This article originally appeared in the Orientation print issue, in stands May 2025. It has not been updated and some information may be out of date.
Winter sports and the state of Utah go together like bread and butter. With “The Greatest Snow on Earth,” it is no surprise that snow sports, such as skiing and snowboarding, are some of the state’s most popular. Furthermore, after hosting the 2002 Winter Olympics, ice sports like figure skating, speed skating and curling are no strangers to the state.
Intuitively, the sport of ice hockey fits right in with these sports Utah so dearly loves. With Utah’s new NHL franchise, one can find that the hype surrounding the sport is at an all-time high. As a result, the excitement for hockey can be quite enticing for a student at the University of Utah. Thankfully, there is no shortage of opportunities for students to get their hockey fill without costing an arm and a leg.
Utah Hockey Club
Salt Lake City is the home of the newest NHL franchise: the Utah Hockey Club. Utah’s NHL games have just about everything a hockey fan could desire: a high-energy atmosphere backed by a young, fun team. In their most recent season, the Hockey Club fell just short of a playoff spot. As a result, one attending a game this upcoming season can expect high competition, making for an extremely entertaining experience.
The Utah Hockey Club has many promotions that have made their product more accessible to fans, especially college students. The first of which comes in the form of the Utah Hockey Club College Ticket Program. With this initiative, college students with “.edu” email addresses can access $10 tickets to single-goal view seats.
Not only does the deal provide affordable seats, but each ticket also comes with a free hot dog and water. There is no doubt the deal is more than grand, providing students with an excellent and inexpensive opportunity to catch up to three games a year.
The student ticket program isn’t the only way the Hockey Club has made its games accessible to students. Recently, with the 2024-25 regular season coming to a close, the team announced that all of their remaining matches would only cost $1 to stream through their platform, UtahHC+.
Looking towards the future, University of Utah students will also have the unique opportunity to catch a very special hockey spectacle: an outdoor game. Over the past three decades, outdoor NHL games have become a fan favorite event, making for an unforgettable experience. In March, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman confirmed that the Hockey Club will soon be hosting an outdoor game, likely to be held at Utah’s own Rice-Eccles Stadium.
University of Utah Hockey
Of course, the state’s NHL team is not the only place for hockey fans to catch a game. The University of Utah has an extremely convenient opportunity to do so with its club hockey teams. Playing at the Salt Lake City Sports Complex, located just southeast of Rice-Eccles Stadium, Utah’s three non-varsity teams allow for university fans to easily catch a game.
The program contains Division I men’s and women’s hockey teams, as well as a Division II men’s team. The three teams, which compete as a part of the American Collegiate Hockey Association, have regular seasons that usually last from September to February.
The men’s Division I team, which has made it to the national tournament in the past two seasons, has won a notable five conference titles in its history. Furthermore, the women’s team has made a notable five WWCHL playoffs in a row. With constant, competitive action for almost year-round, as well as $5 student tickets, Utah’s hockey program is a great place to go to catch a game close to home.
Minor and junior teams
Outside of the NHL and university teams, Utah’s minor and junior hockey teams also provide yet another opportunity to catch a game. In West Valley City, one can make their way to the Maverik Center to support the Utah Grizzlies of the ECHL. Playing the third tier of professional hockey in North America, the Grizzlies sold tickets for Friday matches starting at $12 this past season.
Additionally, Utah’s junior hockey teams can make for a fun and inexpensive night of hockey. Utah’s two junior teams are the Utah Outliers and Ogden Mustangs, who are both members of the USPHL, an American junior hockey league. The Outliers, who also play in West Valley City, offer a student discount for $10 admission.
Now is a better time than ever for Utah college students to enjoy the sport of ice hockey. With amazing deals across all levels of hockey, taking advantage of these opportunities can fill one’s hockey desire, all without breaking the bank.
