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 (2000–04) Phoenix Coyotes (2004–05) |
Franchise history | |
1994–1995 | Denver Grizzlies |
1995–2005 | Utah Grizzlies |
2007–2016 | Lake Erie Monsters |
2016–present | Cleveland 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 American ice hockey team in the International Hockey League (IHL) and American Hockey League (AHL). 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 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.
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, at the time, set a national record for largest attendance at a minor league hockey game.