Grizzlies Clobber Americans 6-2 in Team Win 

Allen, Texas – The Utah Grizzlies got 2 goals and 1 assist from Dylan Fitze and Brett Stapley scored 2 goals to lead the Utah Grizzlies to a 6-2 victory over the Allen Americans on Friday night at Credit Union of Texas Event Center. 

Utah scored 6 unanswered goals in the first 41 minutes 16 seconds of the contest. Stapley scored 5:10 in to give the Grizz a 1-0 lead. The Grizz are now 10-3 when scoring first this season. About 3 minutes later Dylan Fitze made it a 2-0 game 8:04 in. Utah led 2-0 after 20 minutes of play. 

Grizzlies captain Josh Wesley scored a power play goal 39 seconds into the third period to extend the lead. Adam Berg made it a 4-0 game as he scored on a great pass from Brandon Cutler 14:24 in. Later in the second period Fitze scored his second of the night 17:46 in. The Grizzlies led 5-0 after 2 frames. 

Stapley scored his second of the night 1:16 into the third period. Allen got on the board as Easton Brodzinski got his 15^th of the year and 5^th against Utah 1:43 in. Hank Crone got an assist for Allen to extend his point streak to 16 games. 2:20 into the third period Utah’s Dakota Raabe got in a fight with Allen’s Johnny Walker, who played with the Grizzlies last season. The Americans added a goal 19:49 in as Jordan-Ty Fournier got his 4^th of the year. 

13 of the 17 skaters scored 1 or more points for the Grizzlies. Goaltender Dante Giannuzzi stopped 25 of 27 as he earned his 6^th win of the season. Allen’s Chase Perry saved 23 of 29 in the loss. Utah was 1 for 4 on the power play and they were a perfect 2 for 2 on the penalty kill. 

Brett Stapley extended his point streak to 8 games. Bryan Yoon was a +3 for Utah in the victory. Yoon is a team leading +10 for the season and a +9 in his last 7 games. Kyle Mayhew had 1 assist for the Grizz as he now has a point in 7 of his last 8 games. Cole Gallant had 2 assists as he now has 4 apples in his last 3 games. 

Defenseman Zane Schartz made his Grizzlies debut and he had 1 assist and had 2 shots. Tyler Penner had 1 assist as he now has 4 helpers in the first 2 games of the series. Utah is now 2-3 through 5 games in the nine game road trip. 

The rubber match of the three-game set is on Saturday afternoon at 3:10 pm mountain time. Utah will then play Wichita on Sunday afternoon at 3:05 pm. 

Games Next Homestand at Maverik Center

Wednesday, January 24, 2024 – Rapid City at Utah. 7:10 pm. Smith’s Family Night. 

Friday, January 26, 2024 – Rapid City at Utah. 7:10 pm. AFCU Friday. 

Saturday, January 27, 2024 – Rapid City at Utah. 7:10 pm. Guns N Hoses Night. 

All Times Mountain. 

3 stars

1. Dylan Fitze (Utah) – 2 goals, 1 assist, +2, 5 shots. 
2. Brett Stapley (Utah) – 2 goals, +1, 3 shots. 
3. Cole Gallant (Utah) – 2 assists.