Tonight, the Winnipeg Jets play the...
Unlike when the Atlanta Thrashers moved to Winnipeg and were renamed the Jets, the owners of the Utah franchise are deciding to wait a year and have a contest to pick the name of their team. But what will their name be?
FIRST SOME UTAH HOCKEY HISTORY
Despite what you might think, Utah is not unfamiliar with hockey, with teams in Salt Lake City dating back all the way to 1969 with the founding of the Golden Eagles...
The Golden Eagles first played in the Western Hockey League from 1969-1974 when it was still a minor professional league, then the Central Hockey League from 1974-1984, and finally the International Hockey League from 1984-1994. The team won five championships, three in the CHL and two in the IHL. The team was then sold and moved to Detroit to become the Vipers...
When the Quebec Nordiques moved to Denver, their IHL team moved to Utah and hockey was once again part of the Utah scene. From 1994-2005, the Utah Grizzlies played in Salt Lake City, winning one championship in the IHL before moving to the AHL where the team was eventually relocated to Cleveland to become the Lake Erie Monsters...
With the departure of the AHL Grizzlies, a new ECHL team arrived in 2005 after being relocated from Lexington, Kentucky and took over the Grizzlies name. Playing in the suburb of West Valley City, this hockey club was the only game in town until the NHL came calling this past season.
WHAT TO NAME THE TEAM?
So why not call them the Golden Eagles in honour of the original Salt Lake City team? Well, the Anaheim Ducks might have a problem with that, as they might not take too kindly to another avian team. Colorado might not like that either as their farm team is called the Eagles and Utah is a division rival. So we might just rule this name out...
Okay, so how about the Grizzlies? Not bad if you ask me, has a catchy ring to it! The Boston Bruins probably would say no, as it was rumoured to have nixed the alleged name of our franchise (the Polar Bears) as well. So this would be a hard no...
As previously stated, there was a contest to pick the name for the Utah franchise. They included the Blizzards, the Mammoth, the Outlaws, the Venom, the Yeti, or the Hockey Club. Let's look at each one and see how it goes...
The Utah Yeti? The name seems odd as Yeti are found in the Himalayas and not in North America. Unless they are referring to the beverage container? But then again, if that's what they were going for, wouldn't they rather be called the Utah Stanleys? Anyway, this name would probably be nixed by the Colorado Avalanche, as they have the Bigfoot as one of their logos, so the similarities would be frowned upon...
The Utah Mammoth? Yes, mammoths did roam around Utah before the last ice age, so the name fits. But is it a good one? Well, if you like furry elephants as your mascot, then there you go. No NHL team should be against this name, so it has that going for it...
The Utah Venom? Yes, there are seven venomous snake species that live in Utah, but do you really want your franchise to be associated with the Marvel Universe? Whatever floats your boat, I guess. No NHL team should be against this name either...
The Utah Blizzard? Yes, Utah gets snow, but blizzards? According the Google AI, “Blizzards are rare in the Salt Lake City valley because of the lack of extreme winds.” So naming the team the Blizzard doesn't make too much sense. Besides, the Avalanche would say no way as it is too similar to their name...
The Utah Outlaws? I don't know much about Utah, but I don't think too many people associate the state with outlaws. Of course, they are currently the “Team With No Name”, but that's stretching it a bit. No NHL team will have a problem with this name...
The Utah Hockey Club? Quite original, don't you think? It's a rather boring name, and it's hard to market. Let's Go Hockey Club Let's Go! Hard pass for me, but the other NHL teams probably won't have an issue with it...
SO, WHAT'S YOUR PREFERRED CHOICE?
The Blizzard? The Venom? The Hockey Club? The Outlaws? The Yeti? The Mammoth? Tough decision isn't it...
MY CHOICE...
For me, it was one suggested last year by someone on this message board, the Utah Stormin' Mormons! You can't say it's offensive as you would have to say the Chicago Blackhawks logo is too. It's original and the other NHL teams wouldn't vote against it. I think we have a winner...
AN INTERESTING SIDE NOTE...
My late mother and I were driving down to Las Vegas a number of years ago, and stopped at a thrift store in Cedar City, Utah. After shopping, we got into our car and were about to drive away, when we heard a tapping at the window. I stopped and rolled down the window and the lady said, "Are you folks from Manitoba?" I said yes, and she said, "From Winnipeg?" I was startled and said yes. She went on to say that her daughter had spent some time in Winnipeg doing missionary work for the Mormon Church. She said her daughter thought everyone was so friendly up there, but she didn't like the winters...
Unlike when the Atlanta Thrashers moved to Winnipeg and were renamed the Jets, the owners of the Utah franchise are deciding to wait a year and have a contest to pick the name of their team. But what will their name be?
FIRST SOME UTAH HOCKEY HISTORY
Despite what you might think, Utah is not unfamiliar with hockey, with teams in Salt Lake City dating back all the way to 1969 with the founding of the Golden Eagles...
The Golden Eagles first played in the Western Hockey League from 1969-1974 when it was still a minor professional league, then the Central Hockey League from 1974-1984, and finally the International Hockey League from 1984-1994. The team won five championships, three in the CHL and two in the IHL. The team was then sold and moved to Detroit to become the Vipers...
When the Quebec Nordiques moved to Denver, their IHL team moved to Utah and hockey was once again part of the Utah scene. From 1994-2005, the Utah Grizzlies played in Salt Lake City, winning one championship in the IHL before moving to the AHL where the team was eventually relocated to Cleveland to become the Lake Erie Monsters...
With the departure of the AHL Grizzlies, a new ECHL team arrived in 2005 after being relocated from Lexington, Kentucky and took over the Grizzlies name. Playing in the suburb of West Valley City, this hockey club was the only game in town until the NHL came calling this past season.
WHAT TO NAME THE TEAM?
So why not call them the Golden Eagles in honour of the original Salt Lake City team? Well, the Anaheim Ducks might have a problem with that, as they might not take too kindly to another avian team. Colorado might not like that either as their farm team is called the Eagles and Utah is a division rival. So we might just rule this name out...
Okay, so how about the Grizzlies? Not bad if you ask me, has a catchy ring to it! The Boston Bruins probably would say no, as it was rumoured to have nixed the alleged name of our franchise (the Polar Bears) as well. So this would be a hard no...
As previously stated, there was a contest to pick the name for the Utah franchise. They included the Blizzards, the Mammoth, the Outlaws, the Venom, the Yeti, or the Hockey Club. Let's look at each one and see how it goes...
The Utah Yeti? The name seems odd as Yeti are found in the Himalayas and not in North America. Unless they are referring to the beverage container? But then again, if that's what they were going for, wouldn't they rather be called the Utah Stanleys? Anyway, this name would probably be nixed by the Colorado Avalanche, as they have the Bigfoot as one of their logos, so the similarities would be frowned upon...
The Utah Mammoth? Yes, mammoths did roam around Utah before the last ice age, so the name fits. But is it a good one? Well, if you like furry elephants as your mascot, then there you go. No NHL team should be against this name, so it has that going for it...
The Utah Venom? Yes, there are seven venomous snake species that live in Utah, but do you really want your franchise to be associated with the Marvel Universe? Whatever floats your boat, I guess. No NHL team should be against this name either...
The Utah Blizzard? Yes, Utah gets snow, but blizzards? According the Google AI, “Blizzards are rare in the Salt Lake City valley because of the lack of extreme winds.” So naming the team the Blizzard doesn't make too much sense. Besides, the Avalanche would say no way as it is too similar to their name...
The Utah Outlaws? I don't know much about Utah, but I don't think too many people associate the state with outlaws. Of course, they are currently the “Team With No Name”, but that's stretching it a bit. No NHL team will have a problem with this name...
The Utah Hockey Club? Quite original, don't you think? It's a rather boring name, and it's hard to market. Let's Go Hockey Club Let's Go! Hard pass for me, but the other NHL teams probably won't have an issue with it...
SO, WHAT'S YOUR PREFERRED CHOICE?
The Blizzard? The Venom? The Hockey Club? The Outlaws? The Yeti? The Mammoth? Tough decision isn't it...
MY CHOICE...
For me, it was one suggested last year by someone on this message board, the Utah Stormin' Mormons! You can't say it's offensive as you would have to say the Chicago Blackhawks logo is too. It's original and the other NHL teams wouldn't vote against it. I think we have a winner...
AN INTERESTING SIDE NOTE...
My late mother and I were driving down to Las Vegas a number of years ago, and stopped at a thrift store in Cedar City, Utah. After shopping, we got into our car and were about to drive away, when we heard a tapping at the window. I stopped and rolled down the window and the lady said, "Are you folks from Manitoba?" I said yes, and she said, "From Winnipeg?" I was startled and said yes. She went on to say that her daughter had spent some time in Winnipeg doing missionary work for the Mormon Church. She said her daughter thought everyone was so friendly up there, but she didn't like the winters...
