SALT LAKE CITY – As Utah prepares for their second season in the National Hockey League, owner Ryan Smith stopped by KSL Sports Zone on Monday morning to chat about the Jazz, Mammoth and somewhat surprisingly, the potential of the AHL to Utah.
While fielding a handful of questions about the Jazz during their official media day, the interview eventually shifted towards hockey where Smith confirmed that SEG has discussed the possibility of bringing an AHL team to Utah.
Per Ryan Smith on @KSLSportsZone, SEG has discussed the possibility of bringing an AHL team to Utah in the future but it’s likely a ways off.
He added that SEG has considered the best place for a team as they grow the sport state wide.
Mentioned SLC, St. George, & “up north.”
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) September 29, 2025
What is the AHL and how is it connected to the Mammoth?
Founded in 1938, the American Hockey League (AHL) has been a staple of the sport in North America and is considered by many as the second-best league in the world.
Since the 2010-2011 season, every AHL squad has been affiliated with an NHL club, serving as a “farm team” to develop younger talent, temporarily house skaters coming back from injury and even send players up or down depending on what the NHL team needs.
As of right now, the Mammoth are affiliated with Tucson Roadrunners as they absorbed the agreement despite the Coyotes relocation from Arizona in 2024.
Last season, the Mammoth utilized the Roadrunners to develop Josh Doan and Maveric Lamoureux while also calling up Kailer Yamamoto and giving Connor Ingram a conditioning loan when he had returned from an injury.
Could the AHL be headed to Utah?
Since the NHL arrived in Utah, hockey has exploded across the Wasatch Front.
Interest in the sport as at an all-time high, the youth game is quickly expanding, facilities are either being constructed or upgraded, and the fanbase may or may not be on verge of storming the front doors at Delta Center as they eagerly salivate over the beginning of a new season.
Per Ryan Smith on @KSLSportsZone, 20 different communities have reached out about his offer to help build more rinks in Utah.
Added that the new practice facility has been a great opportunity to show them how to do it.
“Youth hockey is really important.”
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) September 29, 2025
Related: Ryan Smith, SEG Plans To Build Up To 20 New Ice Rinks Across Utah
So, would the AHL make sense in Utah?
Yes, and according to Ryan Smith, it’s a discussion they’ve had at SEG.
“It’s something we talk about…do we want it [their AHL affiliate] closer? Yeah. We’ve seen the benefit of that with the Stars [Utah Jazz, G-League affiliate]” Ryan Smith said.
“We’re also trying to grow the sport of hockey in Utah…would it be better to bring it here [Salt Lake City]? Maybe St. George? Or maybe up north?”
Like he mentioned, an AHL team in Utah would make sense for a lot of different reasons.
First off, having an affiliate closer to the big club is incredibly beneficial.
Not that Tucson is overly far away, but there would be a noticeable benefit to having young prospects and other borderline NHL players all within state lines or even in the same city.
Rather than coordinating flights back and forth or dealing with the distance between the front office and young developing players, it would all come together in the same general location.
No more 4 a.m. wake up calls to move a player who just played a game the night before in Tucson to Salt Lake City for an NHL game that night.
Additionally, having an AHL team in Utah would also be huge for the growth of the game.
More access to hockey, friendlier ticket prices and a more broadened reach for the sport.
Imagine an AHL team in Ogden, Provo or even St. George to give fans more access and exposure to the best leagues in the world.
“If we’re thinking long term and saying hey, look, how do we get more Utahns to skate for team USA in 2034?” Smith added.
“It would probably be expanding it and setting it up.”
What would bringing an AHL team to Utah look like?
While discussing the idea of an AHL team in Utah in depth, Smith also noted that they’re not particularly close on accomplishing that just yet.
With several years left on their affiliation agreement with Tucson, and rumors circulating that Roadrunners Owner Alex Meruelo may move the team to Reno, NV, following the completion of the Meruelo-owned Grand Sierra Resort in 2027, there’s not necessarily a direct path to be pursued.
“There’s a lot of discussion and debate that need to happen on that front,” Smith explained.
“We’re a ways away on that. We’re still under contract for a couple years down in Tucson and trying to figure it out.”
However, as Smith has shown countless times, when he and the rest of SEG narrow in on a project, they’ll stop at nothing to get it done.
Report: Utah Grizzlies ownership to finalize sale to Trenton, NJ
Following one final year as Utah’s ECHL team, the Grizzlies are bound for Trenton, NJ in 2026.
“Utah has been more than a home – it has been part of our identity. But ensuring the Grizzlies have the opportunity to thrive in the future may require new ownership and, potentially, a new home,” Elmore Sports Group announced in June.
Notably, this will be Trenton’s second ECHL team as the city once housed the Titans from 1999 to 2013.
During their 14 seasons, The Titans won two divisional titles, two conference titles and claimed the Kelly Cup once during the 2004-05 campaign.
In 2013, The ECHL announced that the Titans would cease operations and that all players would be considered unrestricted free agents.
What’s next for the Utah Mammoth?
Training camp will take place from September 17 through October 4 at the new training facility in Sandy.
The Mammoth’s next preseason game will be against the Los Angeles Kings on September 30 at 7 p.m. MT.
The game will be available on Mammoth+.
Cole Bagley is the Utah Mammoth insider for KSL Sports. Keep up with him on X here. You can hear Cole break down the team on KSL Sports Zone and KSL 5 TV.
Take us with you, wherever you go.
