WEST VALLEY CITY — So, does the E Center stand for the E League, the ECHL?
Well, maybe.
The Utah Grizzlies' first-night play in the "E," as in their new league, the ECHL, showed some of what new Utah coach Jason Christie had promised — hard work and fast skating — and also a lot of feistiness that seemed to please the 5,158 in attendance for yet another piece of hockey history in the state.
But the result on the scoreboard was, well, a penalty-filled 4-2 loss to the equally new and equally independent Phoenix Roadrunners in the E Center.
The Grizzlies scored just two goals on 44 shots, and despite a 7-4 advantage in power play opportunities.
Utah's second goal, at 13:49 of the third period to give the Grizzlies new hope by cutting the lead to 3-2, was scored by center Jeff Miles on a power play with an assist from the ECHL's all-time leading scorer, Louis Dumont.
But when Utah pulled goalie Alfie Michaud with 1:44 left in the game hoping to bring about a tie, the Roadrunners instead got an empty-net goal at 18:47 to seal the deal.
"I liked the way the guys played," said Christie, not used to winning during his five years at the helm of the Peoria Rivermen in the ECHL, "but when you lose, it doesn't sit well. We've got to make it burn."
He hasn't much time to do that.
The Grizzlies and Roadrunners meet again tonight in Phoenix for the 'Runners' first-ever home game. Utah is on the road for three straight — tonight and Sunday at Phoenix and Tuesday at Las Vegas — before coming home for a four-game stand starting next Friday and Saturday, when the Victoria Salmon Kings visit the E Center.
"I thought the crowd was into it all night," said Christie, calling it "energizing." He hoped those watching got the feeling of what he's trying to instill — that work ethic for 60 minutes. That, he thought, the Grizzlies did do.
What they didn't do was defend well, giving up the first goal just 2:01 into the game to Phoenix B. J. Gaustad on a cross-crease pass as the Grizzlies miscommunicated, Christie said.
Goaltending by Alfie Michaud wasn't precisely what Christie hoped for, but it was OK.
"The positive is we had good chances. It's not like we were out standing around," said Christie, blaming lack of scoring on Phoenix goalie Mathieu Chouinard, who played for him in Peoria and was 10-1. "Chouinard made really big saves."
After the Roadrunners went ahead 2-0, Utah defenseman Chris Leinweber planted a shot from the right point past Chouinard on a 5-on-3 power play at 14:32 of the second period after a point-to-point pass from Tom Reinmann.
This is the third league in which the Grizzlies have played in their 12 years. They began in the mid-90s in the International Hockey League and then joined the American Hockey League until the end of last season, when owner Dave Elmore not only dropped an affiliation with NHL parent team the Phoenix Coyotes but also suspended his AHL franchise in favor of the less-expensive ECHL, which has a lot of teams in the West and Midwest. Travel and salary expenses are easier to bear.
GRIZZ BIZZ: Owner Dave Elmore arrived after the opening puck drop and first goal after flying in from the Bay Area and baseball meetings (he owns a number of minor-league baseball teams as well as the Grizzlies), so wife and business partner Donna Tuttle represented Grizzly ownership in pregame ceremonies . . . The Grizzlies acquired rookie center Barett Ehgoetz for cash from Toledo . . . West Valley native D.J. Jelitto and Matt Schmidt were put on "injured reserve" for seven days . . . The goalies all across the league wore red Mississippi Sea Wolves sweaters for the first game, and they were to be auctioned off for charity later by the ECHL. The Sea Wolves had to suspend operations for the season due to Hurricane Katrina . . . Frank, Barbara and Scott Layden and Herm and Ami Franks and former Salt Lake Golden Eagles' owner Art Teece and former Eagles Rick Lessard and Darryl Olsen attended the game.
E-mail: lham@desnews.com