The Utica Devils were a professional
ice hockey
Ice hockey (or simply hockey in North America) is a team sport played on ice skates, usually on an Ice rink, ice skating rink with Ice hockey rink, lines and markings specific to the sport. It belongs to a family of sports called hockey. Tw ...
team of the
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League (AHL) is a professional ice hockey league in North America that serves as the primary developmental league of the National Hockey League (NHL). The league comprises 32 teams, with 26 in the United States and 6 in Cana ...
(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
The National Hockey League (NHL; , ''LNH'') is a professional ice hockey league in North America composed of 32 teams25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. The NHL is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Cana ...
's
New Jersey Devils
The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey. The Devils compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The club w ...
from 1987 to 1993. The franchise was moved from
Portland, Maine
Portland is the List of municipalities in Maine, most populous city in the U.S. state of Maine and the county seat, seat of Cumberland County, Maine, Cumberland County. Portland's population was 68,408 at the 2020 census. The Portland metropolit ...
, 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
The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary. The Flames compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. The ...
purchased the Utica Devils franchise from the New Jersey Devils and subsequently relocated the team to
Saint John, New Brunswick
Saint John () is a port#seaport, seaport city located on the Bay of Fundy in the province of New Brunswick, Canada. It is Canada's oldest Municipal corporation, incorporated city, established by royal charter on May 18, 1785, during the reign ...
, 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
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver. The Canucks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conferenc ...
' 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. On May 6, it was announced that the Devils would affiliate with Utica, but the Comets name would remain.
Season-by-season results
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
External links
The Internet Hockey Database – Utica Devils
New Jersey Devils minor league affiliates
Defunct ice hockey teams in New York (state)
Ice hockey clubs established in 1987
Ice hockey clubs disestablished in 1993
1987 establishments in New York (state)
1993 disestablishments in New York (state)
{{NewYork-sport-team-stub