ECHL: Utah Grizzlies Sign Pair of Defensemen

Avery Winslow’s Junior Career

The St. Pete Beach, Florida native started his junior career in the BCHL in the 2018-19 season playing for the Wenatchee Wild. In his one season with the Wild, Winslow played in 35 games where he had two goals and four assists for six points with 12 penalty minutes.

From there, Winslow made the jump to the OHL, playing in the OHL in the 2019-20 season. During the 2019-20 season, he played in 40 games, splitting his time between the London Knights and North Bay Battalion. He registered two goals and 11 assists for 13 points with 12 penalty minutes.

With the OHL forgoing play in the 2020-21 season, Winslow went to the NCDC and spent the season playing for the Islanders Hockey Club. In four games, Winslow had one assist and four penalty minutes.

After playing in the NCDC, Winslow went back to the North Bay Battalion in the OHL to finish his junior career. Through his three OHL seasons, Winslow played in 147 games where he had seven goals and 35 assists for 42 points with 30 penalty minutes and a +28 during his time in the OHL. In 32 OHL playoff games, Winslow had three goals and eight assists for 11 points with 14 penalty minutes and a +3. Winslow was also an alternate captain for the Battalion in the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons.

Winslow’s Professional Career

After completing his junior career in the OHL in the 2022-23 season, Winslow signed with the Wheeling Nailers in the ECHL for the 2023-24 season. Winslow was traded in December of the 2023-24 season to the Orlando Solar Bears where he spent the rest of the 2023-24 season as well as the 2024-25 season. In Winslow’s two seasons in the ECHL, he has played in 67 games where he has one goal and 14 assists for 15 points with 14 penalty minutes and a -6.

Colby Enns’ Junior and Collegiate Career

The Minot, North Dakota native began his junior career in his hometown with the Minot Minotauros of the NAHL in the 2016-17 season. In 71 games, Enns had 11 goals and 19 assists for 30 points with 37 penalty minutes and a +16. In 12 playoff games, he had one goal and two assists for three points with a +9.

After two seasons with the Minotauros, Enns made the jump to the USHL where he played with the Central Illinois Flying Aces. He spent one season with the Flying Aces before starting his collegiate career. But after appearing in just one game in his first semester at the University of Nebraska-Omaha, Enns went back to the USHL and joined the Lincoln Stars. In 84 USHL games between the Stars and Flying Aces, Enns had six goals and 22 assists for 28 points with 37 penalty minutes and a -11.

After finishing the season with the Stars, Enns went back to college, this time playing at Northern Michigan University. Enns spent four seasons at Northern Michigan before transferring to Merrimack College to finish his collegiate career in the 2024-25 season. In his five collegiate seasons, Enns played in 119 games where he had five goals and 14 assists for 19 points with 47 penalty minutes and a +11.

Enns’ Professional Career

After completing his collegiate career, Enns signed with the Iowa Heartlanders to finish the 2024-25 season but only played in one game with the Heartlanders where he did not have any points or penalty minutes and had a plus/minus of +0.

What They Bring to the Grizzlies

Both Enns and Winslow should be great additions for the Grizzlies as they both bring pretty good defense. Winslow can also use his speed and ability to break out of his own zone to help his team get up the ice, and can also find ways to score when needed. Winslow has an incredible eye for the ice and is also able to find ways to set up his own teammates to score. Enns not only brings a defensive side to him, but he also brings some size with him standing at 6’2″. Enns can also set up his teammates for plays and shows up when his team needs him to.

The 2025-26 season will be Enns’ first full season of professional hockey and Winslow’s third season.