The Utah Hockey Club has had a wrench thrown in their naming plans. After launching a fan vote for a permanent name this summer, “Utah Yeti” emerged as the clear frontrunner, but the US Patent and Trademark Office rejected several of the team’s potential names and logos, including the “Yeti” moniker.
In response, the franchise announced plans Wednesday to pivot and move forward with other name options. They will hold an in-arena fan vote on three final names during their next four home games at Delta Center in Salt Lake City.
The next phase of voting for our team name is here! 📫
Fans attending the next four home games will get an exclusive chance to shape our identity by voting on the next short list of three name options, complete with logos and branding!
Read More: https://t.co/S9ZdmcXsWc pic.twitter.com/5AQOvmQVz9
— Utah Hockey Club (@utahhockeyclub) January 29, 2025
The final three names up for the vote are:
- Utah Hockey Club
- Utah Mammoth
- Utah Wasatch
The first option, “Utah Hockey Club,” is the most simple — it’s the name the team has adopted for its inaugural season in the NHL. Utah’s use of the name mirrors how the NFL’s Washington Commanders were known as the “Washington Football Team” for two seasons before their full rebrand, and follows sports team naming conventions more popular abroad.
When the franchise held its initial vote, “Utah Mammoth” also elicited a positive response. Previous unaffiliated polling by KSL, a Salt Lake City news station, showed Yeti as the top choice, Outlaws in second, and Mammoth and Blizzard tied for third.
The third option, Utah Wasatch, is a completely new choice that was never included in the initial rounds of fan voting. The Wasatch is a mountain range in Utah, and the franchise explains in their press release that the name is a workaround to keep the Yeti aesthetic without using the name.
“Utah Wasatch is a new option created to honor the idea of a mythical snow creature with a Utah-centric approach inspired by the Wasatch Mountain range,” the release states.
The franchise was forced to abandon hopes of using “Yeti” or “Yetis” primarily due to a clash with Yeti Coolers LLC, a popular brand known for its coolers and drinkware. Though the NHL is no stranger to sharing names with a drinkware brand, the two parties were unable to reach a co-existence agreement.
Per ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski, this new round of voting will be conducted using tablets set up around the team’s home arena. The process will kick off Wednesday night before a game against the Pittsburgh Penguins and will conclude on February 4 against the Philadelphia Flyers.
