The Utah Grizzlies, a minor league hockey team, will be leaving the state after the 2025-26 season, marking the end of over 30 years of professional hockey in West Valley City. They will be relocated to New Jersey and renamed the Trenton Ironhawks. This final season will end in April.
Since 1995, the Grizzlies have been an important part of the West Valley City community, establishing a loyal fan base. They are a minor league affiliate of the Colorado Avalanche, and were the height of the hockey scene in the state before the Utah Mammoth was established as part of the National Hockey League in 2024.
“It is a sad day for West Valley City with the Grizzlies leaving,” one Grizzlies fan told the West Valley City Council in July 2025.
The sale of the team required city council approval due to the city’s 40% ownership stake in the team. West Valley City has had a stake in the Elmore Sports Group since 2009 as part of a debt settlement agreement.
The city has passed a budget of $300,000 to refurbish the Maverik Center after the Grizzlies’ final season ends, to prepare for the 2034 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics.
“This step comes with deep reflection and heartfelt appreciation for a community that has embraced the Grizzlies for nearly three decades,” said the Grizzlies’ ownership group in their June press release. “From championship runs and Olympic legacy to countless unforgettable nights at the Maverik Center, the Grizzlies have been proud to call Utah home.”
The Grizzlies’ owners announced plans in June 2025 for a potential sale and relocation of the team. That came following the death of President and CEO Kevin Bruder in May 2025 and the declining health of the owners.
To see the Grizzlies’ remaining schedule, visit their website.
Author: Lainey Porter
Photographer: Lainey Porter
Editor: Payson Davis
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