utah |
|---|---|
| League: | International Hockey League (1945-2001) (IHL) (1995 to 2001) American Hockey League (AHL) (2001 to 2005) |
| Founded: | 1994 |
| Home Arena: | E Center |
| Colors: | Maroon and White |
| Affiliates: | New York Islanders |
| Franchise history | |
| 1994 to 1995: | Denver Grizzlies |
| 1995 to 2005: | Utah Grizzlies |
| 2007 to 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 Grizzles, 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, was admitted to the AHL when the IHL folded in 2001. They played their home games in the Delta Center (now known as Energy Solutions 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 Lake Erie Monsters took the ice for the 2007–08 AHL season. The market was previously served by:
- Salt Lake Golden Eagles of the IHL (1984–1994)
The franchise was replaced by:
- Utah Grizzlies of the ECHL (2005–2007)
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. | ||||