20 options available in first round of fan voting to name Utah NHL team

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, May 9, 2024 (Gephardt Daily) — Smith Entertainment Group is asking fans to help select a name for Utah’s NHL team.

The first round of voting is now underway at NHLinUtah.com and features 20 options for a team name, expanding on team co-owner Ryan Smith’s initial social media survey.

“Once the team name has been selected, SEG will work diligently to craft the team identity — logo, mascot, colors, and other branding elements — which will debut for the 2025-26 NHL season,” the website says.

The team will wear jerseys that display Utah during its inaugural season in 2024-25, according to SEG.

Fans are invited to vote one time for up to four options through May 22 from the following list:

• Utah Blast
• Utah Blizzard
• Utah Canyons
• Utah Swarm
• Utah Powder
• Utah Glaciers
• Utah Fury
• Utah Yeti
• Utah Squall
• Utah Mountaineers
• Utah Freeze
• Utah Black Diamonds
• Utah Frost
• Utah HC
• Utah Caribou
• Utah Hive
• Utah Mammoth
• Utah Outlaws
• Utah Venom

SEG plans to announced the next round voting and more information on the name selection process this summer.

SEG is partnering with Qualtrics, the feedback and experience management provider Smith co-founded, and creative consultants and design studio Doubleday & Cartwright on the NHL franchise branding process.

“Qualtrics will employ best practice survey research methodology to ensure fairness, accuracy, and unbiased results including randomization, geo-location identification, progressive discrete choice analysis, the prevention of ballot box stuffing, encrypted data collection and storage. Backend analysis will also include deduplication and best practice statistical methods to ensure data integrity,” the website says.

The NHL Board of Governors approved the Arizona Coyotes’ sale to SEG owners Ryan and Ashley Smith on April 18.

The new team will begin play in the 2024-25 season at the Delta Center, though the Smiths ultimately plan to renovate the shared arena with the Utah Jazz — which they also own — to make it more hockey-friendly.