Utica Devils

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

1. "Potential move of AHL teams puts future of hockey in Binghamton in question". WBNG-TV . April 16, 2021. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
2. 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

• The Internet Hockey Database – Utica Devils