Thu Jan 30 01:00:00 UTC 2025: ## Utah Hockey Club Scraps “Yeti” Nickname, Launches Fan Vote for New Name

**Salt Lake City, UT –** The Utah Hockey Club, Salt Lake City’s newest NHL franchise, has abandoned its widely anticipated “Yeti” moniker due to trademark issues, opting instead for a fan vote to determine its permanent name. The team, currently playing its inaugural season, will offer fans three options: Utah Mammoth, Utah Wasatch, and a revised version of the existing Utah Hockey Club name.

The decision follows the rejection of the team’s trademark application for “Utah Yetis” by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) due to conflicts with existing brands, notably Yeti Coolers LLC. While the team explored a coexistence agreement, negotiations ultimately failed.

“We engaged deeply with Yeti Cooler Company,” explained Mike Maughan of Smith Entertainment Group, the team’s owner. “They have a unique and strong trademark…We did not have a coexistence agreement and therefore have decided to move on.”

Fans will have the opportunity to vote for their preferred name and associated logo during the next four home games at the Delta Center, with an estimated 15,000 fans per game expected to participate. The voting process will utilize tablets stationed throughout the arena. The three options include two logos: one for the Utah Mammoth and another—a “mountain defender”—that would be used for either Utah Hockey Club or Utah Wasatch. Utah Wasatch, a new addition, references the Wasatch Mountain range and allows for the use of a Yeti-like mascot.

While the team is confident the chosen name will pass trademark approval, another round of voting may be necessary. Chris Armstrong, the team’s president of hockey operations, emphasized that the team’s current name is a temporary placeholder, and the fan vote will determine the team’s identity going forward. The permanent name and identity are expected to be announced before the 2025-26 NHL season.

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