The NCDC will be previewing each of the 21 teams set to hit the ice during the 2024-25 season in a continuing series up to the Sept. 19 start of the new campaign.
Rock Springs Grizzlies
Mountain Division
Home Arena: Family Recreation Center Ice Arena
Head Coach: Darren Naylor
The Rock Springs Grizzlies are excited to begin their second season in the NCDC Mountain Division.
While the first year in the NCDC for the now two-year-old franchise can be seen as a success off the ice, on the ice there will be a vastly improved product.
The Grizzlies ownership has made a huge financial commitment with upgrades at the Rock Springs Family Recreation Center Arena with the addition of a brand new Jumbotron and lighting system. As well, the Grizzlies have a new website developed by a former 20-year NHL media executive.
On the ice, the Grizzlies know the team can – and will – be better, and that is the focus for this upcoming 2024-25 campaign. The Grizzlies’ season begins on Friday, Sept. 20, in Salt Lake City vs. the Utah Outliers. The Grizzlies’ home opener is Friday, Sept. 27, vs. the Idaho Falls Spud Kings.
“Our staff has been working hard all summer long to build a highly competitive roster and we are excited to see how it all comes together to put out a product the Sweetwater County community can be proud of,” said Vice President/General Manager/Head Coach Darren Naylor, who has put hundreds of players into the NCAA over his 25 years of coaching Jr. A hockey.
“We put in a lot of work this off-season building our roster to represent a playing style that best exemplifies a style of play desired by the Grizzlies Organization and we are excited to see our group come together in Rock Springs.”
Naylor will be joined on the bench by Associate GM and Associate Coach Brad Zangs, a veteran coach with exceptional recruiting networks and strong NCAA connections. Naylor says bringing Brad on “has helped put our young franchise years ahead of pace and we are happy he’s a part of the Grizzlies family.”
The Grizzlies remain busy working on their 2024-25 team, and weren’t able to provide specific names at this stage.
“We don’t know exactly who our top players will be out of the gate. We are still in training camp and will play six exhibition games that will help determine our opening night roster,” said Naylor.
Additionally, the team’s younger core is still being defined, but Naylor is confident that all newcomers will be able to quickly take on the speed and physicality of the NCDC and, just like the veterans, attract plenty of college hockey coaches’ attention towards advancement.
“We like all our new players coming in. We are assembling a team that will not be fun to play against and will have other teams in the NCDC Mountain Division not looking forward to coming into Rock Springs to play against us.”
