Weekend Preview - Utah Grizzlies vs Alaska Aces

After nearly a month on the road, the journeyman Grizzlies are finally back at the Maverik Center this weekend. It's about time too. We've been watching the results of their play as the away team for what seems like an entire season already without being able to see them in person. With Friday being $5 ticket night (with a Maverik receipt) we're hoping there's a full house to welcome them back. Maybe with some good posters or something. (That's a hint.)

There have only been two games at the Maverik Center so far this season - a 5-0 loss that we're still scratching our heads about, and a 6-4 win, both against Bakersfield - so we're not really sure how the Grizzlies play at home yet. With the team finally settling in for... um... a weekend? Well, we hope they can begin to send a message that their home ice is a tough place for other teams to play, but realistically, they don't have a good stretch of home games until December. So we're putting that on our Christmas list.

Dear Santa,

We have been very, very good this year. Mostly. For Christmas, we would really like a bunch of home wins for the Grizzlies. And a Cocoa Latte machine.

Hugs and kisses to Mrs. Claus and all the reindeer.< Sincerely,
Utah Grizz Blog

The Grizzlies bring back with them the Alaska Aces, who are literally right on their doorstep in the standings. With 15 points to the Grizzlies' 16, we're guessing Alaska is going to show up ready for a scrap. Maybe literally. The Aces opened their season playing the Grizzlies in Alaska. That resulted in one win (in OT) and one loss. They've won six of their last ten games, but have lost their last three to Ontario. We'd like to see them continue their losing ways when they come to the Maverik Center this weekend. We're okay with being poor hosts.

With Brad Snetsinger being the ECHL player of the week, and the return of JP Lamoureux in net the Grizzlies should be locked and fully loaded for the weekend. Although Hugo Carpentier has been recalled to Abbotsford, the Grizzlies hope to see Simon Ferguson on home ice for the first time since acquiring him last season. We missed out on the Riley Armstrong experiment due to him going off to play in Europe. (Thanks to James in the 226 for the heads up on that one.) We're hoping maybe he'll come back someday, but that's just how we are. We're still going to follow him on twitter. (Anyone know if Mark Pavli is on twitter?)

In addition to $5 night on Friday, Saturday is the Bear Toss event, where fans are invited to bring a stuffed bear (or any other stuffed animal, really) to throw on the ice after the Grizzlies score their first goal. The team will take all the toys to kids at the Primary Children's Medical Center on their Christmas visit. And as we pointed out earlier, when else are you going to get to throw something on the ice? Without getting kicked out of the game, that is. It's a great cause - bring a bear on Saturday.

Puck drops at 7:05 pm Friday and Saturday. It's a Grizzlies weekend. Finally!