Utah Hockey Club’s Attempt to Trademark ‘Yeti’ for Team Name Faces Setback
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The Utah Hockey Club’s attempt to trademark the name “Utah Yetis” has encountered a significant hurdle, with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) rejecting the request.
On January 9, the USPTO issued a refusal, citing the “likelihood of confusion” with existing trademarks, particularly with brands like Yeti Coolers, which is widely recognized. The news was first reported by KSL.com earlier this week.
The team now has three months to respond to what is considered a “nonfinal office action” in order to keep their trademark application alive. Additionally, they can request an extension of another three months to resolve the issue.
The application sought to use the “Utah Yetis” name for a range of merchandise, including apparel like T-shirts, jerseys, sweatshirts, sweatpants, hats, scarves, gloves, and leggings.
The Utah Hockey Club, which relocated to Utah after the former Arizona Coyotes franchise was sold last April, is considered an expansion team in the NHL. In the summer, the team gave fans the chance to vote on their favorite potential team names, narrowing it down to six finalists. “Yeti” was among the top choices.
In a statement shared with ESPN, Chris Armstrong, president of hockey operations for Utah, emphasized that the team’s plans remain on track. “We will continue to involve the community in the final stages of the naming and branding process,” Armstrong said. “We are fully on track with our plans to announce a permanent name and identity ahead of the 2025-26 NHL season.”
The team's first season will proceed under the temporary name "UHC" while they navigate the trademark process.