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ECHL Utah Grizzlies

Grizzlies Season Review: Playoff Streak Continues, More Success Under Branham

May 11, 2015 - ECHL (ECHL)
Utah Grizzlies News Release


The Wrap

The Grizzlies played into the second week of May this year, their longest playoff run since 2008 and they were eight of 28 teams left standing in the ECHL having advanced to the second round of the playoffs. Utah's playoff run lasted 28 days after the regular season ended.

What's Next

The team opens the 2015-2016 season Friday, October 16 at Colorado with the home opener being Friday, October 23 against the Allen Americans. The team will formally introduce their schedule for next season soon.

Playoff Run

After knocking off the Idaho Steelheads four games to two, the Grizzlies took on Ontario who defeated the Grizzlies four games to one in the second round. Utah outscored the Reign 8-7 in the series five-on-five and three of five games were tied at 2 going to the third period. Ontario's power-play was able to push them over the top with nine goals in the series. Eight consecutive playoff appearances for the Grizzlies is the second longest streak in the ECHL.

Utah's Playoff Team

No professional team in Utah has qualified for the playoffs more than the Grizzlies over the last ten seasons with nine appearances.

Strong Finish To Regular Season

The Grizzlies went 5-1 in their last six games to clinch their ninth playoff berth in the last ten seasons and finish the year at 37-27-5-4; improving to 75-51-17 the last two seasons under Head Coach/General Manager Tim Branham. Utah's winning percentage of .569 was their second best winning percentage since 1999-2000.

Strong Starts

The Grizzlies were nearly unbeatable this season when scoring the game's first goal. Utah was 18-2-1-1 at home and 29-5-4-2 overall when scoring first.

Consistency

Utah had a record of .500 or better against all six teams in their division this year and had the most wins against Bakersfield going 9-3-0-1 against the Condors.

Month To Month Consistency

Utah went .500 or better in every month November-April.

Consistent Roster

15 players who were with the team on day 1 of training camp finished the season with the Grizzlies.

Ouch!

The Grizzlies battled constant injuries in 2014-2015, but managed to keep the ship afloat despite missing several players at several times for several games at a time. Captain Channing Boe missed 41 games injured during the regular season and playoffs, Danick Paquette missed 27 games due to injury, scoring forward Barry Almeida missed 28, Assistant Captain Brent Gwidt missed 57 games and the final 49 games, Alex Gallant missed 37-straight games midseason, T.J. Syner was out for 27 games and defenseman Kevin Ryan missed the entire season and playoffs after sustaining an injury in the team's first preseason game.

Late Trades Paid Dividends

-Head Coach/General Manager Tim Branham pulled the trigger on two trades past the halfway point of the season and saw both Ryan Hayes and Brenden Walker score goals at big times in big wins.

Utah finished 14-1-1-1 when Hayes scored a goal and he finished the season with 21 goals and 12 assists for 33 points in 35 games with Utah. Hayes led the Grizzlies with seven goals and seven assists for 14 points in 11 playoff games.

Utah finished 5-0 when Brenden Walker scored a goal and he finished with 10 goals and five assists for 15 points in 13 regular season games after being acquired from Gwinnett on March 9. Walker had three goals and four assists in seven playoff games.

-On January 11, Branham acquired defenseman Corey Fienhage from Bakersfield. He finished third on the team over the final 37 games with a plus-13.

-On November 13, Branham acquired defenseman Jacob Johnston from Greenville. He finished 12th among ECHL defensemen in scoring with 10 goals and 30 assists for 40 points in 69 games. He led Grizzlies defensemen and was second in the ECHL among defensemen with 183 shots.

Great Start To Career

-Alex Krushelnyski finished the regular season sixth among rookies in scoring with 17 goals and 40 assists for 57 points in 62 games.

-He finished second among rookies in assists and with five game-winning goals.

-He scored in 8 of his final 9 games of the regular season with 4 goals and 9 assists.

-Krushelnyski had a six-game scoring streak in the playoffs with three goals and three assists.

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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.

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