Grizzlies Gameday: Wednesday Rivalry Matchup in Boise
February 28, 2024 - ECHL (ECHL)
Utah Grizzlies News Release
Utah Grizzlies (24-27-1, 49 points, .471 Win %) @ Idaho Steelheads (35-142-1, 73 points, .702 Win %) Date: February 28, 2024 Venue: Idaho Central Arena
Game Time: 7:10 pm.
Streaming/TV: FloHockey - https://www.flohockey.tv/events/11055081-2024-utah-grizzlies-vs-idaho steelheads?nav_id=75
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 Steelheads. Utah is 1-5 vs Idaho this season. The Grizz are 10-5-1 in their last 16 games. Brandon Cutler leads the Grizzlies in goals (23) and shots on goal (196). Brett Stapley has 7 goals in 11 games in February. Cutler and Stapley are both a +6 in 11 games in February. Kyle Mayhew is 2nd among all league rookie defenseman with 34 points (8 goals, 26 assists). Mick Messner has 2 goals and 5 assists in his last 6 games. Dylan Fitze has 4 goals and 2 assists in his last 4 games. Utah has outscored opponents 24 to 15 in the third periods over their last 16 games. The Grizz are 17-3-1 when scoring first this season. The Steelheads are 8-1-1 over their last 10 games. Idaho is in second place in the Mountain Division with 73 standings points and a .702 Winning percentage.
Grizzlies Sign Defenseman Cody Corbett
Defenseman Cody Corbett signs with the Grizzlies. Corbett played in 2 games with Utah this season, appearing in the February 16th and 17th games vs Wheeling. Corbett has appeared in 189 ECHL games in his career with 8 different clubs and 95 AHL games with 3 different teams. Corbett will be facing his former team this week as he appeared in 35 games with Idaho in the 2017-18 season, where he had 3 goals and 18 assists.
Games This Road Trip
Friday, February 23, 2024 - Utah 7 Kansas City 4 - Dylan Fitze scored 3 goals. Aaron Aragon, Cole Gallant and Josh Wesley each had 1 goal and 1 assist. Kyle Mayhew had 2 assists. Adam Berg had 1 goal. Utah was 2 for 4 on the power play and a perfect 5 for 5 on the penalty kill. The Mavericks were led by Jacob Hayhurst, who had 2 goals and 1 assist. Max Andreev had 1 goal and 2 assists.
Saturday, February 24, 2024 - Utah 5 Kansas City 7 - Alex Beaucage, Brandon Cutler, Dylan Fitze, Mick Messner and Josh Wesley all scored a goal for Utah. KC outshot Utah 38 to 28. Mavericks went 2 for 3 on the power play. Utah was 1 for 2. Jeremy McKenna led KC with 3 goals and 1 assist.
Sunday, February 25, 2024 - Utah 0 Kansas City 3 - Cale Morris got a 27 save shutout for KC. Mavericks got goals from Jack McLaughlin, Cole Coskey and Nolan Walker. Both teams had 27 shots on goal. Wednesday - Utah at Idaho. 7:10 pm. Idaho Central Arena.
Friday, March 1, 2024 - Utah at Idaho. 7:10 pm. Idaho Central Arena.
Saturday, March 2, 2024 - Utah at Idaho. 7:10 pm. Idaho Central Arena.
Tickets for every Grizzlies home game are available at utahgrizzlies.com or by calling (801) 988-8000. All Times Mountain.
Games Next Homestand
Friday, March 8, 2024 - Rapid City at Utah. 7:10 pm. Maverik Center. AFCU Friday.
Saturday, March 9, 2024 - Rapid City at Utah. 7:10 pm. Maverik Center.
Monday, March 11, 2024 - Rapid City at Utah. 7:10 pm. Maverik Center. Smith's Family Night. Saturday, March 16, 2024 - Norfolk at Utah. 7:10 pm. Maverik Center. Military Night.
Sunday, March 17, 2024 - Norfolk at Utah. 3:10 pm. Maverik Center.
Monday, March 18, 2024 - Norfolk at Utah. 7:10 pm. Maverik Center. Smith's Family night.
What a Turnaround for the Grizzlies
At the Christmas break the Grizzlies had a record of 8-17 and were in last place in the Mountain Division. Since Christmas Utah is 16-10-1 over a 27-game stretch and they are in fourth place in the division. Brandon Cutler leads Utah with 14 goals since Christmas. Brett Stapley has 13 goals. Kyle Mayhew leads Utah with 18 assists after the Christmas break.
The Captain is Back.... In Colorado
Grizzlies captain Josh Wesley returned to the AHL's Colorado Eagles on February 26th. Wesley leads all league defensemen with 14 goals. Wesley has a point in 14 of his last 19 games with Utah. He has appeared in 7 games with Colorado and has 1 assist and a +3 rating.
Grizzlies Player Notes
Kyle Mayhew is 2nd among league rookie defenseman with 34 points (8g, 26a). Mayhew had 4 assists and was a +4 on February 10 at Idaho.
Brett Stapley has 7 goals in his last 11 games. He has a point in 20 of his last 27 games. Stapley leads Utah in assists (30) and points (46). Stapley leads Utah with 11 multiple point games. He is a +6 in 11 games in February.Cole Gallant is tied for 2nd on the team with 26 assists. Gallant scored the game winner 6:50 into the third period on February 16 vs Wheeling. Gallant is 2nd on the team with 10 multiple point games.
Brandon Cutler leads Utah in goals (23), PIM (65), Shots on Goal (196) and is tied for the club lead in Game Winning Goals (4). Cutler has a point in 7 of his last 10 games and 11 of his last 16 games. Cutler led Utah with 7 goals in the month of January. He has 11 goals in his last 18 games. Cutler leads Utah with 2 overtime game
winning goals. He won the game 20 seconds into overtime on January 20 at Kansas City. He also got the OT GWG on a one-timer from the right circle on Utah's lone power play at Tulsa on February 3rd.
Nathan Burke is 2nd on the Grizzlies with 16 goals. Burke has a goal in 6 of his last 14 games. Burke scored the game winning goal 6:17 into overtime on Feb. 10 at Idaho.
Mick Messner has 3 goals and 11 assists in his last 15 games. Messner had 4 assists in Utah's 4-2 win over Wheeling on Feb. 16. Messner had 1 goal and 5 assists in a 3-game series vs Wheeling.
Dylan Fitze scored 3 goals on February 23rd at Kansas City. Fitze became the first Grizzlies player to earn a Hat Trick this season.
Tyler Penner has appeared in 196 straight regular season games, 220 straight including the playoffs for Utah since the start of the 2021-22 season.
Adam Berg has 16 points (7g, 9a) in his last 21 games.
Alex Beaucage has 47 shots on goal in 10 games with Utah. He has 3 goals and 4 assists in 10 games.Aaron Aragon scored 2 goals on January 19 at KC. Aragon scored 2 more goals on January 26 vs Rapid City.Dante Giannuzzi leads Utah with 11 wins this season.
Bear Bites: Grizzlies Team Notes
Ryan Kinasewich won his 100th game as Utah's head coach on Feb. 17. Utah was 8-17 prior to Christmas and they are 16-10-1 since the Christmas Break. Utah has won 8 of their last 10 home games. Utah is 16 -8 at home this season, outscoring opponents 80 to 65. Utah is averaging 7,159 fans per game over their last 12 home games. Utah has had 6 home games with over 7,600 fans. Utah is 4-1 in games past regulation this season. Utah is 17-3-1 when scoring first this season. Utah has scored 5 shorthanded goals this season. Utah is 14-2 when leading after 1 period and 14-2-1 when leading after 2 periods. Utah is 9-0 at home when leading after 1 period. Utah has outscored opponents 24 to 15 in the third periods over their last 16 games. The Grizz are 8-8-1 in their last 17 road games.
Recent Transactions: Texeira Returns to Club
February 28 - Grizzlies sign defenseman Cody Corbett. Corbett played in 2 games with Utah earlier this season on Feb. 16-17 vs Wheeling.
February 26 - Goaltender Arvid Holm and Defenseman Josh Wesley were each recalled to Colorado (AHL). February 23 - Defenseman Keoni Texeira released from loan with San Jose (AHL), returns to Grizz. February 19 - Defenseman Josh Wesley reassigned to Utah from Colorado (AHL).
February 19 - Grizzlies released defenseman Cody Corbett.
February 16 - Goaltender Arvid Holm and Forward Alex Beaucage were reassigned to Utah from Colorado (AHL). Both Beaucage and Holm have NHL deals with the Colorado Avalanche. Beaucage has previously played in 4 games with Utah, scoring 1 goal and 3 assists. Beaucage had 20 shots on goal. Holm joins the Grizzlies for the first time.
February 16 - Utah signs defenseman Cody Corbett. He last played with Kalamazoo in the 2021-2022 season. February 16 - Utah released forward J.C. Campagna. He had 1 goal and 4 assists in 12 games.
Tyler Penner the Ironman
Forward Tyler Penner has been an ironman for the Grizzlies as he has appeared in every game for the club since the start of the 2021-22 season. He has played in 196 straight regular season games and 220 if you include the 24 playoff games he has appeared in over the past 2 seasons. Penner has 33 goals and 39 assists in his Grizzlies career.
Players Who Have Appeared in Every Game
There are 3 players who have appeared in all 52 games for the Grizzlies this season. They include forwards Brandon Cutler, Mick Messner and Tyler Penner.
2023-2024 Utah Grizzlies Regular Season Totals (league rankings)
Overall record: 24-27-1
Home record: 16-8
Road record: 8-19-1
Win percentage: .471
Streak: Lost 2
Standings Points: 49
Last 10: 6-4
Goals per game: 3.13 (17th) Goals for: 163
Goals against per game: 3.56 (22nd) Goals Against: 185
Shots per game: 31.02 (Tied 15th)
Shots against per game: 34.29 (23rd)
Power Play: 27 for 161 - 16.8 % (24th)
Penalty Kill: 118 for 161 - 73.3 % (28th)
Penalty Minutes: 550. 10.58 per game.
Shorthanded Goals: 5.
Shorthanded Goals Allowed: 5.
Record When Scoring First: 17-3-1.
Opposition Scores First: 7-24.
Record in One Goal Games: 9-7-1.
Team Leaders
Goals: Brandon Cutler (23)
Assists: Brett Stapley (30)
Points: Stapley (46)
Plus/Minus: Bryan Yoon (+11)
PIM: Cutler (65)
Power Play Points: Kyle Mayhew (12)
Power Play Goals: Josh Wesley (6)
Power Play Assists: Mayhew (10)
Shots on Goal: Cutler (196) - 3rd in the league.
Shooting Percentage: Aaron Aragon (16.1 %) - Minimum 50 shots.
Game Winning Goals: Cutler/Stapley (4)
Wins: Dante Giannuzzi (11)
Save %: Trent Miner (.917)
Goals Against Average: Miner (2.75)
Shutouts: Giannuzzi/Garrett Metcalf (1)
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