ECHL Utah Grizzlies

Jason Christie Returns Grizzlies To Winning Ways In 2005-2006

April 17, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL)
Utah Grizzlies News Release


In A Nutshell

36 wins for the Grizzlies and a trip to the playoffs, capped off their first winning season/post-season appearance since 2002-2003.

Playing eight fewer games than last year in the American Hockey League, Utah improved their win total by 13 games.

A Winning Coach

Grizzlies Head Coach Jason Christie just completed his sixth straight winning season as an ECHL Head Coach. In five years with Peoria and one year with Utah, the charismatic fan favorite has a record of 253-133-48.

Jason Christie's Turnaround Of The Utah Grizzlies

The Utah Grizzlies were the only one of three new ECHL teams to have a winning season and qualify for the playoffs this season. Stockton and Phoenix both finished the regular season in last place in their respective divisions.

Winning Streaks

The Grizzlies had winning streaks of nine (October 29-November 24) and seven (February 4-February 18) during the 2005-2006 regular season.

Good Company

Despite not joining the team until nearly a month into the season, Ryan Kinasewich finished the year with 39 goals and 87 points. Kinasewich finished tied for the league lead in goals scored.

Good Grizzlies Company

39 goals scored in one season by Kinasewich, is the most scored by a Grizzlies player since the team has been in Utah. Kip Miller, an NHL staple over the past 15 years, had 43 goals for the Denver Grizzlies in 1994-95. 87 points by Kinasewich, is also the most points scored by a Grizzlies player since Kip Miller had 97 during the 1997-98 season. In one season, Kinasewich already ranks tenth all-time in Grizzlies scoring.

Just Alfie Being Alfie

22 wins this season by Alfie Michaud, puts the goaltender sixth all-time in Grizzlies wins. Four shutouts this season, puts the former Vancouver Canuck at fourth all-time in Grizzlies shutouts. 22 wins by Michaud is the third-highest season total in team history. No Grizzlies netminder has won more than 22 games since Mark McArthur had 28 in 1996-97.

Plus/Minus Performers

A +17 registered by both Garett Cameron and Ian Forbes this season is the highest for the Grizzlies since Jamie Wright recorded a +21 during the 2000-2001 season.

Still Adding To His Own Record

Louis Dumont, the ECHL's All-Time Leading Scorer, finished the regular season with 55 assists and 71 points. The ECHL's All-Time Leading Scorer now has a league leading 891 career ECHL points and 566 career ECHL assists. On January 6th , Louis Dumont scored his 850th ECHL point with an assist in Stockton. On December 22nd, number 16 played in his 750th professional game. On December 26th, he recorded his 850th professional point.

Dumont Among All-Time Grizzlies

55 assists for Dumont in one season is the third highest total in team history and five off of the all-time team record.

Brad Herauf!

344 penalty minutes by Brad Herauf is the most during a season in team history. Jason Simon set the previous high of 300 penalty minutes when the team was located in Denver in 1994-95.

All-Time Team Record

On Saturday, January 14, the Grizzlies put 55 shots on net in their 3-2 SO loss to Long Beach. 55 shots eclipsed the team record of 54 set three times by the Grizzlies organization over the last decade in the IHL and AHL.

Attendance Watch

An E-Center crowd of 8,402 on Friday, March 24, was the largest crowd to watch the Grizzlies at home since the team closed out their home schedule during the 2003-2004 AHL season with a 3-1 loss to San Antonio on April 7, 2004. Friday the 24th's crowd was the largest to watch a Grizzlies home win since February 20, 2004, when Utah defeated Chicago 4-1. Utah averaged 7,363 over the final two Friday night regular season games.

*** All records listed prior to this year occurred with 80-82 games on the regular season schedule. The ECHL schedule has 72 regular season games.

Check out the Utah Grizzlies Statistics



ECHL Stories from April 17, 2006


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