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The Utah Grizzlies are gone. Now what?
TL;DR
The Utah Grizzlies have officially relocated to Trenton, New Jersey, after 30 years of playing at the Maverik Center. Their final game ended in a 5-4 overtime loss to the Rapid City Rush.
Utah Grizzlies defenseman Andrew Noel (77) skates around the arena to thank the fans as they hold up hearts after the Utah Grizzlies lost 5-4 in overtime to the Rapid City Rush at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Sunday, April 12, 2026. The overtime loss brings to a close 30 years of hockey in the Maverik Center, as the Grizzlies are relocating to Trenton, New Jersey, for the 26-27 season. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
Greg Jones moved to Utah in 1995, just in time to witness the Utah Grizzlies’ first season in their new home. They won the Turner Cup that season, and it’s still the only championship Jones has been able to witness.
Three decades later, he and thousands of others with similar stories bid the Grizzlies farewell.
The team played its final game on Sunday, losing 5-4 in overtime to the Rapid City Rush after completing a three-goal comeback with 1:21 left in the third period.
They’ll suit up next season in Trenton, New Jersey as the Trenton Ironhawks.
While the easy assumption is that the NHL ran the ECHL out of town, it’s not true. Selling the team became necessary after the passing of both owner David Elmore and CEO Kevin Bruder.
Besides, ECHL games are meant for a separate demographic than NHL games.
Jones, for example, is now in a position where he can afford Utah Mammoth season tickets, but he thinks back to a time when he was putting two kids through travel hockey.
Cheap Grizzlies tickets would have been the only option, even if an NHL team had been in Utah back then.
Grizzlies head coach John Becanic noted the same thing.
Fans paint messages on the ice following the Utah Grizzlies final game at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Sunday, April 12, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
The Utah Grizzlies pose for a photo after playing their final game at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Sunday, April 12, 2026. The Grizzlies will be relocating to Trenton, New Jersey, after 30 years in West Valley City. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
Alyssa Ortega hugs her son Xander as they cry following an overtime loss by the Utah Grizzlies to the Rapid City Rush at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Sunday, April 12, 2026. The game was the final one played by the Grizzlies before their relocation to Trenton, New Jersey, after 30 years in West Valley City. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
A fan holds up a sign after the Utah Grizzlies lost 5-4 in overtime to the Rapid City Rush at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Sunday, April 12, 2026. The overtime loss brings to a close 30 years of hockey in the Maverik Center, as the Grizzlies are relocating to Trenton, New Jersey, for the 26-27 season. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
Fans hold up signs before the game between the Utah Grizzlies and the Rapid City Rush at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Sunday, April 12, 2026. The game was the final one played by the Grizzlies before their relocation to Trenton, New Jersey, after 30 years in West Valley City. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
Fans holds up hearts as players skate around the ice after the Utah Grizzlies lost 5-4 in overtime to the Rapid City Rush at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Sunday, April 12, 2026. The overtime loss brings to a close 30 years of hockey in the Maverik Center, as the Grizzlies are relocating to Trenton, New Jersey, for the 26-27 season. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
Fans cheer during the second period of an ECHL game between the Utah Grizzlies and the Rapid City Rush at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Sunday, April 12, 2026. The game was the final one played by the Grizzlies before their relocation to Trenton, New Jersey, after 30 years in West Valley City. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
A fan wears a bear hat during the Utah Grizzlies final game at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Sunday, April 12, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
Fans look on as a tribute video plays on the jumbotron during the Utah Grizzlies final game at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Sunday, April 12, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
Fans hold up signs before the game between the Utah Grizzlies and the Rapid City Rush at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Sunday, April 12, 2026. The game was the final one played by the Grizzlies before their relocation to Trenton, New Jersey, after 30 years in West Valley City. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
Fans hold up signs before the game between the Utah Grizzlies and the Rapid City Rush at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Sunday, April 12, 2026. The game was the final one played by the Grizzlies before their relocation to Trenton, New Jersey, after 30 years in West Valley City. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
Fans hold their head in their hands after the Rapid City Rush score the golden goal overtime winner to bring the curtain down on the Utah Grizzlies’ time at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Sunday, April 12, 2026. After the season, the Grizzlies will relocate to Trenton, New Jersey, after 30 years in West Valley City. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
Fans hold up signs before the game between the Utah Grizzlies and the Rapid City Rush at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Sunday, April 12, 2026. The game was the final one played by the Grizzlies before their relocation to Trenton, New Jersey, after 30 years in West Valley City. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
Players playfully fight as a line brawl breaks out at the end of the mini hockey game played by Utah Grizzlies junior teams in the first intermission of an ECHL game between the Utah Grizzlies and the Rapid City Rush at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Sunday, April 12, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
Rapid City Rush forward Quinn Olson (51) and forward Brett Davis (82) celebrate as Utah Grizzlies goaltender Hunter Miska (35) looks on in disappointment after giving up a goal during the second period of and ECHL game at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Sunday, April 12, 2026. The game was the final one played by the Grizzlies before their relocation to Trenton, New Jersey, after 30 years in West Valley City. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
Utah Grizzlies forward Luke Manning (16) makes a pass around Rapid City Rush defenseman Bobby Russell (15) during the first period of the final ECHL game played by the Grizzlies at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Sunday, April 12, 2026. After 30 years in West Valley City the Utah Grizzlies are relocating to Trenton, New Jersey. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
Utah Grizzlies goaltender Hunter Miska (35) makes a save during the first period of an ECHL game against the Rapid City Rush at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Sunday, April 12, 2026. The game was the final one played by the Grizzlies before their relocation to Trenton, New Jersey, after 30 years in West Valley City. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
Rapid City Rush forward Cameron Buhl (21) scores a penalty shot against Utah Grizzlies goaltender Hunter Miska (35) during the first period of an ECHL game at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Sunday, April 12, 2026. The game was the final one played by the Grizzlies before their relocation to Trenton, New Jersey, after 30 years in West Valley City. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
Utah Grizzlies forward John Gelatt (24) is checked to the ice by Rapid City Rush forward Maurizio Colella (10) during the first period of an ECHL game at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Sunday, April 12, 2026. The game was the final one played by the Grizzlies before their relocation to Trenton, New Jersey, after 30 years in West Valley City. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
A fan wears a goalie mask as he watches an ECHL game between the Utah Grizzlies and the Rapid City Rush at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Sunday, April 12, 2026. The game was the final one played by the Grizzlies before their relocation to Trenton, New Jersey, after 30 years in West Valley City. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
Utah Grizzlies forward Evan Friesen (11) jumps into the boards after scoring late in the third period to tie the game at 4 and force overtime against the Rapid City Rush during the grizzlies final game at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Sunday, April 12, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
Rapid City Rush forward Ryan Wagner (13) and Utah Grizzlies forward Luke Manning (16) participate in a ceremonial puck drop ahead of the Utah Grizzlies final game at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Sunday, April 12, 2026. After the season, the Grizzlies are relocating to Trenton, New Jersey, with no plans for a hockey team to play in the Maverik Center going forward. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
Fans cheer as the Utah Grizzlies force overtime against the Rapid City Rush during their final game at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Sunday, April 12, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
Fans cheer as Utah Grizzlies forward Reilly Connors (12) celebrates after scoring during the second period of an ECHL game against the Rapid City Rush at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Sunday, April 12, 2026. The game was the final one played by the Grizzlies before their relocation to Trenton, New Jersey, after 30 years in West Valley City. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
Utah Grizzlies forward Danny Dzhaniyev (26) skates past Rapid City Rush defenseman Bobby Russell (15) during the second period of an ECHL game at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Sunday, April 12, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
Fans react after the Utah Grizzlies lost in 5-4 in overtime to the Rapid City Rush at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Sunday, April 12, 2026. After the season, the Grizzlies will relocate to Trenton, New Jersey, after 30 years in West Valley City. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
Rapid City Rush goaltender Nathan Torchia (35) makes a save during the first period of an ECHL game against the Utah Grizzlies at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Sunday, April 12, 2026. The game was the final one played by the Grizzlies before their relocation to Trenton, New Jersey, after 30 years in West Valley City. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
Rapid City Rush forward Cameron Buhl (21) reacts after scoring a penalty shot during the first period of an ECHL game against the Utah Grizzlies at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Sunday, April 12, 2026. The game was the final one played by the Grizzlies before their relocation to Trenton, New Jersey, after 30 years in West Valley City. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
The Utah Grizzlies play the Rapid City Rush in an ECHL game at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Sunday, April 12, 2026. The Grizzlies will be relocating to Trenton, New Jersey, after 30 years in West Valley City. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
The Utah Grizzlies play the Rapid City Rush in an ECHL game at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Sunday, April 12, 2026. The Grizzlies will be relocating to Trenton, New Jersey, after 30 years in West Valley City. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
Fans react after the Utah Grizzlies scored to tie the game at 4 and force overtime during the third period of an ECHL game against the Rapid City Rush at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Sunday, April 12, 2026. Overtime gives fans just a few more minutes watching their beloved team as the Grizzlies will be relocating to Trenton, New Jersey, after 30 years in West Valley City. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
Fans cheer after a Utah Grizzlies goal during the second period of an ECHL game against the Rapid City Rush at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Sunday, April 12, 2026. The Grizzlies will be relocating to Trenton, New Jersey, after 30 years in West Valley City. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
Fans react after the Utah Grizzlies lost in 5-4 in overtime to the Rapid City Rush at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Sunday, April 12, 2026. After the season the Grizzlies will relocate to Trenton, New Jersey, after 30 years in West Valley City. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
Utah Grizzlies defenseman Mathieu Boislard (27) hands his stick to a fan following an overtime loss to the Rapid City Rush at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Sunday, April 12, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
Utah Grizzlies defenseman Andrew Noel (77) skates around the arena to thank the fans as they hold up hearts after the Utah Grizzlies lost 5-4 in overtime to the Rapid City Rush at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Sunday, April 12, 2026. The overtime loss brings to a close 30 years of hockey in the Maverik Center, as the Grizzlies are relocating to Trenton, New Jersey, for the 26-27 season. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
“There’s not a lot of corporate people (at Grizzlies games),” he said. “These are people that sometimes spend their last dime of their paycheck to come to a Grizzlies game.
“That’s tough for those people because it was an affordable, entertaining brand of hockey, and that’s leaving the Salt Lake City area, and that I feel bad for.”
For now, fans can take advantage of the limited-view tickets at the Delta Center for Mammoth games, many of which are sold for $15 through the Smith’s grocery store ticket program.
But once the renovations are completed, those will be gone, too. That’s where other levels of hockey will be able to step up.
The NCDC, a Tier II junior team, has the Utah Outliers and the Ogden Mustangs; A number of colleges in the state have ACHA hockey programs; The USPHL Premier division has the Vernal Oilers and the GMHL has the St. George Ravens.
Becanic’s previous coaching job was with the NCDC’s Idaho Falls Spud Kings, where the local community has latched onto the team and made it one of the best places to catch a hockey game outside the NHL.
It’s not classified as professional hockey, but the fans don’t care — they make it great anyway.
Nothing will remove the sting of losing a team that spent 30 years in the area or the traditions and memories that come with it, but if you’re looking to get your hockey fix without breaking the bank, consider hitching your wagon to one of these other hockey programs and creating those traditions and memories all over again.
The fans are what make the games special.
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