Grizzlies Gameday: Thanksgiving Eve at Maverik Center

Grizzlies Gameday: Thanksgiving Eve at Maverik Center 

Newfoundland Growlers (6-5-3, 15 points, .536 Win %) at Utah Grizzlies (4-6, 8 points, .400 Win %) 

Date: November 22, 2023  Venue: Maverik Center

Game Time: 7:10 pm. 

Streaming/TV: FloHockey - https://www.flohockey.tv/events/11053227-2023-newfoundland-growlers-vs-utah-grizzlies

Audio/Radio: Utah Grizzlies YouTube channel. - https://www.youtube.com/@THEUTAHGRIZZLIES

Wednesday’s Matchup

The Grizzlies host the Newfoundland Growlers on the day before Thanksgiving for the opener of a three-game series at Maverik Center. Utah is 2-1 all-time vs Newfoundland as they played a 3 game series at Maverik Center on December 11, 13-14, 2019. 

Grizzlies Sign Forward Aaron Aragon, Released Jared Power

The Grizzlies have signed forward Aaron Aragon. 

Aragon started the 2023-24 season with the Idaho Steelheads and he was productive as he scored 5 points (2 goals, 3 assists) in 4 games and had a +2 rating. Aragon had a point in 3 of his 4 games with Idaho. 

In 41 games with the Macon Mayhem last season he scored 19 goals and 20 assists in 41 games. He also played in 1 game with the Knoxville Ice Bears. Aragon played in 6 games with the ECHL’s Savannah Ghost Pirates in the 2022-23 season and had 2 assists in 6 games. Aragon played his college hockey at the University of New England from 2018-2022. At New England he scored 23 goals and 16 assists in four seasons. Aragon was born in Whittier, California on July 31, 1997. Aragon will wear number 12 for Utah. 

In a separate roster move the Grizzlies released forward Jared Power, who had 1 goal in 9 games this season. 

Games This Week 

Wednesday, November 22, 2023 – Newfoundland at Utah. 7:10 pm. Maverik Center. Bud Light College Night. Iced Out Hockey and Music. 

Friday, November 24, 2023 – Newfoundland at Utah. 7:10 pm. Maverik Center. AFCU Friday. Black Friday. 

Saturday, November 25, 2023 – Newfoundland at Utah. 7:10 pm. Maverik Center. 

All times Mountain. 

Games Last Week 

Wednesday, November 15, 2023 – Utah 2 Iowa 3 – Kyle Mayhew and Dylan Fitze scored Utah’s goals. Iowa got 1 goal and 1 assist from Liam Coughlin and 2 power play assists from Odeen Tufto. Iowa goaltender Peyton Jones saved 20 of 22. Utah’s Trent Miner stopped 22 of 25. Utah was 1 for 3 on the power play. Iowa was 2 for 3. 

Friday, November 17, 2023 – Utah 0 Iowa 4 – Davis Koch had 2 goals and 1 assist and Peyton Jones had a 30 save shutout as Iowa won their 5^th straight game. Iowa scored 4 different ways (5 on 5, power play, shorthanded and on an empty net). Dakota Raabe and Nathan Burke each had 5 shots for Utah. The Grizz outshot Iowa 30 to 29, including a 27 to 13 edge in the final 2 periods. Iowa’s power play was 1 for 3. Utah’s was 0 for 2. 

Saturday, November 18, 2023 – Utah 2 Iowa 3 -  Mick Messner scored his first pro goal 3:46 into the second period. Cole Gallant added a third period goal for Utah. Grizz goaltender Dante Giannuzzi stopped 31 of 34 in his pro debut. Iowa’s Davis Koch scored 2 goals. Utah outshot Iowa 39 to 34. Both teams were 0 for 2 on the power play. 

Grizzlies Player Notes 

Mick Messner scored his first pro goal on Nov. 18 at Iowa. 

Bryan Yoon has an assist in 4 of his last 6 games. 

Kyle Mayhew has a 21.4 shooting % (3 for 14). 2 of Mayhew's 3 goals have been unassisted. 

Dylan Fitze has 3 goals in his last 4 games. 

Goaltender Dante Giannuzzi stopped 31 of 34 in his pro debut on Nov. 18. 

Brett Stapley has a point in 4 of his 5 games for Utah (1g, 4a) 5 points. 

Jordan Martel leads Utah with 8 points (3 goals, 5 assists). 

Brandon Cutler has 4 goals and 3 assists in 10 games. Cutler leads Utah with 38 shots and 2 game winning goals. 

Bear Bites: Grizzlies Team Notes

Utah is 3-1 when scoring first. Utah is averaging a league low 6.80 penalty minutes per game. Utah has the fewest penalty minutes per game with 68. The Grizzlies are the only team in the league who has not played a game past regulation. Utah is 3rd in the league on the power play at home as they are 5 for 21 (23.8 %). The Grizz have outshot opponents 125 to 82 in the third periods. Utah is 2-1 when leading after 1 period and 3-0 when leading after two periods. 5 of Utah's 10 games have been decided by 1 goal. Utah is 2-1 all-time vs Newfoundland. 

Recent Transactions

November 21 – Utah signs forward Aaron Aragon. Utah released forward Jared Power. 

November 16 – Defenseman Gianni Fairbrother was recalled to Colorado (AHL). 

November 13 – Defenseman Gianni Fairbrother was reassigned from the AHL’s Colorado Eagles. Fairbrother has 2 assists in 5 games with Utah this season. 

November 9 – Forward Kyle Betts was loaned to the AHL’s Belleville Senators. Betts has 5 points (1 goal, 4 assists) in 5 games with Utah. 

November 6 – Goaltender Trent Miner reassigned from Colorado to Utah. 

November 3 - Goaltender Trent Miner was recalled by the AHL’s Colorado Eagles on November 3. 

October 31 - Brett Stapley was reassigned to the Grizzlies from the AHL’s Colorado Eagles. Last season Stapley spent his first year as a professional with the ECHL’s Trois-Rivieres Lions, where he scored 52 points (11 goals, 41 assists) in 57 games.  Stapley signed an AHL contract with the

Grizzlies All-time vs Growlers

It’s the fourth all-time meeting between Utah and Newfoundland. They met for a 3 game series at Maverik Center on December 11, 13-14, 2019. 

December 11, 2019 – Newfoundland 4 Utah 3 (Overtime). Tim McGauley and Griffen Molino each had 1 goal and 1 assist for Utah. Brad Barone saved 21 of 25 for the Grizz but a Barone turnover behind his net in overtime made the difference in the game. Newfoundland was led by Marcus Power, who had 2 goals. Giorgio Estepahn and Joseph Duszak had 1 goal. Duszak had the OT game winner. 

December 13, 2019 – Newfoundland 0 Utah 4 – Griffen Molino had 2 goals and 1 assist. Ty Lewis had 1 goal and 1 assist and Martin Ouellette had a 19 save shutout in his Grizzlies debut. Utah outshot Newfoundland 32 to 19. Travis Barron had 1 goal. 

December 14, 2019 – Newfoundland 2 Utah 3 – Yuri Terao had 2 goals. Ty Lewis 1 goal and 1 assist. Martin Ouellette stopped 32 of 34 for Utah. Both of Newfoundland’s goals were scored by Joseph Duszak in the final 3 minutes 19 seconds of regulation to make the ending interesting. 

Utah Grizzlies 2023-2024 Roster

Forwards (12): Aaron Aragon, Nathan Burke, Cody Caron, Brandon Cutler, Dylan Fitze, Cole Gallant, Jordan Martel, Mick Messner, Tyler Penner, Dakota Raabe, Brett Stapley, Dean Yakura. 

Defenseman (9): Kade Jensen, Kyle Mayhew, Jacob Semik, Jordon Stone, Keoni Texeira, Cory Thomas, Michael Underwood, Josh Wesley, Bryan Yoon. 

Goaltenders (3): Dante Giannuzzi, Garrett Metcalf, Trent Miner.