Utah Hockey Club is the name of the new NHL team that will be playing in Salt Lake City starting this fall. The announcement was made by Smith Entertainment Group, along with the unveiling of the team’s initial logos and jerseys for the 2024-25 season. The team was purchased by Ryan Smith’s company, which also owns the NBA’s Utah Jazz, back in April.
Ryan Smith expressed his excitement about the establishment of the new NHL franchise in Utah, calling it a monumental day for the state. He mentioned that the NHL has been very supportive throughout the process and that there is still a lot of work to be done before the training camp begins in less than 100 days.
Commissioner Gary Bettman welcomed Utah to the league, congratulating Ryan and Ashley Smith, the organization, the state, and the fans. The team will start playing in October, but there is no specific timeline for when the permanent branding and logos will be revealed. Fans have the opportunity to vote for their favorite team name from six finalists, which include Blizzard, Mammoth, Outlaws, Venom, Yeti, and Utah Hockey Club.
The team’s color scheme of light blue, black, and white was chosen to complement the Utah Jazz’s purple color. The jerseys feature UTAH diagonally across the front and will be showcased for the first time at the upcoming NHL draft in Las Vegas. The team will play their home games at Delta Center in downtown Salt Lake City, which will undergo renovations to increase seating capacity and provide an unobstructed view of the ice.
Commissioner Bettman acknowledged the challenges faced by the new owners but praised their efforts in preparing for the upcoming season. He commended Ryan Smith and his organization for their hard work in introducing NHL hockey to Utah in such a short timeframe. Overall, the excitement is building as the team prepares for their debut in the upcoming season. Utah fans can look forward to an exciting new era of hockey in their state.