Trenton Devils
| Trenton Titans | |
 | |
| City: | Trenton, New Jersey |
|---|---|
| League: | ECHL |
| Conference: | Eastern Conference |
| Division: | Atlantic Division |
| Founded: | 1999 |
| Home Arena: | Sun National Bank Center |
| Colors: | Red, black, silver, white, light blue
|
| Owner(s): | Delaware Valley Sports Group, LLC |
| General Manager: | Richard Lisk |
| Head Coach: | Vince Williams |
| Media: | The Trenton Times, The Trentonian, WZBN |
| Affiliates: | Philadelphia Flyers (NHL) Adirondack Phantoms (AHL) |
| Franchise history | |
| 1999–2007: | Trenton Titans |
| 2007–2011: | Trenton Devils |
| 2011–2013: | Trenton Titans |
| Championships | |
| Regular Season Titles: | 2001–02 |
| Division Championships: | 2000–01, 2001–02 |
| Conference Championships: | 2000–01, 2004–05 |
| Kelly Cups: | 2004–05 |
The Trenton Titans were a professional minor league ice hockey team that currently plays in the ECHL. The team did participate in the Atlantic Divison of the ECHL's Eastern Conference. They were established in 1999 and played their home games at the Sun National Bank Center in Trenton, New Jersey. They were the ECHL affiliate of the NHL's Philadelphia Flyers and the AHL's Adirondack Phantoms .
The Titans have finished with the best record in the ECHL once in 2002, and have qualified for the playoffs for eight out of their twelve seasons to date. They won the league's Kelly Cup championship in 2005.
The Trenton Titans played as the Titans from 1999-2007. From 2007-2011, the Trenton Titans played as the Trenton Devils. After four seasons as the Trenton Devils, the franchise was renamed back to Trenton Titans for the 2011-12 ECHL season.
The ECHL announced on April 23, 2013 that the Titans have ceased operations and that all players are considered unrestricted free agents, effective immediately.[1][2]
History[]
Trenton Titans (1999–2007)[]
The Trenton Titans were founded in 1999, but the Titans began operations in 1996 when the ECHL, a minor professional hockey league and at the time known as the East Coast Hockey League, awarded Trenton an expansion team in that same year which is three years before the team played a game. The franchise started as the Titans and played their first season in 1999. The Titans served as the ECHL affiliate with of the Philadelphia Flyers (NHL), and the Philadelphia Phantoms (AHL) from 1999-2000 to 2006-07 and with the New York Islanders (NHL) and the Bridgeport Sound Tigers (AHL) from 1999-2000 to 2002-03, and again for the 2005-06 season. In 2004 the Trenton Titans celebrated their 5th anniversary.
- In 2001 the Titans reached the Kelly Cup Finals, but lost to the South Carolina Stingrays 4–1.
- In 2005 the Trenton Titans won the Kelly Cup by defeating the Florida Everblades 4–2. In 2005 both clubs in the Flyers system won their respective championships.
Following the 2004–05 ECHL season, the Titans won the Kelly Cup by defeating the Florida Everblades, four games to two. Leon Hayward was named the MVP of the Kelly Cup Finals. Rick Kowalsky was Trenton's captain. After the season, head coach Mike Havilland was hired by the AHL's Norfolk Admirals. Assistant coach Ted Dent was hired by the Columbia Inferno.
- The Trenton Titans beat the Alaska Aces in the National Conference finals, 4–3 in a seven-game series.
- The Trenton Titans beat the Reading Royals in the Northern Division finals, 3–1, in a five game series.
- The Trenton Titans beat the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies in the Northern Division quarterfinals, 3–0, in a five game series.
The team's head and assistant coach left the team after the championship run, as other teams began to find the talent in Trenton. Assistant coach Ted Dent, who had joined the team following four years with the Washington Capitals in the video operations department before being laid off in expectation of the lockout, was signed by Columbia (SC), and head coach Mike Havilland, who had rejoined the team in 2004 after two years in Atlantic City, where he had won a Kelly Cup in 2003, was signed by the AHL's Norfolk Admirals. Doug McKay, who had coached Ritten Renon in the Italian 'A' league, was named the Trenton head coach for 2005–06, but was later fired because he wanted to trade away star player Scott Bertoli.
In 2006, the New Jersey Devils brought the Trenton Titans and the franchise became the ECHL affiliate of the Devils for the 2006–07 season.[1] The team still maintained their affiliation with the Flyers for that season only.
The Trenton Devils Years (2007–11)[]
Trenton Titans primary logo while known as Trenton Devils from (2007–2011)
On May 18, 2007 and after serving as the ECHL affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers since 1999, the New Jersey Devils renamed the Trenton Titans to Trenton Devils.[3] This re-branding alienated fans in the Trenton area, many of whom were part of the Philadelphia Flyers' fan base. This combined with a lackluster record led to a significant decline in attendance over the franchise's last four seasons, positioning Trenton at or near the bottom of the league in attendance.[4] The only exception to this was on February 21, 2009, when the Trenton Devils retired former Titan Kelly Cup champion Scott Bertoli's No. 19 in front of a crowd of 6,013 fans.[5]
On July 6, 2011, the New Jersey Devils abandoned the Trenton Devils with an announcement that the franchise was originally suspending operations immediately, citing a desire to restructure their player development system to more closely mirror those of other NHL franchises. The New Jersey Devils were the only NHL team to wholly own its ECHL affiliate. The Trenton Devils failed to qualify for the playoffs for three out of the previous four seasons and had regularly posted league-low attendance numbers. Prior to the suspension of operations, the team lost $1.5 million during the 2010–11 ECHL season.[4] The New Jersey Devils gave up the franchise to the league. The Trenton Devils were then taken over by the ECHL.
While under control of the league, the ECHL worked to find a new ownership group for the Trenton Devils, with the NHL's Philadelphia Flyers eager to affiliate with them and help the franchise in a cross-promotion. The Flyers however, were not interested in owning the franchise.[6] Two weeks prior to the announcement of the Trenton Devils' suspension of operations, the ECHL registered the Trenton Titans name with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, with a logo description that was similar to the logo used by the Titans from 1999–2007.[7] One week after the Devils suspended operations, a group of local fans began lobbying investors to restart the franchise under the Titans name.[8]
Trenton Titans (2011–2013)[]
A new ownership group called Blue Line Sports, LLC bought the Trenton Devils from the league and also took over the daily operations of the franchise. The new owners renamed the Trenton Devils back to the Trenton Titans. The franchise then re-entered the ECHL for the 2011-12 ECHL season with a press release on July 28 announcing the Titans return as the local area’s hockey team. [9] The team will remain in the Eastern Conference's Atlantic Division and will play according to their original schedule for the 2011–12 season. The franchise then reaffiliated with the Philadelphia Flyers since the 2006–07 season.
Former Titan all-time scoring leader Scott Bertoli, whose number 19 is the only one to be retired by the franchise, was named senior adviser of hockey operations for the Titans. Former Titans' general manager from 2001–05, Richard Lisk, rejoined the team and was appointed to be the franchise's president and CEO.[10]
Former Titans defenseman and previous assistant coach during the Trenton Devils years Vince Williams was named head coach of the Titans on August 1, 2011.[11][12]
NHL veteran and original Titan Todd Fedoruk was named assistant coach on November 9, 2011.[13][14]
The Titans were purchase by Delaware Valley Sports Group, LLC on March 28,2012. This was not a transfer in ownership as Delaware Valley Sports Group, LLC also purchased the Titans' owner Blue Line Sports, LLC as well. [2]
On Tuesday April 23, 2013 the Titans announced they will cease operations for the 2013-14 season. [15][2]
Owners[]
The Titans have been owned by four different owners in their history. Geoffrey Berman owned the franchise from 1999-2006. The New Jersey Devils were the second owners that owned the franchise from 2006-2011. The Blue Line Sports, LLC then owned the franchise for the 2011-12 season only. The Titans are currently owned by Delaware Valley Sports Group, LLC.
Geoffrey Berman and later the New Jersey Devils operated the Titans using Trenton Devils, LLC. The organization Trenton Devils, LLC operated the franchise from 1999-2011. Trenton Devils, LLC was known as Trenton Hockey Club, LLC from 1999-2006. In 2006, Trenton Devils, LLC (known as Trenton Hockey Club, LLC at the time) became a subsidiary of New Jersey Devils, LLC, the organization that operates the New Jersey Devils. Trenton Devils, LLC, the original organization ceased operations in 2011. Blue Line Sports, LLC operated the franchise instead of just owning the franchise for the 2011-12 season only. Delaware Valley Sports Group, LLC now operates the Titans instead of just owning the franchise.
The Titans played in the ECHL using two memberships in their history. Their first membership lasted from 1999-2011. Their second membership came into effect in 2011. The reason that the franchise was given a new membership was because the team's current organization Blue Line Sports, LLC/Delaware Valley Sports Group, LLC didn't get the franchise from the previous organization Trenton Devils, LLC and instead got the franchise from the league. The previous organization Trenton Devils, LLC returned the franchise to the league and the league took over the franchise before the current organization Blue Line Sports, LLC/Delaware Valley Sports Group, LLC took over franchise and renaming the franchise from Trenton Devils back to Trenton Titans. The reason for this transaction was so that the franchise can avoid paying off the debt that was owed during their time as the Trenton Devils. The Titans are the only team in ECHL history to use two memberships.[16]
Fanbase[]
The Titans reintroduce their brand to both the Central Jersey area and the Philadelphia area and will continue this process. The Titans are the only minor league hockey team in the Philadelphia area. The Titans previously shared the fanbase with the Philadelphia Phantoms, a former minor league hockey team that played at the Wachovia Spectrum in Philadelphia from 1996–2009. The Phantoms played in the American Hockey League, a league above the Titans’ league. The Phantoms were also affiliated with the Flyers. The Phantoms still exist today and are still affiliated with the Flyers, but are now playing in Glens Falls, New York. The Philadelphia Phantoms are now known as the Adirondack Phantoms.
Intrastate rivalry[]
Before moving to Stockton, California to become the Stockton Thunder in 2005, the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies were rivals of the Titans. They played for the Garden State Cup, which was awarded to the regular season series winner between New Jersey's two ECHL teams.
- 2001-02: Trenton wins, 6 games to 4
- 2002-03: Atlantic City wins, 6 games to 4
- 2003-04: Trenton wins, 6 games to 4
- 2004-05: Trenton wins, 5-3-2
Season-by-season record[]
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime losses, SOL = Shootout losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, PIM = Penalties in minutes
| Season | GP | W | L | T | OTL | SOL | Pts | GF | GA | PIM | Finish | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999–2000 | 70 | 37 | 29 | 4 | — | — | 78 | 233 | 199 | 1461 | 4th Northeast Division | Lost in conference finals |
| 2000–01 | 72 | 50 | 18 | 4 | — | — | 104 | 236 | 164 | 1284 | 1st Northeast Division | Lost in Kelly Cup finals |
| 2001–02 | 72 | 46 | 16 | 10 | — | — | 102 | 238 | 178 | 1822 | 1st Northeast Division | Lost in divisional finals |
| 2002–03 | 72 | 38 | 24 | 10 | — | — | 86 | 229 | 207 | 1860 | 4th Northeast Division | Lost in divisional semifinals |
| 2003–04 | 72 | 37 | 28 | 7 | — | — | 81 | 222 | 193 | 1569 | 6th North Division | Out of playoffs |
| 2004–05 | 72 | 42 | 21 | 9 | — | — | 93 | 213 | 197 | 1441 | 2nd East Division | Won Kelly Cup |
| 2005–06 | 72 | 31 | 36 | 5 | — | — | 67 | 166 | 214 | 1318 | 5th East Division | Lost in divisional quarterfinals |
| 2006–07 | 72 | 36 | 31 | — | 1 | 4 | 77 | 250 | 242 | 1400 | 4th North Division | Lost in divisional semifinals |
| 2007–08 | 72 | 29 | 36 | — | 3 | 4 | 65 | 183 | 220 | 1260 | 6th North Division | Out of playoffs |
| 2008–09 | 72 | 40 | 25 | — | 2 | 5 | 87 | 236 | 206 | 1146 | 2nd North Division | Lost in divisional semifinals |
| 2009–10 | 72 | 33 | 30 | — | 4 | 5 | 75 | 244 | 252 | 1465 | 3rd East Division | Out of playoffs |
| 2010–11 | 72 | 27 | 37 | — | 2 | 6 | 62 | 218 | 257 | 1255 | 3rd Atlantic Division | Out of playoffs |
Playoffs[]
| Season | Prelim | 1st round | 2nd round | Conference Finals |
Kelly Cup Finals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999–2000 | — | W, 3-0, Richmond | W, 3-2, Hampton Roads | L, 2-4, Peoria | — |
| 2000–01 | — | W, 3-1, Johnstown | W, 3-0, Toledo | W, 4-3, Peoria | L, 1-4, South Carolina |
| 2001–02 | — | W, 3-1, Roanoke | L, 0-3, Atlantic City | — | — |
| 2002–03 | — | L, 0-3, Atlantic City | — | — | — |
| 2003–04 | Out of playoffs | ||||
| 2004–05 | — | W, 3-0, Atlantic City | W, 3-1, Reading | W, 4-3, Alaska | W, 4-2, Florida |
| 2005–06 | L, 0-2, Johnstown | — | — | — | — |
| 2006–07 | W, 2-0, Johnstown | L, 0-3, Dayton | — | — | — |
| 2007–08 | Out of playoffs | ||||
| 2008–09 | — | L, 3-4, Elmira | — | — | — |
| 2009–10 | Out of playoffs | ||||
| 2010–11 | Out of playoffs | ||||
Retired numbers[]
19 Scott Bertoli (Retired on Feb. 21, 2009)
Media[]
The Titans are covered by the two city newspapers, The Trenton Times and The Trentonian. Hunterdon County Democrat writer Mike Ashmore kept an active blog[17] of the team during their time as the Devils. Local television station WZBN does regular reports on the team as well.
WRRC (107.7 FM The Bronc) carries all Titans games, both over-the-air and through an Internet link, with Daryle Dobos calling the action.
The games were broadcast on radio during the first nine years of existence on WHWH, WBCB-AM, and WTSR, In 2008, the broadcasts switched to internet-only, and were handled by first-year play-by-play announcer Paul Roper, who was selected to broadcast the 2009 ECHL All-Star Game.
References[]
- ↑ ECHL (April 23, 2013). Trenton Ceases Operations. Press release. Retrieved on April 27, 2013.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 George, John. "Trenton loses a hockey team", April 23, 2013. Retrieved on April 26, 2013.
- ↑ Kimelman, Adam (May 18, 2007). Trenton Titans become Trenton Devils. The Times of Trenton. Retrieved on July 7, 2011.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Abdur-Rahman, Sulaiman (July 6, 2011). ECHL's Trenton Devils suspend operations. The Trentonian. Retrieved on July 7, 2011.
- ↑ Game Summary 610. ECHL (February 21, 2009). Retrieved on July 7, 2011.
- ↑ Kimelman, Adam (July 6, 2011). Flyers prospect achieves "Trial on the Isle" first. National Hockey League. Retrieved on July 10, 2011.
- ↑ Creamer, Chris (July 6, 2011). Trenton Devils suspend operations... Titans returning?. SportsLogos.Net. Retrieved on July 10, 2011.
- ↑ Duffy, Erin. "With Trenton Devils iced, local group wants to revive hockey team’s predecessor", The Times of Trenton, July 16, 2011. Retrieved on July 19, 2011.
- ↑ "Titans return">Rosenau, Joshua. "Trenton Titans minor league hockey team to be revived at Sun National Bank Center", The Times of Trenton, July 27, 2011. Retrieved on July 28, 2011.
- ↑ Duffy, Erin. "Fans cheer the return of the Trenton Titans", The Times of Trenton, July 29, 2011. Retrieved on July 29, 2011.
- ↑ ECHL (August 1, 2011). Williams named head coach of Titans. Press release. Retrieved on August 1, 2011.
- ↑ "Trenton Titans name Williams head coach", August 1, 2011. Retrieved on August 1, 2011.
- ↑ Todd Fedoruk named TItans Assistant Coach. Retrieved on 9 November 2011.
- ↑ http://www.echl.com/original-titan-nhl-veteran-fedoruk-named-trenton-s-assistant-coach-p174038
- ↑ http://www.trentontitanshockey.com/trenton-ceases-operations/10034/
- ↑ Press release. "ECHL Board of Governors approves membership for Trenton Titans", ECHL, July 28, 2011. Retrieved on July 28, 2011.
- ↑ Inside the Trenton Devils
External links[]
| Preceded by Idaho Steelheads |
Kelly Cup Champions 2004–05 |
Succeeded by Alaska Aces |