WEST VALLEY CITY, UTAH- The Utah Grizzlies announced their training camp roster Thursday, which consists of 13 forwards, nine defensemen, and two goalies.
Six players on the roster have prior experience with Utah; those players include forwards Matthew Boucher, Trey Bradley, Mason Mannek and Goaltenders Peyton Jones and Garrett Metcalf, and defenseman Miles Gendron.
Boucher returns with Utah on an AHL contract after winning ECHL Rookie of the Year last year with 52 points (25G,27A). He returns after coming through in the clutch a lot last season when he had two hat tricks in the last three months. Another key player returning is Trey Bradley, who led the Grizzlies with 37 assists last year.
A key to this season is the blue line players, who all have a height of 6’1″ or taller. Miles Gendron is the only defenseman who has experience with Utah. Gendron played some of last season with the Grizzlies AHL affiliate, the Colorado Eagles, suiting up for 15 games and earning three points (2G,1A).
The Goaltending Core is a pretty good mix with SLC native Metcalf and Jones, who got some AHL time last season. Metcalf played nine games last season and had a 4-4 record with a 2.33 GAA and .915 save percentage. Jones split last season with Utah and Colorado, playing 18 games with the Grizzlies. He held an 8-6-3 record with a 3.12 GAA, and a .886 save percentage.
Here is the Full Roster:
Forwards: Matthew Boucher, Brian Bowen, Trey Bradley, Luka Burzan, Brandon Cutler, Connor Graham, Mason Mannek, Cole McKechney, Tyler Penner, Quinn Ryan, Gehrett Sargis, Joey Strada, Benjamin Tardif.
Defenseman: Joey Colatarci, Austin Crossley, Charles-Edmond D’Astous, Miles Gendron, Luke Martin, Connor McDonald, Andrew Nielsen, Kyle Pouncy, Jordon Stone.
Goaltenders: Peyton Jones, Garrett Metcalf.
This roster can be very dangerous this season with new Head Coach Ryan Kinasewich who was last year’s assistant coach.
The Grizzlies open the Regular Season on Friday, October 22, in Idaho. The home opener will come the following night at the Maverik Center in West Valley City, Utah.
