LIMSwiki
| Utica Devils | |
|---|---|
 | |
| City | Utica, New York |
| League | American Hockey League |
| Founded | 1977 |
| Operated | 1987–1993 |
| Home arena | Utica Memorial Auditorium |
| Colors | Green, red and white (original) Red and black (later) |
| Affiliate | New Jersey Devils (NHL) (1987–1993) |
| Franchise history | |
| 1977–1987 | Maine Mariners |
| 1987–1993 | Utica Devils |
| 1993–2003 | Saint John Flames |
| 2005–2007 | Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights |
| 2007–2009 | Quad City Flames |
| 2009–2014 | Abbotsford Heat |
| 2014–2015 | Adirondack Flames |
| 2015–2022 | Stockton Heat |
| 2022–Present | Calgary Wranglers |
The Utica Devils were a professional ice hockey team of the American Hockey League (AHL). The team was based in Utica, New York, and played its home games at the Utica Memorial Auditorium.
History
The Utica Devils were AHL affiliate of the National Hockey League's New Jersey Devils from 1987 to 1993. The franchise was moved from Portland, Maine, at the end of the 1986–87 season, where it played as the Maine Mariners. The Utica Devils displaced the Mohawk Valley Comets of the Atlantic Coast Hockey League that had played there since 1985. Utica was coached by Tom McVie for four seasons from 1987 to 1991, followed by Herb Brooks in 1991–92 and Robbie Ftorek in 1992–93.
Notable players who at one time were Utica Devils include Martin Brodeur, Bill Guerin, Kevin Todd, Corey Schwab, Bobby Holik, Claude Vilgrain, Valeri Zelepukin, Jason Smith, and Jim Dowd.
In 1993, the NHL's Calgary Flames purchased the Utica Devils franchise from the New Jersey Devils and subsequently relocated the team to Saint John, New Brunswick, to become the Saint John Flames. The Devils moved their AHL affiliation to the Albany River Rats the same year. Utica gained the Bulldogs of the Colonial Hockey League in 1993, which only lasted one season before folding and being replaced by the Utica Blizzard in 1994. The AHL eventually returned to Utica in 2013 with the Utica Comets using the Vancouver Canucks' franchise. In April 2021, a new trademark was filed for the brand "Utica Devils" by Robert Esche, the operator of the Utica Comets, for a potential relocation of the Binghamton Devils.[1] On May 6, it was announced that the Devils would affiliate with Utica, but the Comets name would remain.[2]
Season-by-season results
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Games | Won | Lost | Tied | OTL | Points | Goals for |
Goals against |
Standing | Year | 1st round |
2nd round |
3rd round |
Finals |
| 1987–88 | 80 | 34 | 33 | 11 | 2 | 81 | 318 | 307 | 5th, South | 1988 | Did not qualify | |||
| 1988–89 | 80 | 37 | 34 | 9 | — | 83 | 309 | 295 | 3rd, South | 1989 | L, 1–4, HER | — | — | — |
| 1989–90 | 80 | 44 | 32 | 4 | — | 92 | 354 | 315 | 4th, South | 1990 | L, 1–4, RCH | — | — | — |
| 1990–91 | 80 | 36 | 42 | 2 | — | 74 | 325 | 346 | 6th, South | 1991 | Did not qualify | |||
| 1991–92 | 80 | 34 | 40 | 6 | — | 74 | 268 | 313 | 4th, South | 1992 | L, 0–4, BNG | — | — | — |
| 1992–93 | 80 | 33 | 36 | 11 | — | 77 | 325 | 354 | 3rd, South | 1993 | L, 1–4, RCH | — | — | — |
Team records
- Goals: 53, Paul Ysebaert, 1989–90
- Assists: 81, Kevin Todd, 1990–91
- Points: 118, Kevin Todd, 1990–91
- Penalty Minutes: 359, Bill Huard, 1990–91
- GAA: 2.71, Chris Terreri, 1987–88
- SV%: .910, Chris Terreri, 1987–88
- Career goals: 126, Jeff Madill, 1987–91
- Career assists: 163, Kevin Todd, 1988–93
- Career points: 264, Paul Ysebaert, 1987–90
- Career penalty minutes: 1216, Jamie Huscroft, 1987–92
- Career goaltending wins: Craig Billington, 59
- Career shutouts: 3, Craig Billington
- Career games: 273, Dave Marcinyshyn, 1987–91
References
- ^ "Potential move of AHL teams puts future of hockey in Binghamton in question". WBNG-TV. April 16, 2021. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
- ^ Birnell, Ben (May 6, 2021). "Utica Comets Rob Esche: 'It's really exciting to rebrand the Utica Comets'". Observer-Dispatch. Retrieved May 6, 2021.
External links
