Utica Devils
| Company type | Professional ice hockey team |
|---|---|
| Industry | Sports |
| Predecessor | Maine Mariners (AHL) |
| Founded | 1987 |
| Defunct | 1993 |
| Successor | Saint John Flames |
| Headquarters | Utica, New York , United States |
| Products | Ice hockey games |
The Utica Devils were a professional ice hockey squad competing in the American Hockey League (AHL), situated in Utica, New York. Their home contests took place at the Utica Memorial Auditorium.
History
From 1987 through 1993, the Utica Devils operated as the AHL farm team for the NHL's New Jersey Devils. The franchise moved from Portland, Maine, where it was known as the Maine Mariners, following the conclusion of the 1986–87 campaign. This transition succeeded the presence of the Mohawk Valley Comets of the Atlantic Coast Hockey League, who had represented Utica since 1985. The head coaching duties were held by Tom McVie between 1987 and 1991, succeeded by Herb Brooks for the 1991–92 season and then Robbie Ftorek during 1992–93.
Among the distinguished players who passed through the team are NHL talents such as Martin Brodeur, Bill Guerin, Kevin Todd, Corey Schwab, Bobby Holík, Claude Vilgrain, Valeri Zelepukin, Jason Smith, and Jim Dowd.
In 1993, ownership changed hands when the NHL's Calgary Flames purchased the franchise and relocated it to Saint John, New Brunswick, where it was renamed the Saint John Flames. Simultaneously, New Jersey's AHL partnership shifted to the Albany River Rats. Utica briefly hosted the Colonial Hockey League's Bulldogs in 1993 before their dissolution; they were subsequently replaced by the Utica Blizzard in 1994. The AHL made a comeback in Utica in 2013 with the launch of the Utica Comets, an affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks. In April 2021, Robert Esche, who manages the Utica Comets, filed a trademark application for "Utica Devils," hinting at a possible relocation of the Binghamton Devils. By May 2021, confirmation was made that New Jersey would resume affiliation with Utica while maintaining the Comets' branding.
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
- Top goals scored in a season: 53 by Paul Ysebaert during 1989–90
- Highest assists in a single season: 81, achieved by Kevin Todd in 1990–91
- Most points recorded in one season: 118, by Kevin Todd, 1990–91
- Maximum penalty minutes in a season: 359, held by Bill Huard in 1990–91
- Best goals-against average (GAA): 2.71, posted by Chris Terreri in 1987–88
- Leading save percentage (SV%): .910, attained by Chris Terreri, 1987–88
- All-time career goals leader: 126, Jeff Madill, spanning 1987–91
- Career assists record holder: 163, Kevin Todd, from 1988 to 1993
- Most career points accumulated: 264, Paul Ysebaert, between 1987 and 1990
- All-time penalty minutes leader: 1216, Jamie Huscroft, from 1987 to 1992
- Career goaltending wins leader: Craig Billington, with a total of 59
- Top career shutouts achieved: 3, by Craig Billington
- Record for most career games played: 273, held by Dave Marcinyshyn during the years 1987–91