Grizzlies Weekly: Rivalry Weekend at Maverik Center

Grizzlies Weekly: Rivalry Weekend at Maverik Center 

West Valley City, Utah – The Utah Grizzlies face the division rival Idaho Steelheads at Maverik Center on Friday and Saturday nights at 7:10 pm. 

Utah swept Tulsa in a 2 game series at Maverik Center to begin the regular season. Brandon Cutler led Utah with 3 points (2 goals, 1 assist). Cutler scored a goal in each game last weekend. Utah outscored Tulsa 6 to 3 in the series. The Grizzlies are 2-0 for the first time since the 2018-19 season. 

Garrett Metcalf was named Warrior Hockey ECHL Goaltender of the Week after earning his first pro career regular season shutout and the first shutout in the league this season. Metcalf saved all 35 shots in a 1-0 win on October 22^nd. He had 1 shutout at Mercyhurst College in the 2018-19 season. Metcalf also had a 39 save shutout vs Idaho in the Grizzlies 6-0 preseason win on October 13, 2023.

A solid Saturday night crowd of 6526 was at Maverik Center for the regular season opener vs Tulsa. 

Friday night is the First AFCU Friday where tickets start at just 8 dollars when you pay using your AFCU debit or credit card at the Maverik Center box office. 

Games This Week

Friday, October 27, 2023 – Idaho at Utah. 7:10 pm. Maverik Center. AFCU Friday. 

Saturday, October 28, 2023 – Idaho at Utah. 7:10 pm Maverik Center. 

Games Last Week 

October 21, 2023 – Tulsa 3 Utah 5 – Kyle Betts and Brandon Cutler each had 1 goal and 1 assist. Trent Miner stopped 32 of 35. Utah is now 14-13-2 all-time in regular season openers. Nathan Burke, Kyle Mayhew and Keoni Texeira added goals for Utah. Mayhew was a +4. Captain Josh Wesley had 1 assist and was a +3 in his Utah debut. Michael Underwood had 1 assist in his pro debut. Tulsa was led by Karl Boudrias, who had 1 goal and 1 assist. 

October 22, 2023 – Tulsa 0 Utah 1 – Garrett Metcalf had a 35 save shutout. Brandon Cutler scored Utah’s lone goal 13:17 into the second period. Cole Gallant and Keoni Texeira each had an assist. Tulsa outshot Utah 35 to 27. Tulsa goalie Tomas Suchanek saved 26 of 27 in his pro debut. 

Grizzlies Homestand Early in the Season

Utah is home for 7 straight home games to begin the 2023-24 season. Utah hosts Idaho on October 27-28. After a bye week the Wichita Thunder invades Maverik Center on November 8, 10-11. Face-off for every game for the remainder of the homestand begins at 7:10 pm. Utah is home for 10 of their first 13 games this season. 

2023-2024 Utah Grizzlies Regular Season Totals (league rankings) 

Overall record: 2-0

Home record: 2-0

Road record: 16-16-4 (2022-2023) – Grizz first road game is on November 15 at Iowa. 

Win percentage: 1.000

Streak: Won 2 – Utah has won 5 straight regular season games dating back to last season (All against Tulsa). 

Standings Points: 4

Last 10: 2-0

Goals per game: 3.00 (Tied 10^th)  Goals for: 6

Goals against per game: 1.50 (3^rd) Goals Against: 3

Shots per game: 29.50 (Tied 19^th)

Shots against per game: 35.00 (Tied 23^rd)

Power Play: 1 for 6 – 16.7 % (20^th) 

Penalty Kill: 5 for 7 – 71.4 % (21^st)

Penalty Minutes: 14. 7.00 per game. (4^th fewest) 

Shorthanded Goals: 1 

Shorthanded Goals Allowed: 1.  

Record When Scoring First: 2-0. Utah was 24-7-1 last year. 

Opposition Scores First: 0-0. Utah was 11-26-3 last year.   

Record in One Goal Games: 1-0. Last year Utah played in 23 one goal games and had a 13-6-4 record.

SCORING          1ST       2ND               3RD               OT/Shootout      TOTAL                      

Utah Grizzlies    2           2                      2                      0                               6           

Opposition           1           0                      2                      0                               3

Multiple Point Games 

Kyle Betts: 1 

Brandon Cutler: 1 

Streaks 

Goals: Brandon Cutler (2)

Assists: Cole Gallant, Keoni Texeira (1)

Points: Brandon Cutler, Keoni Texeira (2) 

2023-2024 Games by Opponents

Idaho Steelheads – 14 (7 home, 7 away)

Tulsa Oilers – 10 (5 home, 5 away)

Wichita Thunder – 4 (3 home, 1 away)

Iowa Heartlanders – 3 (Away)

Newfoundland Growlers – 6 (3 home, 3 away)

Allen Americans 7 (3 home, 4 away)

Cincinnati Cyclones – 1 (Away)

Fort Wayne Komets – 3 (Away)

Kansas City Mavericks – 9 (3 home, 6 away)

Rapid City Rush – 9 (6 home, 3 away)

Wheeling Nailers – 3 (Home)

Norfolk Admirals – 3 (Home)

2023-2024 Games by Day of the Week

Monday – 3 home, 0 away

Tuesday – 0 home, 1 away

Wednesday – 6 home, 4 away

Thursday – 0 games

Friday – 11 home, 12 away

Saturday – 13 home, 12 away

Sunday – 3 home, 7 away