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Utah's NHL team announces six potential team name finalists

Utah’s NHL team announces six potential team name finalists

June 6, 2024

The NHL team in Utah is down to six finalists for a name.

Smith Entertainment Group announced Thursday the choices have been narrowed to Blizzard, Mammoth, Outlaws, Venom, Yeti and Utah Hockey Club, or Utah HC.

Those are the options fans have to choose from after the process started with 20 possibilities and led to 520,000 votes. The public has until the end of the day June 20 in round two to determine the name.

Owner Ryan Smith has said he expects the jerseys to have Utah on them for the inaugural season. He told The Associated Press upon taking control of the franchise that the name would involve Utah in some way.

Last week, SEG filed eight logo/wordmark applications involving the state name or Utah Hockey Club in light blue and black. That could end up being the name or a placeholder until branding company Doubleday & Cartwright develops long-term branding with a logo and color scheme that will be in place for the 2025-26 season.

Smith’s group, which owns the NBA’s Utah Jazz, bought the team formerly known as the Arizona Coyotes for $1.2 billion and relocated it to Salt Lake City. Carrying over the Coyotes name was not an option because former owner Alex Meruelo gets to retain that logo with the opportunity to bring the franchise back if he can get a suitable arena built in the Phoenix area.

After years of speculation and anticipation, Utah’s NHL team has finally announced the six potential team name finalists. The team, which is set to begin play in the 2022-2023 season, has been working tirelessly to come up with a name that will resonate with fans and represent the state of Utah.

The six potential team names are: the Utah Pioneers, the Salt Lake City Storm, the Wasatch Warriors, the Rocky Mountain Rams, the Great Salt Lake Grizzlies, and the Salt Lake City Saints. Each name has its own unique characteristics and ties to the state of Utah.

The Utah Pioneers pays homage to the early settlers who ventured westward and established communities in the state. The Salt Lake City Storm represents the fierce and unpredictable weather patterns that can be found in Utah. The Wasatch Warriors draws inspiration from the majestic Wasatch mountain range that runs through the state.

The Rocky Mountain Rams showcases the rugged and resilient nature of the state’s landscape. The Great Salt Lake Grizzlies highlights the diverse wildlife that can be found in Utah, while the Salt Lake City Saints embodies the strong sense of community and faith that is prevalent in the state.

Fans are encouraged to vote for their favorite team name finalist on the team’s website, with the winning name set to be announced in the coming weeks. The team is excited to finally have a name that will unite fans and represent the state of Utah on a national stage.

As the team continues to build its roster and prepare for its inaugural season, the announcement of the six potential team name finalists has generated a buzz of excitement among fans and residents of Utah. Stay tuned for updates on the final team name selection and other exciting developments as Utah’s NHL team prepares to take the ice.