Utah is still looking for a name in the NHL, with six options left. The club wants to build its identity gradually

No time to waste. That’s what Ryan Smith, owner of the new NHL club that will replace Arizona next season, might say. Utah officials still don’t know what their new club will be called. That’s up to the fans, who voted on the remaining six finalists. So the identity of the organization remains shrouded in fog for now.

It all happened so fast. As soon as Utah made an official request to the league’s management to join the NHL, a few weeks later, owner Ryan Smith and Co. (Smith Entertainment Group) had their dream come true. Thus, the Utah Jazz basketball team will be joined by a hockey sibling.

Smith Entertainment Group announced Wednesday that it is launching a second round in which fans can vote on the name of the new NHL team. More than half a million fans participated in the first round, choosing from an initial set of 20 names.

Fourteen options dropped out of the first round: Black Diamonds, Blast, Canyons, Caribou, Freeze, Frost, Fury, Glaciers, Hive, Ice, Mountaineers, Powder, Squall and Swarm. That leaves six finalists for the second round – Blizzard, Utah Hockey Club, Utah Mammoth, Outlaws, Venom and Yeti.

Sixty percent of all votes were received by the final six names mentioned above. Fans were able to select four potential names they liked best during the voting process. The second round is now beginning and the final name could be revealed on June 20, when voting closes.

In the first season without a logo

Smith said the club’s identity is very important, which is also why he involved fans in choosing the name: ” The NHL team in Utah is an asset to the community and we want to make sure the community has a say in what it’s called,” the owner told The Athletic. “It has to be something that makes people want to be a part of it, regardless of age. It has to be a driving force,” Smith added.

Also, the jerseys and logo will take shape gradually. The club has already confirmed that during its first season in Salt Lake City this fall, it will wear jerseys that simply bear the word “Utah” on the front. Probably pretty similar to how teams in the all-pro women’s PHWL league presented themselves in their inaugural season.

Once the voting is over and the name is known, the club will begin working diligently to create a team identity. That means a logo, mascot and other branding elements. This process will likely take several months, so that the complete Hockey Utah will see the light of day in all its glory by the 2025/2026 season.

Previously, Ryan Smith has let it be known that choosing a team name is something he feels is vital to establishing a connection with the Utah and Salt Lake City community. The editors at the renowned The Athletic would like the Utah Yeti the most out of the current options. But the fans will ultimately have the final say.

Source: NHL, The Athletic