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West Valley City • Just looking at this year's Utah Grizzlies, it's clear there's something different.
Sure, there are some of the same faces, but there's mostly a common theme among those returners. Chief among them is 6-foot-6 captain Nick Tuzzolino, 6-foot-5 goalkeeper Andrew Engelage and 6-foot-8 Riley Emmerson.
Then there's some other additions: 6-foot-7 Brent Henley, 6-foot-5 Tyson Dowsak, 6-foot-3 John Armstrong. Not just big guys, the players say, but guys who can skate.
"I'm not sure how I'm going to see the puck," Engelage says.
Not all of Utah's players are huge, but getting more size and more talent was a priority this offseason. The Grizzlies went from one of the ECHL's top teams at midseason to merely midlevel by the playoffs. And coach Kevin Colley felt that in the second half of the regular season, the Grizzlies wore down and hit a wall.
So he and Utah's staff kept busy this offseason, pulling in players they believe will be stronger and more consistent. They shied away from signing the younger, smaller rookies who played a big role on the team last year.
"Not to take anything from last year's team — they were a bunch of warriors who competed," Colley says. "But we lacked in size and experience, and we ran out of gas. This year, we're bigger on the back end, but also on the walls. We should win more pucks, and that should create more offense."
But beyond just scoring more, the Grizzlies hope to flat-out intimidate opponents. Idaho Steelheads defenseman Cody Lampl was a thorn in Utah's side, an antagonist, a guy everyone on the team hated to play. So the coaching staff worked for months to get the third-year veteran in a trade, and made him an assistant captain.
There's also Derick Martin, a teammate of Tuzzolino's who was a leader on several Alaska Aces teams that made deep playoff runs. Describing Martin as "a winner," Colley brought in the defenseman not only to solidify the back line, but also to be an enforcer and the strong lockerroom presence that was at times lacking.
"I think this year we have have more talent," forward Matt Reber says. "We have guys who are physically capable, who make more smart plays that I've seen. And if teams try to be physical with us, now we have the guys who can play that style, too."
Reber is also a key returner after giving Utah life in the playoffs as a late roster addition straight out of college. He notched 12 points in only nine appearances last year, and his speed and deft stick work should be a major part of Utah's offense.
The Grizzlies will have an opportunity to get rolling early, playing 13 of their first 18 games at the Maverik Center. And while there are plenty of positive changes to this year's roster, there are a few things the team hopes to carry over from last year.
"We definitely want the same effort and work ethic that we had last year, and we hope to duplicate that," Tuzzolino says. "Everyone needs to be pulling the same rope. Consistency is very tough in this league because lineups change so much. But guys have to be prepared for that and to step up."
Twitter: @kylegoon —
Utah Grizzlies set for season
Finished third in Mountain Division last season and lost in second round of playoffs to the Victoria Salmon Kings.
Starts fifth season under coach Kevin Colley.
Season opens at 7:05 p.m. Friday, at the Maverik Center.
Key returners: defenseman Nick Tuzzolino, goalkeeper Andrew Engelage, forward Matt Reber.
Key additions: defenseman Cody Lampl, defenseman Derick Martin, center Mitch Fadden.