Utah Hockey Club
April 30, 2024 5:17 PM Subscribe
The long, strange, ridiculous saga of the NHL team formerly known as the Arizona Coyotes. Emily Kaplan and Greg Wyshynski of ESPN chronicle the poor decisions, bad luck, and outright chicanery that led to the NHL forcing the owner of the Coyotes to sell the team, which is moving to Utah.
There are some other ridiculous naming suggestions. I've seen Utah Chubs and Utah Chubsuckers.
This entire drama is so crazy. Multiple owner groups, each more incompetent than the last. Mutiple arenas, each less suitable than the last, until they were playing in a small college arena. The entire experience was a joke.
SLC looks to be a vibrant community. I hope they do well. The owner has lots of money and is determined to spend it in appropriate ways.
posted by blob at 7:02 PM on April 30 [3 favorites]
This entire drama is so crazy. Multiple owner groups, each more incompetent than the last. Mutiple arenas, each less suitable than the last, until they were playing in a small college arena. The entire experience was a joke.
SLC looks to be a vibrant community. I hope they do well. The owner has lots of money and is determined to spend it in appropriate ways.
posted by blob at 7:02 PM on April 30 [3 favorites]
I am reminded of a quote by the L.A. Kings owner shortly after they set up. He said he started the franchise because Los Angeles was the "fourth largest Canadian city." Then he discovered they all came there to escape from hockey.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 7:06 PM on April 30 [11 favorites]
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 7:06 PM on April 30 [11 favorites]
The Golden Tablets, obvs.
posted by Keith Talent at 7:11 PM on April 30 [11 favorites]
posted by Keith Talent at 7:11 PM on April 30 [11 favorites]
I was thinking Handcarts.
posted by goatdog at 7:34 PM on April 30 [1 favorite]
posted by goatdog at 7:34 PM on April 30 [1 favorite]
I love the technicalities here. The Arizona team wasn't sold - it's been deactivated. The old owner doesn't need to be vetted again (what wankery) and has 5 years to sort out a boondoggle of a stadium to reactivate an Arizona team.
posted by zenon at 7:49 PM on April 30 [1 favorite]
posted by zenon at 7:49 PM on April 30 [1 favorite]
Beehive State. Call them The Buzz. Come on, people.
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 8:31 PM on April 30 [14 favorites]
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 8:31 PM on April 30 [14 favorites]
I once met a Canadian family who did winters in Palm Springs and always went to LA when the Kings were playing the Oilers or Flames because is was cheaper and easier that getting tickets in Alberta.
posted by CostcoCultist at 8:59 PM on April 30 [1 favorite]
posted by CostcoCultist at 8:59 PM on April 30 [1 favorite]
There are many reasons Tempe voters rejected the Coyotes arena. First is disdain for pro-sports owners and their expensive tastes.
posted by lock robster at 10:00 PM on April 30 [3 favorites]
posted by lock robster at 10:00 PM on April 30 [3 favorites]
Utah Dutch Oven
posted by pracowity at 10:28 PM on April 30 [1 favorite]
posted by pracowity at 10:28 PM on April 30 [1 favorite]
I hadn't realized that the Coyotes were the Jets until I read this article because I know there currently are Jets in the NHL but those Jets were the Thrashers.
posted by LostInUbe at 3:18 AM on May 1 [3 favorites]
posted by LostInUbe at 3:18 AM on May 1 [3 favorites]
I hadn't realized that the Coyotes were the Jets until I read this article because I know there currently are Jets in the NHL but those Jets were the Thrashers.
Fun fact: Atlanta has the dubious distinction of having two NHL teams fail to draw crowds there and move to the Canadian prairies instead. (See the Atlanta/Calgary Flames.)
posted by Johnny Assay at 4:14 AM on May 1 [5 favorites]
Fun fact: Atlanta has the dubious distinction of having two NHL teams fail to draw crowds there and move to the Canadian prairies instead. (See the Atlanta/Calgary Flames.)
posted by Johnny Assay at 4:14 AM on May 1 [5 favorites]
Ahahahahaha the Atlanta Flames
The only way it could be more on the nose is if the team was called Sherman’s March. That’s hilariously inappropriate
posted by apathy at 6:49 AM on May 1 [6 favorites]
The only way it could be more on the nose is if the team was called Sherman’s March. That’s hilariously inappropriate
posted by apathy at 6:49 AM on May 1 [6 favorites]
SLC Punks
posted by AJaffe at 7:23 AM on May 1 [17 favorites]
posted by AJaffe at 7:23 AM on May 1 [17 favorites]
How about the Utah Soakers -- in honor of another popular Utah passtime.
posted by interogative mood at 8:36 AM on May 1 [5 favorites]
posted by interogative mood at 8:36 AM on May 1 [5 favorites]
Utah Ice Mormons.
posted by grubi at 8:58 AM on May 1 [1 favorite]
posted by grubi at 8:58 AM on May 1 [1 favorite]
Utah Salt Lakers, Utah SL,UTs, Utah Fry Saucers...
posted by Hot Pastrami! at 9:39 AM on May 1
posted by Hot Pastrami! at 9:39 AM on May 1
I think the Utah Hip Hops would be a great way to make wildly inappropriate top-level team names in Utah into a tradition.
posted by Ickster at 10:32 AM on May 1 [3 favorites]
posted by Ickster at 10:32 AM on May 1 [3 favorites]
Beehive State. Call them The Buzz. Come on, people.
"Bees" is the name historically used by minor league baseball teams in Salt Lake. In the 1990s there was a minor league team called the Buzz. I guess they thought that didn't sound like a baseball team name, because they're the Bees now.
"Buzz" might work as a hockey team name, though. Also pairs nicely with "Jazz", which might help to undo some of the ridiculousness of having a team named Jazz in Utah.
posted by madcaptenor at 10:42 AM on May 1
"Bees" is the name historically used by minor league baseball teams in Salt Lake. In the 1990s there was a minor league team called the Buzz. I guess they thought that didn't sound like a baseball team name, because they're the Bees now.
"Buzz" might work as a hockey team name, though. Also pairs nicely with "Jazz", which might help to undo some of the ridiculousness of having a team named Jazz in Utah.
posted by madcaptenor at 10:42 AM on May 1
If you want to take the approach of pairing something with Jazz, I'd suggest the Utah Jizz.
posted by Ickster at 10:58 AM on May 1 [1 favorite]
posted by Ickster at 10:58 AM on May 1 [1 favorite]
A more serious name would be the Utah Hive because of the state's love of bees. It is unfortunate that American professional sports teams are so completely detached from their fans that the owners feel they can relocate as it pleases them. Especially ones that have established themselves somewhere for generations.
posted by interogative mood at 11:09 AM on May 1
posted by interogative mood at 11:09 AM on May 1
"Buzz" was once the name of their minor league baseball team (via Wikipedia):
Previously known as the Salt Lake Buzz from 1994 to 2000
So that tracks nicely.
posted by grubi at 11:10 AM on May 1
Previously known as the Salt Lake Buzz from 1994 to 2000
So that tracks nicely.
posted by grubi at 11:10 AM on May 1
If you want to take the approach of pairing something with Jazz, I'd suggest the Utah Jizz.
That's a very different genre of music altogether.
posted by grubi at 11:10 AM on May 1 [2 favorites]
That's a very different genre of music altogether.
posted by grubi at 11:10 AM on May 1 [2 favorites]
I'm really sad to see one of the best looking NHL team logos go away... again. I wasn't ever a fan of the Coyotes, but the original logo was just SO GOOD that I bought a jersey with the kachina coyote. Then one for their minor league team the roadrunners also in the kachina style.
I kind of wish they never brought back the original logo - I wouldn't have given a shit about them relocating if they were still using the boring coyote and dull red uniforms. But no, they had to go and look so good again first.
posted by evilangela at 11:58 AM on May 1 [2 favorites]
I kind of wish they never brought back the original logo - I wouldn't have given a shit about them relocating if they were still using the boring coyote and dull red uniforms. But no, they had to go and look so good again first.
posted by evilangela at 11:58 AM on May 1 [2 favorites]
Long ago, Bettman promised Quebec City a franchise. QC has the arena, the fan base, etc. Bettman lied. His insistence on moving into American markets created the Phoenix mess; that place was not ready for a franchise. I feel bad for Shane Doan and others who suffered until Bettman finally owned up to making a mistake. Oh, wait! He still hasn't copped to being mistaken or wrong in any way.
posted by CCBC at 12:29 PM on May 1 [4 favorites]
posted by CCBC at 12:29 PM on May 1 [4 favorites]
I propose we name the team after something else that, like hockey itself, is far more popular in other parts of the world: Utah Saints.
(Don't tell the LDS, they think it's for them.)
posted by box at 1:17 PM on May 1 [4 favorites]
(Don't tell the LDS, they think it's for them.)
posted by box at 1:17 PM on May 1 [4 favorites]
Ahahahahaha the Atlanta Flames
The only way it could be more on the nose is if the team was called Sherman’s March. That’s hilariously inappropriate
thatsthejoke.jpg
The only way it could be more on the nose is if the team was called Sherman’s March. That’s hilariously inappropriate
thatsthejoke.jpg
Cousins named the franchise the Flames in homage to the burning of Atlanta by United States Army General William Sherman during the American Civil War.posted by zamboni at 3:44 PM on May 1 [1 favorite]
the state's love of bees.
Like many other things about Utah, you can blame the Mormons for this as well.
posted by zamboni at 3:51 PM on May 1
Like many other things about Utah, you can blame the Mormons for this as well.
posted by zamboni at 3:51 PM on May 1
Utah Smiths.
posted by srboisvert at 7:24 PM on May 1
posted by srboisvert at 7:24 PM on May 1
The Utah Phillips
posted by zamboni at 3:41 PM on May 2 [1 favorite]
posted by zamboni at 3:41 PM on May 2 [1 favorite]
My soccer team gets a keg of Johnny Utah for our cabin weekend...
Probably won't go there in Utah.
The Arches is great, as is The Smiths. Doubt either of those will be considered.
After going down the rabbit hole, just realized that my Kansas City Scouts, moved to Denver, and then became the New Jersey Devils...
Who I have always rooted against. And my Kansas City/Omaha Kings are still the Sacramento Kings. We almost got them to replace the Sonics, which would have been kind of a homecoming for me, but no...
FU Clay Bennett.
Go Kraken!
posted by Windopaene at 7:46 PM on May 2 [1 favorite]
Probably won't go there in Utah.
The Arches is great, as is The Smiths. Doubt either of those will be considered.
After going down the rabbit hole, just realized that my Kansas City Scouts, moved to Denver, and then became the New Jersey Devils...
Who I have always rooted against. And my Kansas City/Omaha Kings are still the Sacramento Kings. We almost got them to replace the Sonics, which would have been kind of a homecoming for me, but no...
FU Clay Bennett.
Go Kraken!
posted by Windopaene at 7:46 PM on May 2 [1 favorite]
The bee connection rules: Utah Stingers. (Lots of Stings out there.)
posted by CCBC at 3:40 PM on May 3
posted by CCBC at 3:40 PM on May 3
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I have seen some indicators that Smith truly intends to do right by these guys. He could hardly do worse than Meruelo, honestly.
There’s definitely enthusiasm on the ground here in SLC, which pleasantly surprised me. As a Kraken fan, I’m looking forward to no longer being the new kids on the proverbial block. I don’t plan to switch loyalties, but if they pick copper and turquoise for the team colors, I might hold my nose and buy some merch anyway.
The shortlisted possible team names are all absolute stinkers so far, though. I can’t bring myself to get behind any of them.
posted by armeowda at 6:43 PM on April 30 [4 favorites]