More than 10,000 years ago, the Mammoth roamed Utah with a roar, tusks up as fierce defenders of their herd as these 14-foot tall behemoths struck fear in opponents with their ability to charge as fast as 25 mph.
The Mammoth has returneth from extinction – it’s the dawn of a new ice age.
After skating one season known as Utah Hockey Club, the NHL’s 32nd franchise revealed on Wednesday its new name and permanent identity: the Utah Mammoth. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman will join Smith Entertainment Group owners Ryan and Ashley Smith in Salt Lake City today for the formal announcement, which concludes a 13-month branding process that was driven by fans.
According to the team, Utah Mammoth is the product of four rounds of fan voting spanning more than 850,000 votes. The team’s official rallying cry and hashtag is #TusksUp.
“We love the passion of the people of Utah and the way they showed up for the team during its inaugural season and the energy they brought to voting on its permanent identity,” said Ryan and Ashley Smith, owners of the Utah Mammoth, said in a press release. “From day one, we committed that this team would be built with and for the people of Utah, and we are excited to celebrate today’s launch with the entire state. The community chose the Utah Mammoth brand, and it stands as a symbol of who we are, where we came from, and the unstoppable force we’re building together.”
