Today we pay tribute to the Salt Lake Golden Eagles, the original professional hockey team in Utah.
A few months back, I wrote about how the Utah Hockey Club could incorporate the history of the Salt Lake Golden Eagles into theirs.
While the colors didn't work out (Utah HC chose powder blue, white, and black), there's still time for the club to incorporate the style of their logo into the brand in tribute to the Golden Eagles.
And as they were the pioneers of hockey in Utah, they paved the way for professional sports, and later, the 2002 Winter Olympics, to arrive in Salt Lake City.
It's only fitting, then, today, on Pioneer Day, the 177th anniversary of the Latter-day Saints arriving in the Salt Lake Valley under the direction of President Brigham Young, the city was awarded the rights to host the XXVII Olympic Winter Games in 2034.
While it raises some questions about if there will be test events for the Olympics in coming years (Stadium Series, 4 Nations Face-Off, World Cup of Hockey, etc.), the magnitude of the moment cannot be understated.
Much of the credit must go to the Salt Lake Golden Eagles, who laid the foundation of professional sports here all those years ago.
Those sold-out nights at Delta Center for Jazz games and rabid passion for the Utah Grizzlies and later the Utah Hockey Club doesn't happen without the bright lights of the Salt Palace.
They were the handcart pioneers of sport here in Utah, and without them, who knows what the city would be today.
Now, for sure, KSL Sports does a way better job at diving into their history, so I've shared it here.
But as we commemorate those who came before us, let's not forget those who laid the foundation of a great work that brought a community, a state, and soon, the world, together again.