Report: Trenton Titans to replace ECHL's T-Devils

Just three weeks after the New Jersey Devils announced the suspension of the ECHL's Trenton Devils beginning this coming season, reports are surfacing that the Trenton Titans will be re-established in time for the 2011-12 season. Inside the Trenton Devils has posted this press release, which apparently originated from the new team:

(PR) The Trenton Titans will make their return to the Sun National Bank Center on Opening Night, October 22, 2011 when they take on the Florida Everblades. Season tickets start as low as $396. You can purchase tickets by visiting the Titans on the web at www.trentontitanshockey.com or by calling the Titans offices at 609 341-1100. Help us bring back your team.

In support of the press release comes the new Twitter account @TTitans, who's profile reads:

Trenton's ECHL team from 1999-2006, re-established July 28, 2011. Proud affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers. 2005 Kelly Cup Champion. http://trentontitanshockey.com

The first post on the new account reads as follows:

We are back. The Titans are reborn. Press Conference at Sun National Bank Center at 1 p.m. tomorrow.

Interesting to note that as of this moment (3:45 PM) the website http://trentontitanshockey.com does not appear to be active, but the new team may be waiting for tomorrow's press conference before launching their site.

What's unclear is whether the Titans will be an entirely new franchise, or if the Devils have finally sold their franchise to somebody willing to operate the team. A July 11th post at Inside the Trenton Devils suggested the Philadelphia Flyers may have interest in an affiliation with a Trenton team, should an ownership group be found, and based on the Twitter account's profile description that seems to be the case.

I will post more information as it becomes available.

Note: Don Ferlazzo is not an employee of the Albany Devils, nor is this blog sponsored or influenced by the organization in any way. 

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Former T-Devils head coach, Rats defenseman Kevin Dean joins Providence

As reported by The Providence Journal yesterday, former Trenton Devils head coach Kevin Dean has landed on his feet as an assistant coach for AHL Providence:

Kevin Dean, who won the Stanley Cup with New Jersey and the Calder Cup with Albany in the same season in 1995, is the new assistant coach for the Providence Bruins, the Boston Bruins announced on Wednesday night.

A former defenseman, Dean, 42, coached the Trenton Devils of the East Coast Hockey League to a 27-37 record last year in his first season as a head coach. Last in the league in attendance and a perennial money-loser, the Trenton franchise suspended operations in April.

Shout-out to Tom Gulitti, who brought this to my attention on Twitter today.

Including his championship season with the River Rats in 1995, Dean played parts of five seasons in Albany between 1993-94 and 1997-98, with most of his games being played during his first two years in the Devils organization. He went on to have a fine NHL career, retiring as a player after the 2001-02 season.

Note: Don Ferlazzo is not an employee of the Albany Devils, nor is this blog sponsored or influenced by the organization in any way.

Lamoriello confirms coaches Kowalski and Albelin to remain with Albany

With the Trenton Devils suspending operations for the 2011-12 season and the New Jersey Devils having named a new head coach, one had to wonder if changes were in store for the Albany Devils coaching staff as well.

That question was put to rest on Thursday, when Fire & Ice's Tom Gulitti reported that Albany head coach Rick Kowalski and assistant coach Tommy Albelin will maintain their positions with the team for the coming season. As reported by Tom Gulitti:

Lamoriello said that Rick Kowalski will remain the head coach and Tommy Albelin will continue as an assistant in Albany next season.

Still unknown are the fates of the Trenton Devils coaching staff (head coach Kevin Dean and assistant coach Vince Williams) and the coaches that served as assistants in New Jersey last season (Adam Oats, Larry Robinson and Chris Terreri). Recently-named NJ Devils coach Pete Deboer is expected to sit down with the NHL assistant coaches shortly, while the Trenton staff continues to await re-assignment within the organization.

UPDATE #1: Tom Gulitti is reporting that former Trenton Devils head coach (and former Albany River Rats captain) Kevin Dean has joined the American Hockey League's Providence Bruins as an assistant coach for the upcoming season.

UPDATE #2: The newly re-established Trenton Titans have hired former Trenton Devils assistant coach Vince Williams as their new head coach.

Note: Don Ferlazzo is not an employee of the Albany Devils, nor is this blog sponsored or influenced by the organization in any way.

Update: Trenton Devils to suspend operations beginning in 2011-12

As reported by Tom Gulitti of Fire & Ice, the ECHL's Trenton Devils will suspend operations beginning in 2011-12, and will not participate in the league next season. From Fire & Ice:

The Trenton Devils will suspend operations, beginning with the 2011-12 season, The Record/Northjersey.com has learned.

A source said the New Jersey Devils, which purchased the Trenton team in 2006, had sought a buyer for the ECHL franchise, which plays its home games at Sun National Bank Center, but was unable to find one and is moving forward with restructuring the organization’s minor league system.

The 2011-12 ECHL scheduled has already been announced, but teams were told at the league’s board of governors’ meeting last month to prepare a list of alternate available dates at their respective arenas in case a new schedule had to be formulated to account for the Trenton Devils not participating. Tickets, which have been on sale since April, will also have to be refunded.

Devils president and general manager Lou Lamoriello would not comment last week when asked if the Trenton team is committed to playing the 2011-12 season. It is unclear where the Devils’ ECHL-level players would play without a team in Trenton.  The Devils did not have a full-time ECHL affliate prior to buying the Trenton team and were the only NHL team to own an ECHL franchise.

Read the full article here.

How exactly the Devils plan to restructure their minor league system is unclear at this point. A likely scenario would be a new affiliation agreement with one of the remaining ECHL teams. Other options would be the relocation of the Trenton franchise (unlikely for 2011-12) or even the sale of the team to a new owner prior to the start of next season (even less likely).

The report goes on to suggest that the move could eventually make way for the AHL Devils to relocate to New Jersey, playing home games at the Sun National Bank Center (the now-former home of the T-Devils) or a new arena in Sayreville. It is also noted that the Devils will begin the second year of their five year lease at Albany's Times Union Center starting in 2011-12.

Note: Don Ferlazzo is not an employee of the Albany Devils, nor is this blog sponsored or influenced by the organization in any way.

Report: Future of ECHL's Trenton Devils uncertain

The future of the Trenton Devils, the East Coast Hockey League affiliate of the New Jersey Devils, remains uncertain, according to a report from The Times of Trenton:

Founded more than a decade ago to draw fans to what was then Mercer County’s new sports and concert arena, the now-struggling Trenton Devils minor league hockey team faces an uncertain future.

At the team’s peak, more than 7,000 fans packed what’s now the Sun National Bank Center to watch pucks — and frequently fists — fly.

But despite its position as one of the arena’s main attractions, the team has suffered from slumping sales in recent years and finished last in its conference this year, with a season record of 27 wins to 37 losses.

Team officials huddled close yesterday as rumors swirled about the fate of the capital city’s hockey team.

“We’re still in discussions determining what will transpire. I’m not free to talk about it,” said Lou Lamoriello, the CEO and general manager of the NJ Devils, who own the minor league affiliate.

Hockey and local officials refused to comment further yesterday.

Lamoriello said more information on the status of the Devils, often called the T-Devils, will be released later this week.

Read the entire article here.

As the Devils' ECHL affiliate, Trenton is the organization's lower-level minor league team, developing players as they prepare to make the jump to the AHL with Albany, and eventually to the NHL with New Jersey. Several players appeared in games for both Trenton and Albany in 2011-12, including goaltender Dave Caruso, who played 18 games for Albany last season.

The Times report goes on to suggest that Trenton could either relocate or simply fold, should the Devils decide not to continue operations in New Jersey's capital city. In the event that the T-Devils do fold, New Jersey would need to find another minor league team to house their lower-level prospects.

Note: Don Ferlazzo is not an employee of the Albany Devils, nor is this blog sponsored or influenced by the organization in any way.