Grizz build depth with veterans, youth

WEST VALLEY CITY — In their first season in the ECHL and under coach Jason Christie, the Utah Grizzlies battled injuries and a revolving roster almost as much as they battled opponents. They still came out with a 36-30-6 record and a playoff berth, the best finish for the 12-year-old franchise in three years.

"We had forwards (playing) defense. It became a numbers game. But I still think we played well," said right wing Travis Rycroft, back for his second season in Utah and third with Christie, since he played as a first-year pro with Peoria in 2004-05.

"We're excited," Christie told a crowd Tuesday afternoon at the Grizzlies' "Face-off Luncheon" at the E Center just three days before the ECHL 2006-07 season begins. For Utah, that beginning is Friday night at Phoenix, followed by games in Arizona against the Roadrunners Saturday and Sunday as well. The home opener is Oct. 27 with Las Vegas in the E Center.

"I know last year coming in there was a lot of question on the league and the talent on the ice," Christie said, recalling some skepticism from a community that had seen Triple-A level hockey in the old Central, International and American Hockey Leagues for more than three decades.

"But as we went on throughout the year, it just shows our attendance — how we rose and the product that we did have on the ice," Christie added. "We had good guys. We made the playoffs. That was a step.

"We want to just build off that into this year."

The Grizzlies' season ended last year with the eventual Kelly Cup-champion Alaska Aces sweeping them out of the first playoff series. "Losing to the team last year, Alaska, who did win it all, kind of left that burning feeling in your stomach, and I know a lot of the guys that are returning have that same feeling," said Christie.

"This year, the group of guys we brought in, we want to make a run for it all."

Last season, Christie was a little behind in summer transactions since he wasn't named coach until mid-June and the decision to drop from the AHL into the ECHL wasn't made until just a few weeks earlier.

This year, he has eight returning players (forwards Rycroft, Matt Craig, Brad Herauf, D.J. Jelitto and Ryan Kinasewich and defensemen Ian Forbes, Ed Hill and Eric Nelson) on which to build.