WEST VALLEY CITY — The Utah Grizzlies organization spent much of Saturday night honoring local hockey legend Gord Dineen — the evening's highlight being an intermission ceremony for the man considered to be the franchise's all-time best defensive player.
And from the raucous reception, it was obvious the E Center crowd of 8,549 loved the festivities. Part of the fun for fans — and Dineen, whose No. 2 jersey was the first in franchise history to be retired — included seeing past players and beloved former coach Butch Goring.
Only problem?
The Grizzlies couldn't even match his jersey number on the scoreboard. While Utah's defense played up to the occasion, the offense was nowhere to be found in a 1-0 loss to the Hartford Wolf Pack.
Next time the Grizzlies might consider retiring an offensive player's number. Utah only mustered up 16 shots on goal — compared to 40 by Hartford — while falling to 14-22-4-3.
The score didn't spoil Dineen's night. The defensive star, who donned a Grizzlies sweater from 1994 to 2000 in Denver and Utah, wore a perma-smile all night.
"That they did this for me is very special," he said. "To reunite with friends — it's been great."
Dineen, now an assistant coach with Springfield (Mass.) Falcons of the AHL, also got to participate in a little family reunion. He married a Salt Lake City native, the former Alexandra Mika, this past summer, so he spent the weekend with the in-laws.
Dineen met his wife while playing for Utah several years ago, which accounts for his most memorable moment off the ice as a Grizz player. They're expecting their first baby in March, by the way. His favorite on-ice memory came at the end of his first season here in 1996 when Utah won the IHL title.
"Whenever you're part of a championship that certainly leaves a memory you'll never forget," he said. "Winning that second Turner Cup in front of 17,000 at the Delta Center — that's about as strong as it gets."
During his Grizz career, Dineen played in a franchise-record 440 games, was a two-time IHL All-Star, was named Grizzlies Outstanding Defenseman three times and had the trophy for that award named in his honor. He ranks among franchise leaders in assists (second, 147), PIMs (fifth, 393) and shots (fifth, 547).
In fan loyalty, he ranks No. 1.
Same could be said of former teammate ranking, too.
Ex-Utah defenseman Jeff Sharples, who flew in from Las Vegas where he coaches the ECHL Wranglers, said the accolades couldn't happen to a better person.
"He's the nicest guy I've every played with—and any guy who ever played with him would say the same thing," Sharples said. "The thing that catches me the most is he's so modest. He never, ever gave himself enough credit for being as good as he was."
Goring, making his first Utah appearance since leaving to coach the New York Islanders five seasons ago, has enjoyed a 20-year teammate-coach-friend relationship with Dineen, dating back to when they both played for the same NHL team on Long Island.
"It's always a good indication of a player and coach's relationship when you maintain that friendship when it's done," he said. "It's been five years and Gordy and I are still friends. That speaks volumes."
Pinpointing just one memory of Dineen was too difficult for Goring, who's looking for a new hockey job after recently departing from a position with a German team. Goring fondly recalls "dealing with Gordy on a day-to-day basis."
"I knew what I was getting," Goring said. "He was exactly what I was looking for. He was the right person to be captain of our hockey club."
Similar things were mentioned in verbal tributes given all night by a slew of his former teammates and Grizz officials — including ex-Grizz Dave Archibald, Bob Beers, Todd Copeland, Andy Brickley, Rob Zettler, ex-coach Kevin Cheveldayoff, ex-president Tim Mouser and owner David Elmore.
Dineen, who played in 528 National Hockey League games, was glad he finished here.
"Six years with the Grizzlies was a great way for me to end my career," he said. "If I couldn't be in the NHL this was as classy an organization as you can find."
Forward Jarrod Skalde was also honored Saturday, earning a spot in the Grizz's "Ring of Honor."
Hartford and Utah go at each other again Monday at 1 p.m.—an early start for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
E-mail: jody@desnews.com