Grizzlies Gameday: Friday Night Action at Maverik Center
December 8, 2023 - ECHL (ECHL)
Utah Grizzlies News Release
Allen Americans (6-12-1, 13 points, .342 Win %) at Utah Grizzlies (7-10, 14 points, .412 Win %)
Date: December 8, 2023 Venue: Maverik Center
Game Time: 7:10 pm.
Streaming/TV: FloHockey - https://www.flohockey.tv/events/11053498-2023-allen-americans-vs-utah-grizzlies
Audio/Radio: Utah Grizzlies YouTube channel. - https://www.youtube.com/@THEUTAHGRIZZLIES
Friday's Matchup
The Utah Grizzlies are at Maverik Center as they take on the Allen Americans in the 2nd of a three-game series. Utah is 7-4 at home this season. Allen is 5-6-1 on the road. It's the third of seven meetings this season between the clubs. Watch out for Mick Messner, who has 10 points (4 goals, 6 assists) in his last 12 games. Brett Stapley has a point in 9 of his 12 games for Utah this season. Nathan Burke leads Utah with 7 goals and 13 points this season.
Games This Week
Wednesday, December 6, 2023 - Allen 2 Utah 5 - Nathan Burke had 2 goals and 1 assist. Adam Berg and Mick Messner each had 1 goal and 1 assist. Brandon Cutler added an empty net goal. Dante Giannuzzi got his first pro win as he stopped 34 of 36.
Friday - Allen at Utah. 7:10 pm. Maverik Center. AFCU Friday.
Saturday, December 9, 2023 - Allen at Utah. 7:10 pm. Maverik Center. Teddy Bear Toss & Ugly Sweater Night.
All Times Mountain.
Tickets for every Grizzlies home game are available at utahgrizzlies.com or by calling (801) 988-8000.
Dante Giannuzzi Gets First Pro Win
Utah goaltender Dante Giannuzzi got his first professional win on Wednesday night vs Allen as he saved 34 of 36 in a 5-2 win. This season he has a 1-4 record with a .918 save percentage and a 2.64 goals against average. In 5 seasons in the WHL with the Portland Winterhawks he had a record of 59-32-10 with a .897 save percentage and a 3.07 GAA. The 21 year-old Giannuzzi has appeared in 4 of Utah's last 5 games.
Grizzlies Sign Forward Patriks Marcinkevics
West Valley City, Utah - The Utah Grizzlies have signed forward Patriks Marcinkevics.
Marcinkevics, 22, played in 5 games with Michigan Tech University this season, scoring 1 goal and 1 assist. Last season he was a standout forward for Long Island University, scoring 27 points (6 goals, 21 assists) in 24 games. He will wear number 8 for Utah.
Nathan Burke Takes Points Lead on Club
With a 3 point performance on Wednesday night Nathan Burke takes over the club lead with 13 points this season. Burke also leads Utah with 7 goals and 20 penalty minutes. Burke has a strong 15.6 shooting percentage on the season. It's no surprise that Burke is finding success scoring points as a pro as he was an accomplished scorer at the college level. In 2 years at Bowling Green State University he scored 33 goals and 19 assists in 73 games.
Adam Berg Scores 2 Points in Home Debut
Forward Adam Berg scored 1 goal and 1 assist vs Allen on December 6th. It was his first 2 points in a Utah uniform. It was Berg's second multiple point game as a pro as he scored 2 goals for Cincinnati vs Wheeling on April 2, 2023. It was his first game at Maverik Center as a member of the Grizzlies. He played at Maverik Center as a member of the visiting Cincinnati Cyclones for a 3 game series on March 22, 24 and 26, scoring 1 goal and 1 assist in the set.
Recent Transactions
December 6 - Utah signs forward Patriks Marcinkevics. He will wear number 8 for Utah.
November 25 - Utah acquired forward Adam Berg in a trade with Cincinnati.
November 25 - Goaltender Trent Miner was recalled to Colorado (AHL).
November 21 - Utah signs forward Aaron Aragon. Utah released forward Jared Power.
Player Notes
Nathan Burke leads Utah with 13 points this season (7 goals, 6 assists). Burke leads Utah in shooting percentage at 15.6 %. He has scored the first goal in a game twice. He also leads Utah in goals, penalty minutes.
Mick Messner has 10 points (4g, 6a) in his last 12 games. Messner is a +6 in his last 12 games. He has 2 multiple point games this season. 8 of his 10 points this season have come at home.
Brett Stapley has a point in 9 of his 12 games with Utah. Stapley has 3 multiple point games. Stapley has 4 assists in 4 games in December.
Bryan Yoon was a +6 in the month of November. Yoon scored his first 2 pro goals last week. He leads Utah with a +6 rating. Yoon has a minus rating in only 1 game this season.
Kyle Mayhew is tied for 4th among league defensemen with 4 goals. He leads Utah d-men with 10 points. Mayhew has an assist in 3 straight games. Mayhew has a point in 9 of 17 games this season.
Josh Wesley has 59 shots on goal, tied for 3rd among all league defenseman.
Cole Gallant has a point in 3 of his last 4 games. Gallant is a +3 in 4 games in December.
Brandon Cutler leads Utah with 2 game winning goals and shots on goal with 61. He is 2nd on the team with 12 points.
Dante Giannuzzi has started in 4 of Utah's last 5 games. He leads Utah with a .918 save percentage.
Bear Bites: Grizzlies Team Notes
Utah is 6-1 when scoring first. Utah is the only team in the league who has not played a game past regulation. Utah is 7-4 at home this season, outscoring opponents 37 to 29. Utah has 3 shorthanded goals this season. Utah has outshot opponents 189 to 157 in the third period. Utah is 4-1 when leading after 1 period and 6-0 when leading after 2 periods.
2023-2024 Utah Grizzlies Regular Season Totals (league rankings)
Overall record: 7-10
Home record: 7-4
Road record: 0-6
Win percentage: .412
Streak: Won 1
Standings Points: 14
Last 10: 3-7
Goals per game: 2.76 (25th) Goals for: 47
Goals against per game: 3.06 (Tied 8th) Goals Against: 52
Shots per game: 31.24 (14th)
Shots against per game: 31.94 (18th)
Power Play: 9 for 48 - 18.8 % (18th)
Penalty Kill: 38 for 51 - 74.5 % (25th)
Penalty Minutes: 150. 8.82 per game. (3rd fewest in the league)
Shorthanded Goals: 3 - Utah scored 2 shorthanded goals in the third period on Nov. 24.
Shorthanded Goals Allowed: 4.
Record When Scoring First: 6-1.
Opposition Scores First: 1-9.
Record in One Goal Games: 2-4.
SCORING 1ST 2ND 3RD OT/Shootout TOTAL
Utah Grizzlies 13 17 17 0 47
Opposition 16 20 16 0 52
Team Leaders
Goals: Nathan Burke (7)
Assists: Brett Stapley (9)
Points: Burke (13)
Plus/Minus: Bryan Yoon (+6)
PIM: Burke (20)
Power Play Points: Jordan Martel/Stapley (5)
Power Play Goals: Martel (3)
Power Play Assists: Stapley (3)
Shots on Goal: Cutler (61)
Shooting Percentage: Burke (15.6 %) - Minimum 12 shots.
Game Winning Goals: Cutler (2)
Wins: Trent Miner (4)
Save %: Dante Giannuzzi (.918)
Goals Against Average: Miner (2.52)
Shutouts: Metcalf (1)
Multiple Point Games
3 - Nathan Burke, Brandon Cutler, Brett Stapley
2- Kyle Betts, Jordan Martel, Mick Messner.
1 - Adam Berg, Gianni Fairbrother, Dylan Fitze, Kyle Mayhew, Dakota Raabe, Keoni Texeira, Josh Wesley, Bryan Yoon.
Streaks
Goals: Adam Berg, Nathan Burke, Brandon Cutler, Mick Messner (1)
Assists: Burke, Kyle Mayhew (2) Berg Cole Gallant, Messner, Brett Stapley, Keoni Texeira, Josh Wesley (1)
Points - Burke, Gallant, Mayhew (2)
ECHL Stories from December 8, 2023
- Ty Pelton-Byce Scores Fourteen Seconds into Overtime in 5-4 Victory - Idaho Steelheads
- Blake Bennett's OT Goal Lifts Rapid City to Victory - Rapid City Rush
- Gahagen Saves 39, Royals Shut Out By Lions, 1-0 - Reading Royals
- Gladiators Fall in Match Versus Ghost Pirates - Atlanta Gladiators
- Oilers Cooled Down by Komets in 4-2 Loss - Tulsa Oilers
- Hawkins' 250th Professional Point Highlights Big Night for the Fish - Toledo Walleye
- Railers Win Thriller 4-2 Over Adirondack - Worcester Railers HC
- Stingrays Shut Out By Everblades 4-0 - South Carolina Stingrays
- Kalamazoo Scores 10 Piece Versus Iowa at Home - Kalamazoo Wings
- Zachary Bouthillier Records his First Shutout - Trois-Rivieres Lions
- Fuel Earn Point in Third Overtime Match in a Row - Indy Fuel
- Nailers Rally for First Win in Indy - Wheeling Nailers
- Cyclones Fall on the Road Against Walleye - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Late Goal Lifts Railers Past Thunder, 4-2 - Adirondack Thunder
- K-Wings Take Down Heartlanders with Strong Second Period - Iowa Heartlanders
- Mariners Extend Point Streak to Five Games - Maine Mariners
- Growlers Outlast Mariners 4-3 in OT - Newfoundland Growlers
- ECHL Transactions - December 8 - ECHL
- Grizzlies Gameday: Friday Night Action at Maverik Center - Utah Grizzlies
- Game Notes: December 7 - Wichita Thunder at Rush - Rapid City Rush
- Wichita Plays Round 2 Tonight in Rapid City - Wichita Thunder
- Series Preview: December 8-10 vs. Maine - Newfoundland Growlers
- Luke Prokop Re-Assigned to Atlanta - Atlanta Gladiators
- Growlers, ANC Host NEWfoundlander Night - Newfoundland Growlers
- Americans Back on the Ice Tonight in Utah - Allen Americans
- Royals Open Two-Game Series with Lions at Home on la Noche de Los Royales - Reading Royals
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
