Utah hockey fans had the opportunity to name a new NHL team

Utah hockey fans recently received a phenomenal offer they couldn’t resist: choosing the name of their new National Hockey League (NHL) team. Smith Entertainment Group, the team’s owner, launched a survey on Wednesday to find the new team’s nickname, with passionate fans receiving as many as 20 names to consider. The only rule for the team name is that it must start with “Utah”.

Team owner Ryan Smith shared his sentiment with The Associated Press that it was in line with plans to display the state’s name on jerseys for the inaugural season. Smith continued to reveal the rollout plans, saying a unique name, logo and color palette, designed by reputable branding company Doubleday & Cartwright, will be unveiled during the 2025-26 season.

Smith also wanted to highlight the important role the Utah community plays within the NHL team. He said, “The Utah NHL team is an asset to the community, and we want to make sure the community has a say in the name. » He added that from the moment Utah was awarded the franchise, the community has shown unwavering support for the team. That enthusiasm led Smith’s group to offer the rare feather in the cap for fans to participate in deciding which team they would cheer on the ice.

A solid lineup of potential names were presented to fans to choose from, and they varied as much as the Utah landscape they intended to embody: Frost, Ice, Powder, Mountaineers, Freeze, Mammoth, Black Diamonds, Blast, Caribou, Blizzard. , Swarm, Hive, Outlaws, Yeti, Squall, Fury, Glaciers, Canyons, Venom and HC, acronym for Hockey Club.

The story of how Utah landed an NHL team is still in its infancy. Smith Entertainment Group snatched the Arizona Coyotes from former owner Alex Meruelo for a modest $1.2 million before moving the team to Salt Lake City. Scheduled to play at the Jazz’s downtown arena, known as the Delta Center, the team will have the sixth overall pick in the NHL draft after failing to advance in the lottery won by San Jose the previous Tuesday night .