The Ducks announced today that the National Hockey League (NHL) club has signed a multi-year affiliation agreement with the Utah Grizzlies of the ECHL.

The Utah Grizzlies joined the ECHL in 2005-06 and play their home games out of the Maverik Center in West Valley City, UT, the former main ice hockey venue for the 2002 Olympic Winter Games. The ECHL Grizzlies own an all-time record of 247-254-62 in 589 career games and have made seven trips to the Kelly Cup Playoffs, including each of the last six seasons. Head coach Tim Branham enters his first season with the Grizzlies, having been named to the position on July 8, 2013. For the last four years, Branham served as an assistant coach for the ECHL’s Reading Royals, who won their first Kelly Cup Championship in 2012-13.

Recent Anaheim affiliates in the ECHL have included Fort Wayne (2012-13), Elmira (2010-12), Bakersfield (2008-10) and Augusta (2006-08). The Utah Grizzlies open the 2013-14 season on Friday, Oct. 18 when they host Idaho at the Maverik Center.