
Grizzlies Gameday: Wednesday Night Series Opener at Allen
January 10, 2024 - ECHL (ECHL)
Utah Grizzlies News Release
Utah Grizzlies (12-19, 24 points, .387 Win %) @ Allen Americans (16-17-1, 33 points, .485 Win %)
Date: January 10, 2024 Venue: Credit Union of Texas Event Center
Game Time: 12:30 pm.
Streaming/TV: FloHockey - https://www.flohockey.tv/events/11054524-2024-utah-grizzlies-vs-allen-americans
Audio/Radio: Utah Grizzlies YouTube channel. - https://www.youtube.com/@THEUTAHGRIZZLIES
Wednesday's Matchup
It's the opener of a three-game series between the Grizzlies and Americans. It's the fifth of seven meetings this season between the clubs. Utah is 2-2 vs Allen this season. Utah has been led by Brett Stapley, who has 11 points in his last 6 games (3 goals, 8 assists) and 2024 All-Star Kyle Mayhew, who has a point in 6 straight games. Josh Wesley has a power play point in 4 straight games (2 goals, 2 assist). Utah is 4-2 in their last 6 games. Allen has been a hot club as of late as they have won 5 games in a row and they are 8-2 in their last 10 games.
Games This Week
Wednesday - Utah at Allen. 6:10 pm.
Friday, January 12, 2024 - Utah at Allen. 6:10 pm.
Saturday, January 13, 2024 - Utah at Allen. 3:10 pm.
Sunday, January 14, 2024 - Utah at Wichita. 3:05 pm.
All Times Mountain.
Tickets for every Grizzlies home game are available at utahgrizzlies.com or by calling (801) 988-8000.
Games Last Week
Friday, January 5, 2024 - Utah 4 Newfoundland 3 (Overtime) - Dylan Fitze scored the game winner 5:09 into overtime. Aaron Aragon had 1 goal and 1 assist and Brett Stapley had 2 assists. Josh Wesley and Tyler Penner also scored a goal for Utah. Newfoundland was led by Jonny Tychonick, who had 1 goal and 1 assist. Dante Giannuzzi saved 37 of 40 in the win for Utah. Growlers goalie Dryden McKay saved 37 of 41.
Saturday, January 6, 2024 - Utah 1 Newfoundland 3 - Brett Stapley scored Utah's lone goal 16:22 into the first period. Will Cranley saved 35 of 38 for Utah. Newfoundland outshot Utah 38 to 29. Growlers were 2 for 4 on the power play, Utah was 1 for 6.
Sunday, January 7, 2024 - Utah 2 Newfoundland 6 - Kyle Mayhew and Brandon Cutler each scored a goal for Utah. Newfoundland outshot Utah 32 to 29. Newfoundland was 2 for 4 on the power play. Utah was 1 for 5.
Gianni Fairbrother and Trent Miner Reassigned to Utah
Defenseman Gianni Fairbrother and Goaltender Trent Miner were each reassigned to the Grizzlies from the AHL's Colorado Eagles. Both players have NHL entry level contracts with the Colorado Avalanche.
Fairbrother has played in 5 games with Utah this season and has 2 assists, 2 penalty minutes and 5 shots on goal. Fairbrother has appeared in 1 game with Colorado (AHL) this season.
Miner has been a standout performer for the Colorado Eagles this season, where he has appeared in 7 games and has a 2-3-1 record with a .925 save percentage and a 2.17 GAA. Miner earned a 22 save shutout vs Coachella Valley on December 17, 2023. He has 12 professional shutouts, including a franchise best 10 with the Grizzlies. In 8 games with Utah this year the third-year pro has a 4-4 record with a 2.52 GAA and a .916 save percentage. In 73 games with Utah since the start of the 2021-22 season Miner has a record of 37-31-3 with a .911 save percentage and a 2.86 GAA.
Player Notes
Brett Stapley has 11 points in his last 6 games (3 goals, 8 assists). Stapley leads Utah in assists (23), points (29) and multiple point games (9). Stapley has a 6 game point streak.
Kyle Mayhew has a point in 6 straight games (1g, 5a). Mayhew is tied for 2nd among all league defenseman with 7 goals.
Josh Wesley has a power play point in 4 straight games (2g, 2a).
Aaron Aragon had 1 goal and 1 assist vs Newfoundland on January 5.
Brandon Cutler leads Utah with 11 goals, 51 penalty minutes and 109 shots on goal.
Cole Gallant had 16 points (5g, 11a) in 15 games in December.
Bryan Yoon leads Utah with a +6 rating.
Mick Messner has 6 goals in his last 15 games. He is 3rd on the club with 9 goals.
Tyler Penner has appeared in 175 straight regular season games, 199 if you include the playoffs. Wednesday night will be his 200th straight game for Utah (Including the playoffs).
Dylan Fitze scored the game winner 5:09 into overtime on Jan. 5 at Newfoundland.
Bear Bites: Grizzlies Team Notes
Utah is 9-3 when scoring first and 9-0 when scoring first at home. Utah is 11-6 at home this season, outscoring opponents 57 to 47. Utah has 4 shorthanded goals this season. Utah outshot its opponents 332 to 291 in the third period. Utah is 7-2 when leading after 1 period and 9-2 when leading after 2 periods. Utah is averaging 6,801 fans over their last 5 home games. Utah is 9-7 when scoring a power play goal this season. Utah has won 4 of their last 6 games. They appeared in overtime for the first time all season on January 5 at Newfoundland and they won 4-3 on a Dylan Fitze game winner. Utah is 1-0 in overtime this season. Utah went 3-3 vs Newfoundland this season.
Transactions: Cory Thomas Traded to Trois-Rivieres, Burke Returns From AHL Loan
January 9 - Goaltender Trent Miner and Defenseman Gianni Fairbrother were each reassigned to Utah from Colorado (AHL). Both players have NHL contracts with the Colorado Avalanche.
January 2 - Cory Thomas traded to Trois-Rivieres. Defenseman Cory Thomas was traded to the Trois-Rivieres Lions to complete a trade where the Utah Grizzlies received forward Cole Gallant for future considerations.
Thomas played in 20 games with Utah this season and had 3 assists. In the 2022-23 season he had 7 assists in 40 games for Utah. He also had 1 assist in 4 games in the 2023 Kelly Cup Playoffs.
January 2 - Nathan Burke returns from loan with the AHL's Ontario Reign. Burke played in 1 game with Ontario and had 1 shot on goal on Dec. 31, 2023 vs Henderson.
Utah vs Allen This Season
Allen 3 @ Utah 7 (Dec 9 2023)
Allen 5 @ Utah 3 (Dec 8 2023)
Allen 2 @ Utah 5 (Dec 6 2023)
Utah 2 @ Allen 3 (Dec 1 2023)
Nathan Burke (4g, 3a) and Cole Gallant (2g, 5a) each have 7 points in 4 games vs Allen. Mick Messner has 4 goals in 4 games vs Allen. Brett Stapley has 5 assists. Brandon Cutler and Josh Wesley each have 2 goals vs Allen this season. Allen is led by Colby McAuley, who has 2 goals and 5 assists vs Utah.
Penner to Appear in 200th Straight Game for Utah
On Wednesday night Grizzlies forward Tyler Penner will appear in his 200th straight game for the Grizzlies, including the playoffs. Penner has appeared in every regular season and playoff game for Utah since the start of the 2021-22 season. The streak is currently 175 regular season contests and 199 games if you include the postseason. Penner's consecutive game streak is the longest for the Grizzlies in the 21st century. Penner has 29 goals and 33 assists in his Grizzlies career.
Players Who Have Appeared in Every Game
There are 6 players who have appeared in all 31 games for the Grizzlies this season. They include defensemen Kyle Mayhew and Bryan Yoon. Forwards Brandon Cutler, Cole Gallant, Mick Messner and Tyler Penner have also played in every game.
Cutler Leads Grizzlies With 11 Goals
With his 3rd period goal 3:56 in against Newfoundland on January 7th Brandon Cutler now leads the Grizzlies with 11 goals this season. Cutler also leads Utah in shots on goal (109), power play goals (4) and penalty minutes (51).
Brett Stapley Remains Red Hot
It has been a great stretch for Brett Stapley, who has 3 goals and 6 assists in his last 5 games. Stapley had 2 goals and 1 assist and was the number 1 star of Utah's 3-2 win vs Tulsa on December 29. The next night he had 2 assists in Utah's 5-2 victory. On December 31st he had the main assist in Utah's 1-0 win to complete the weekend sweep. Stapley had 2 assists in Utah's 4-3 overtime win at Newfoundland on January 5th. Stapley leads Utah with 21 assists and 27 points this season. He had an outstanding month of December, where he scored 16 points (2 goals, 14 assists) in 15 games. Stapley leads Utah with 8 multiple point games this season.
2023-2024 Utah Grizzlies Regular Season Totals (league rankings)
Overall record: 12-19
Home record: 11-6
Road record: 1-13
Win percentage: .387
Streak: Lost 2
Standings Points: 24
Last 10: 4-6
Goals per game: 2.74 (Tied 27th) Goals for: 85
Goals against per game: 3.35 (Tied 17th) Goals Against: 104
Shots per game: 30.87 (17th)
Shots against per game: 33.32 (20th)
Power Play: 18 for 104 - 17.3 % (21st)
Penalty Kill: 70 for 99 - 70.7% (28th)
Penalty Minutes: 378. 12.19 per game.
Shorthanded Goals: 4
Shorthanded Goals Allowed: 4.
Record When Scoring First: 9-3.
Opposition Scores First: 3-16.
Record in One Goal Games: 5-6.
SCORING 1ST 2ND 3RD OT/Shootout TOTAL
Utah Grizzlies 22 34 28 1 85
Opposition 34 37 33 0 104
Team Leaders
Goals: Brandon Cutler (11)
Assists: Brett Stapley (23)
Points: Stapley (29)
Plus/Minus: Bryan Yoon (+6)
PIM: Cutler (51)
Power Play Points: Stapley (11)
Power Play Goals: Cutler (4)
Power Play Assists: Stapley (8)
Shots on Goal: Cutler (109)
Shooting Percentage: Cole Gallant (14.9 %) - Minimum 30 shots.
Game Winning Goals: Cutler/Dylan Fitze/Stapley (2)
Wins: Dante Giannuzzi (5)
Save %: Miner (.916)
Goals Against Average: Miner (2.52)
Shutouts: Giannuzzi/Metcalf (1)
ECHL Stories from January 10, 2024
- Steelheads Grab Point in Overtime Loss vs. Mavericks, 4-3 - Idaho Steelheads
- Rush Power Past Fort Wayne for Seventh-Straight Home Win - Rapid City Rush
- Orlando Stops Greenville's Win Streak at Four - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- Lions Fall 8-5 to Mariners - Trois-Rivieres Lions
- Mariners Top Lions on Wild Wednesday Night - Maine Mariners
- Fuel Fall to Walleye on Wednesday Night - Indy Fuel
- Walleye Use Five-Goal Second Period to Race Past Fuel - Toledo Walleye
- ECHL Transactions - January 10 - ECHL
- Steelheads Add Boise Native Bailey Conger - Idaho Steelheads
- K-Wings' Forward Josh Passolt Recalled by Canucks - Kalamazoo Wings
- Ghost Pirates Weekly: January 10 - Savannah Ghost Pirates
- Railers Sign Forward Brian Bowen - Worcester Railers HC
- Americans Open Series against Utah Tonight - Allen Americans
- Driver Lineup Announced for "NASCAR Night" - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- Game Notes: January 10 - Fort Wayne Komets at Rush - Rapid City Rush
- Grizzlies Gameday: Wednesday Night Series Opener at Allen - Utah Grizzlies
- Series Preview: January 11-14 vs. Adirondack - Newfoundland Growlers
- Blades Present First-Ever Hispanic Heritage Jersey Auction Benefitting Immokalee Foundation - Florida Everblades
- Drive Hockey Analytics to Track 2024 Warrior/ECHL All-Star Classic - ECHL
- Ottawa Assigns Forward to Allen, MacArthur Recalled - Allen Americans
- Goaltender Mitchell Gibson Re-Assigned to Stingrays - South Carolina Stingrays
- Patrick Kudla Signs PTO with AHL's Syracuse Crunch - Idaho Steelheads
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.
Other Recent Utah Grizzlies Stories
- Grizzlies Statement Regarding Beloved CEO Kevin Bruder (1968-2025)
- Utah Grizzlies 2024-25 Season in Review
- Grizzlies Finish 2024-25 Season with a 6-3 Road Victory
- Connors Scores Twice, Friesen Gets First Pro Goal in 5-2 Utah Win
- Utah Grizzlies Defenseman Derek Daschke Named First Team All-ECHL

