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Greg Wyshynski
Utah Hockey Club said it still expects to announce a permanent name and identity before the 2025-26 NHL season despite having “Utah Yetis” refused by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
“Since acquiring Utah’s NHL team, we have been carefully evaluating possibilities for the permanent identity of the team, while working within the complicated world of trademarks and intellectual property,” president of hockey operations Chris Armstrong said in a statement Thursday.
As first reported by Ryan Miller of KSL.com in Utah, the USPTO rejected a trademark application from the team for “Utah Yetis” because of the “likelihood of confusion” for consumers to other companies and brands that use the name.
In a memo dated Jan. 9, the USPTO wrote that the word “Utah” is generic descriptor that “renders the wording ‘YETIS’ as the more dominant element of the mark.”
The patent office said that “Utah Yeti” also wouldn’t be accepted because “the singular or plural form of a registered mark is essentially identical in sound, appearance, meaning, and commercial impression, and thus the marks are confusingly similar.”
Utah Hockey Club was seeking to use “Utah Yetis” on a variety of clothing items. The USPTO said a database search turned up “a number of third-party marks registered for use in connection with the same or similar goods and/or services as those of both applicant and registrant in this case.”
Among those parties was Yeti Coolers LLC, which makes drinkware, coolers and clothing. The memo was a “nonfinal office action.” Utah Hockey Club has three months to respond.
Utah Hockey Club is in its first season playing in Salt Lake City. The Arizona Coyotes’ franchise was sold to Utah Jazz owners Smith Entertainment Group in April 2024. SEG acquired the franchise, its players and its hockey operations department in the sale, although the team is considered a new franchise rather than an extension of the Coyotes’ legacy.
In June, it was announced that the team would be known as Utah Hockey Club during its inaugural season.
“It has always been our intention to let our season one identity as Utah Hockey Club, the team’s performance, and the amazing response from our fans hold the conversation through our inaugural season,” Armstrong said.
There was a fan vote on a permanent name for the team with six finalists: Utah Blizzard, Utah Hockey Club (Utah HC), Utah Mammoth, Utah Outlaws, Utah Venom and Utah Yeti. It was widely expected, even among Utah players, that “Yeti” or “Yetis” would eventually win out. But there are clearly trademark hurdles for the team in getting there.
“We will continue to involve the community in the final stages of the naming and branding process and are fully on track with our plans to announce a permanent name and identity ahead of the 2025-26 NHL season,” Armstrong said.
The NHL recently announced the addition of a new team based in Utah, the Utah Yetis. However, fans were shocked to learn that the trademark office has refused to approve the team name.
The decision came as a surprise to many, as the name seemed like a perfect fit for the team. The Yeti is a mythical creature known for its strength and resilience, qualities that any sports team would want to embody.
Despite the setback, the team remains optimistic about finding a new name that will resonate with fans and represent the spirit of Utah. In the meantime, fans are eagerly awaiting updates on the team’s progress and are excited to see what the future holds for the Utah Yetis. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.
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