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ECHL Utah Grizzlies

Grizzlies Open Season Friday Hosting Idaho

October 16, 2013 - ECHL (ECHL)
Utah Grizzlies News Release


Friday, October 18: Idaho at Utah, 7 p.m. (KMYU TV, 2.2, 12 on satellites, 22 on cable)

Saturday, October 19: Utah at Las Vegas, 8 p.m.

All games are broadcast live on 1320 KFAN, 1320KFAN.com, iHeart Radio by searching "1320 KFAN" and for $8 PPV at UtahGrizzlies.com.

The Situation

The Grizzlies open their ninth season in the ECHL, their 17th in the Maverik Center, their 19th in Utah and their 20th overall Friday in West Valley City against Idaho at 7 p.m.

Season Opener

Friday marks the third-straight year and the fourth time in the last six years that Utah and Idaho have opened the season against each other. The road team has dominated the season openers. Utah is 2-0 on the road in those games and Idaho is 1-0 in Utah.

Preseason

With a 1-0-1 preseason, the Grizzlies matched their best ECHL preseason; as they also went 1-0-1 in 2011. Utah lost a wild 6-5 game in overtime Friday in Logan, as they allowed three power-play goals, before settling down and going 7-7 on the penalty-kill in a 2-0 win over the Steelheads in Saturday's rematch.

Good Starts

The Grizzlies are 21-8-1-0 over the last five seasons in October. Only Alaska with 23 wins in October since 2008 has won more in the ECHL.

Goaltending

The Grizzlies open the season with three goaltenders as Igor Bobkov, Aaron Dell and Ben Meisner hold career combined records of 40-30-10 and five shutouts entering the season.

Champions

Aaron Dell, Adam Pineault both with Allen of the CHL and David Vallorani and Danick Paquette with Reading of the ECHL; all won league championships last year with their respective hockey clubs.

Head Coach

After being part of a 163-99-26 record as an Assistant Coach with the ECHL's Reading Royals from 2009-2012 where the team won the 2013 Kelly Cup, seven playoff series and two division championships; 32-year-old Tim Branham is set to make his debut as the Grizzlies Head Coach/General Manager starting with the 2013-2014 season.

Past Experience

While in Reading, Branham's responsibilities included overseeing the defensemen and penalty-kill. In 2012-2013, the Royals ranked second in the ECHL allowing just 28.89 shots-per game. Reading also was amongst the league's elite in goals allowed, placing third and allowing just 2.57 goals-per-game. Their penalty-kill also ranked third in the league at an 84.9-percent clip. During their completed championship run, Reading led the ECHL by allowing just 2.05 goals-per-game in the 2013 Kelly Cup Playoffs.

Tickets

Individual tickets are on sale now by visiting UtahGrizzlies.com, Maverik Center box office or any Ticketmaster location. Season ticket packages start at just $30 for 3 games. For more information, visit utahgrizzlies.com or call (801) 988-8800.

Social Media

Make sure to be following the Grizzlies on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for daily insights, photos, updates or special offers.

Goaltenders

Igor Bobkov- On NHL contract with Anaheim. 3rd round draft pick by Anaheim in 2009, spent last year in Norfolk of the AHL, his first full pro season.

Aaron Dell- CHL Goaltender of the Year with the Allen Americans, and also won league championship last year.

Ben Meisner- Unbeaten in 7 of 8 starts with Utah last year after signing in March following college.

Forwards

T.J. Battani- Had 95 penalty minutes and three goals and two assists in 33 games with Utah last year.

Norm Ezekiel- On AHL contract with Norfolk. Split last year between Winnipeg's AHL affiliate in St. John's and the Colorado Eagles.

Brent Gwidt- 8 total games with Utah last year after being captain at University of Nebraska-Omaha, had one goal and two assists with Utah.

Kris Hogg- Had 29 goals and 30 assists for 59 points in 57 games last year in England after five years in WHL and four years of college.

Jamie MacQueen-Split last year between Denver of CHL and Lake Erie of AHL during rookie season.

Kenton Miller- Had 51 points (30 goals, 21 assists) in 53 games with Missouri of CHL last year and six games with Chicago Wolves of AHL during rookie season.

Brance Orban- Had 9 goals and 24 assists for 33 points in 36 games in final year at Bemidji State University last year and was also on the WCHA All Academic Team.

Danick Paquette- Third round draft pick of Atlanta in 2008, played 9 games with Utah in 2011-2012.

Adam Pineault- 2nd round draft pick of Columbus in 2004 and has played 201 of his career 339 games in the AHL.

Vincent Scarsella- Had 133 points (40g, 93a) in a school record 144 games played at Canisius College.

Berkley Scott- Had 12 goals and four assists for 16 points in 39 games last year with Utah.

David Vallorani- Was second in ECHL in rookie scoring last year in Reading with 17 goals and 42 assists for 59 points in 68 games.

Defensemen

Channing Boe- Played 124 games with Las Vegas over the last two seasons and went to Kelly Cup Finals with Wranglers in 2012.

Mike Folkes- Two time Ohio State Scholar-Athlete and Academic All Big Ten Choice at Ohio State.

Tyler Hinds-Had a plus-22 rating over four years of college at Robert Morris University, the second-highest in school history.

Brendan Jamison- Team captain at Robert Morris University and played three games with Greenville of the ECHL last year after college.

Martin Lee- Acquired in February trade from San Francisco and played in 21 games and four playoff games for Utah.

Derick Martin- Since 2008-2009 has played the second most games of any ECHL player, played with Utah in 2011-2012 as the team's captain and has played in 590 career games.

Teigan Zahn- On AHL contract with Norfolk. Split last year between Stockton (ECHL) and Oklahoma City. Had five goals and eight assists for 13 points in 34 games with Stockton.

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