Utah NHL team removes Wasatch from name options, Outlaws returns

Utah’s NHL team narrows name choices after fan voting and trademark issues.

A close-up of the Utah Hockey Club logo on a practice jersey at Utah's Olympic Oval on October 7, 2024, in Salt Lake City, Utah. Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

By Yuni Utomo and Randy Ahmad

The Utah NHL franchise has officially removed "Wasatch" from consideration as its permanent team name, while "Outlaws" has been reinstated as a top contender. The decision, announced Thursday, follows in-person fan voting at Delta Center during Wednesday’s home game against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Wasatch, which was a late addition to the naming process, failed to resonate with fans. It was not part of the original six finalists but was introduced after Utah encountered trademark complications with Yeti, a name it had to abandon due to conflicts with the Yeti cooler company.

Utah NHL team narrows name choices

With Wasatch now out of the running, the franchise is moving forward with three remaining options:

Utah Mammoth
Utah Hockey Club
Utah Outlaws

These names were among the six finalists originally revealed in the spring, alongside Venom, Blizzard, and Yeti. However, legal complications led to the elimination of several choices.

Outlaws and Mammoth faced no major trademark conflicts, aside from minor clerical issues that needed to be resolved for official registration. The NHL franchise had initially removed Outlaws from consideration, but after revisiting the available options, it is now back in play.

Meanwhile, Yeti, Venom, and Blizzard were all rejected due to the likelihood of confusion with existing trademarks registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

Utah Hockey Club faces a trademark challenge

One of the three remaining choices, Utah Hockey Club (HC), received a non-final refusal from the USPTO on January 10. The rejection cited that the name is “primarily geographically descriptive,” which can be a barrier to registration. However, since the franchise is currently using "Utah Hockey Club" in an official capacity, the team may have a legal path to securing the trademark.

The rejection is not a definitive ruling, meaning the team can still argue its case and potentially register the name successfully. This makes Utah HC a viable option despite the initial legal hurdle.

Fan voting to determine final name

As the franchise moves closer to selecting a permanent identity, fans are being given the opportunity to weigh in on the final three options. During the voting process, select fans have been shown closely guarded logo designs corresponding to each potential name.

Voting will continue at the team’s next three home games:

Friday vs. Columbus Blue Jackets
Sunday vs. St. Louis Blues
Tuesday vs. Philadelphia Flyers

The team has not set a firm deadline for announcing its final decision, but the process appears to be accelerating.

Why Wasatch was removed

The name Wasatch was introduced late in the process, likely as a backup option following the loss of Yeti. However, it quickly became apparent that the name lacked strong fan support. The team gathered feedback from the live voting sessions at Delta Center, and the results showed that Wasatch was not a popular choice.

Wasatch refers to the Wasatch Mountain Range, a significant geographic feature of Utah. While the name was intended to reflect the local landscape, it failed to generate excitement among the fan base, leading to its removal from consideration.

Outlaws makes a comeback

One of the biggest surprises in the process is the return of Utah Outlaws as a finalist. Initially part of the original six choices, Outlaws was dropped earlier due to unspecified concerns. However, with Wasatch removed and Yeti disqualified due to trademark conflicts, the franchise has opted to reconsider Outlaws.

The name carries a bold, Western-inspired identity that could align well with Utah’s history and branding opportunities. Given that the trademark review found no major conflicts preventing registration, Outlaws now stands as a strong contender alongside Mammoth and Hockey Club.

What’s next for Utah’s NHL team?

As the final rounds of voting continue, the team’s leadership will assess fan preferences and legal considerations before making an official decision. The name selection process has already seen unexpected twists, from Yeti’s removal to the return of Outlaws.

While no timeline has been confirmed for the final announcement, the franchise appears to be moving swiftly to finalize its identity. The chosen name will shape the branding, merchandise, and long-term marketing strategy of Utah’s NHL franchise, making this decision a crucial one for the team’s future.