Avalanche announce stunning relocation that has the hockey world talking
Photo credit: Jerome Miron / Imagn Images
In a stunning development that has the hockey world buzzing, the Colorado Avalanche's ECHL affiliate, the Utah Grizzlies, have announced a relocation that could shake up the organization's minor-league pipeline.
It appears that a longtime fixture of the minor-league hockey scene is set to make its way east.
Utah Grizzlies are officially relocating to Trenton.
Tyler Kuehl from the Daily Faceoff writes that insider Frank Seravalli reports that the Utah Grizzlies, the ECHL affiliate of the Avalanche, are expected to announce on Tuesday that the team will relocate to Trenton, New Jersey, for the 2026-27 season.
The Grizzlies would call the CURE Insurance Arena home, the same venue that hosted the ECHL's Trenton Titans from 1999 to 2013.
Seravalli also revealed that the organization plans to launch a 'name the team' contest to choose a new nickname for the franchise.
"The move of the Grizzlies was inevitable. Due to the passing of Elmore Sports Group founder David Elmore in 2023 and the declining health of his wife and co-owner, Donna Tuttle, the team began exploring the option of selling the franchise. The sale to Pro Hockey Partners LLC was approved in late July, with the intention of relocating the team becoming imminent.
Many hoped that the relocation of the Arizona Coyotes to Salt Lake City might spur a relationship between the NHL's Mammoth and the Grizzlies, as the two teams are a little over 10 miles apart. However, no bond has since been formed. In fact, Utah will go without an ECHL affiliate this coming season after being partnered with the Allen Americans last year." -Kuehl
Many hoped that the relocation of the Arizona Coyotes to Salt Lake City might spur a relationship between the NHL's Mammoth and the Grizzlies, as the two teams are a little over 10 miles apart. However, no bond has since been formed. In fact, Utah will go without an ECHL affiliate this coming season after being partnered with the Allen Americans last year." -Kuehl
The 2025-26 season will mark the Grizzlies' 32nd year of operation. The team originally debuted in the International Hockey League when the IHL folded in 2001.
After the AHL franchise suspended operations in 2005, Elmore stepped in to establish an ECHL franchise in West Valley City, keeping professional hockey alive in the region.
"The Grizzlies experienced success throughout their history, winning the IHL's Turner Cup in their first two seasons of existence. The ECHL Grizzlies made it as far as the Western Conference Finals twice, missing the Kelly Cup Playoffs four times in 20 seasons." -Kuehl
During their time in the ECHL, the Titans, known as the Devils for two seasons, reached the Kelly Cup Finals twice, capturing the championship in 2005.
| POLL | ||
SEPTEMBRE 8 | 17 ANSWERS Avalanche announce stunning relocation that has the hockey world talking Will this be a tough loss for the city of Utah? | ||
| yes | 9 | 52.9 % |
| no | 8 | 47.1 % |
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