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Utah Grizzlies

19 Former Grizzlies On NHL Opening Day Rosters

October 1, 2009 - ECHL (ECHL)
Utah Grizzlies News Release


West Valley City, Utah - The Utah Grizzlies announced today that 19 of their former players are on NHL opening day rosters, representing 13 teams as the league opens play with four games this evening.

The Grizzlies will be represented in three of the four games including: Washington (John Erskine) at Boston, San Jose (Joe Callahan) at Colorado and Vancouver at Calgary (Fredrik Sjostrom).

Four former Grizzlies are currently with Utah's parent club the New York Islanders; including 2008-2009 Utah enforcer Joel Rechlicz. Richard Park, Jon Sim and Mark Streit also spent time in Utah before eventually landing with the team's NHL affiliate.

The 19 players is up from the 16 former Grizzlies that were on NHL opening week rosters last year. 20 Grizzlies were on NHL rosters to start the season in 2007-2008 after 23 opened up in the National Hockey League in 2006-2007.

-Derek Armstrong: St. Louis Blues: With Utah during the 1996-1997 season.

-Keith Ballard: Florida Panthers: With Utah during the 2004-2005 season.

-Todd Bertuzzi: Detroit Red Wings: With Utah during the 1996-1997 season.

-Joe Callahan: San Jose Sharks: With Utah during the 2004-2005 season.

-Trevor Daley: Dallas Stars: With Utah during the 2003-2004 season.

-Dan Ellis: Nashville Predators: With Utah during the 2003-2004 season.

-John Erskine: Washington Capitals: With Utah from 2000-2004.

-Zenon Konopka: Tampa Bay Lightning: With Utah during the 2003-2004 season.

-Antti Miettinen: Minnesota Wild: With Utah during the 2003-2004 season.

-Scott Niedermayer: Anaheim Ducks: With Utah during the 1998-1999 season.

-Steve Ott: Dallas Stars: With Utah during the 2002-2003 season.

-Richard Park: New York Islanders: With Utah during the 1999-2000 season.

-Warren Peters: Dallas Stars: With Utah during the 2003-2004 season.

-Joel Rechlicz: New York Islanders: With Utah during the 2008-2009 season.

-Jon Sim: New York Islanders: With Utah from 2000-2005.

-Fredrik Sjostrom: Calgary Flames: With Utah during the 2004-2005 season.

-Mike Smith: Tampa Bay Lightning: With Utah from 2002-2004.

-Mark Streit: New York Islanders: With Utah during the 1999-2000 season.

-Ray Whitney: Carolina Hurricanes: With Utah during the 1996-1997 season.

Grizzlies On NHL Opening Day Rosters

2009-2010: 19

2008-2009: 16

2007-2008: 20

2006-2007: 23

Utah enters their fifth year in the ECHL and their third-straight season as an affiliate of the New York Islanders. On September 16, 2009 the Grizzlies announced that they will also be adding up to four prospects this season from the Calgary Flames. Head Coach Kevin Colley returns to the Utah bench this upcoming season after signing a multi-year contract extension on April 20, 2009. Colley, who at the age of 30 is the youngest coach in the ECHL, led the Grizzlies to the playoffs for the third time in four years during his rookie head coaching campaign.

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