Well, we know they won't be called the Utah Coyotes. But that's about all we know after the NHL's Arizona Coyotes moved to Salt Lake City. The rest is still up in the air.
Namely, if you're wondering what the relocated NHL team may be called, you still have to be a little patient. But not significantly more patient. They do have the list of potential nicknames down to 20, team owner Ryan Smith revealed.
Smith, who also owns the NBA's Utah Jazz (and just about every other pro sports franchise in Salt Lake City), sent out the news in a tweet.
Utah! Our NHL team is here. Help us choose a name. https://t.co/xhFewNfnyD
— Ryan Smith (@RyanQualtrics) May 9, 2024
Among the possibilities: Venom, Ice, Freeze, Flurry, Blizzard, Blast, Mountaineers, Caribou, Frost, Outlaws, Canyons, Mammoth, Glaciers, Squall and Powder.
Oh, yes, "Utah HC" is also listed as one possibility. That means the team would simply be known as "Utah Hockey Club." Let's hope for the sake of sports everywhere that one isn't voted in.
But yes, for the record, the team intends to keep "Utah" in the name, as opposed to Sal Lake City. That makes the entire state feel as if the team is theirs. (Of course, we saw how well that worked out for Arizona.)
But "Utah" is also more identifiable than SLC in headlines. And shorter. And easier to type. We think.
20 potential names for Utah's NHL franchise have been released and opened up to a fan vote ?
Which name do you like the best? pic.twitter.com/E5IoftVl0j
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) May 9, 2024
At any rate, you don't have to be a fan of the Utah team to vote. You can just be a fan of nicknames. So go on in and make your pick. Just make sure to pick "Outlaws," because that's my personal favorite. "Outlaws" was the nickname of the first high school team I covered for my first sportswriting job in Wyoming, and it's unique among pro sports franchises. It also has the "s" at the end, which I think should be mandatory for team nicknames.
But call them whatever you like. Just don't call them the Coyotes.
