Utah Grizzlies: Grizz to build on '07 success

WEST VALLEY CITY — A season ago, the Utah Grizzlies took several steps in the right direction.

On the ice, they made it to the conference finals of the Kelly Cup and impressed many throughout the ECHL with their steady improvement from the start of the season to the end of it. Off the ice, they secured what they feel like is a successful affiliation with the New York Islanders, a relationship that has continued into this season.

Accordingly, as the Grizz head into their fourth year as a member of the ECHL, the challenge is to build on last year's successes.

Armed with several Utah veterans and a number of newcomers, first-year coach Kevin Colley feels his guys have the potential to do exactly that.

"I think the team has jelled overly quick," he said. "I thought last year we had a tight team, and we brought back our key guys (and) brought in some new faces. They've just really gelled so far. I think we've got to go one day at a time, keep gettin' better and better every day. It's a process and everyone's goal is Kelly Cup."

If nothing else this year, expect Colley to try and get his guys to play on the ice like he did.

The 29-year-old Colley, who's the youngest coach in the ECHL by almost three years, was known as a relentless competitor that gave everything he had whenever he was on the ice before his career was cut short because of a spinal injury almost three years ago.

After spending last season as an assistant coach in Utah, Colley was tabbed by Grizzlies management to take over when coach Jason Christie left in September to join the Chicago Wolves of the AHL.

In Year 1 of his tenure, getting his players to give their all will certainly be a priority to Colley.

"I think it's important for everyone to play hard — play like it's your last shift," he said. "That doesn't mean goin' out and fightin' three times a game, it doesn't mean everyone has to block 10 shots a game.

"It's just goin' out and giving it everything you have. I'm a firm believer that when you lay everything out on the line, you're gonna be successful, the team's gonna be successful and at the end of the day, you're gonna put up a lot of wins."

Defenceman Jordan Hart, for one, is looking forward to playing that way.