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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 [[American Hockey League|AHL]]'s [[Norfolk Admirals]]. Assistant coach Ted Dent was hired by the [[Columbia Inferno]].
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 [[American Hockey League|AHL]]'s [[Norfolk Admirals]]. Assistant coach Ted Dent was hired by the [[Columbia Inferno]].


In 2006, the [[New Jersey Devils]] brought the Trenton Titans and the team became the [[ECHL]] affiliate of the Devils for the [[2006–07 ECHL season|2006–07 season]].[http://web.archive.org/web/20061112143015/http://www.trentontitans.com/display_story.asp?sid=720&nt=1] The team still maintained their affiliation with the Flyers for that season only.
In 2006, the [[New Jersey Devils]] brought the Trenton Titans and the franchise became the [[ECHL]] affiliate of the Devils for the [[2006–07 ECHL season|2006–07 season]].[http://web.archive.org/web/20061112143015/http://www.trentontitans.com/display_story.asp?sid=720&nt=1] The team still maintained their affiliation with the Flyers for that season only.


===Trenton Devils (2007–11)===
===Trenton Devils (2007–11)===
[[Image:TrentonDevils.png|thumb|right|200px|Main logo (2007–2011)]]
[[Image:TrentonDevils.png|thumb|right|200px|Main logo (2007–2011)]]
In 2007 the [[New Jersey Devils]] announced that the Titans were changing their name to the '''Trenton Devils'''.<ref>{{cite web | last = Kimelman | first = Adam | title = Trenton Titans become Trenton Devils | publisher = ''[[The Times of Trenton]]'' | date = May 18, 2007 | url = http://blog.nj.com/timesupdates/2007/05/trenton_titans_become_trenton.html | accessdate = July 7, 2011}}</ref> This re-branding alienated fans in the Trenton area, many of whom were part of the Philadelphia Flyers' fan base. The name change and the team's lackluster record led to a significant decline in attendance, positioning Trenton at or near the bottom of the league in attendance.<ref name="Trenton" /> 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.<ref>{{cite web | title = Game Summary 610 | publisher = [[ECHL]] | date = February 21, 2009 | url = http://echl.com/stats/game-summary.php?game_id=6923 | accessdate = July 7, 2011}}</ref>
In 2007 the [[New Jersey Devils]] renamed the Titans to the '''Trenton Devils'''.<ref>{{cite web | last = Kimelman | first = Adam | title = Trenton Titans become Trenton Devils | publisher = ''[[The Times of Trenton]]'' | date = May 18, 2007 | url = http://blog.nj.com/timesupdates/2007/05/trenton_titans_become_trenton.html | accessdate = July 7, 2011}}</ref> This re-branding alienated fans in the Trenton area, many of whom were part of the Philadelphia Flyers' fan base. The name change and the team's lackluster record led to a significant decline in attendance, positioning Trenton at or near the bottom of the league in attendance.<ref name="Trenton" /> 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.<ref>{{cite web | title = Game Summary 610 | publisher = [[ECHL]] | date = February 21, 2009 | url = http://echl.com/stats/game-summary.php?game_id=6923 | accessdate = July 7, 2011}}</ref>


On July 6, 2011, the New Jersey Devils announced that the Trenton Devils would be suspending operations immediately, citing a desire to restructure their player development system to more closely mirror those of other NHL franchises (New Jersey was the only NHL team to wholly own its ECHL affiliate). Trenton had failed to qualify for the playoffs in three 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&ndash;11 ECHL season]].<ref name="Trenton">{{cite web | last = Abdur-Rahman | first = Sulaiman | title = ECHL's Trenton Devils suspend operations | publisher = ''[[The Trentonian]]'' | date = July 6, 2011 | url = http://www.trentonian.com/articles/2011/07/06/sports/doc4e14ca3a86873929944249.txt?viewmode=fullstory | accessdate = July 7, 2011}}</ref> Trenton Devils, LLC, a subsidiary of the New Jersey Devils, returned the franchise to the league and ceased operations.
On July 6, 2011, the New Jersey Devils announced that the Trenton Devils would be suspending operations immediately, citing a desire to restructure their player development system to more closely mirror those of other NHL franchises (New Jersey was the only NHL team to wholly own its ECHL affiliate). Trenton had failed to qualify for the playoffs in three 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&ndash;11 ECHL season]].<ref name="Trenton">{{cite web | last = Abdur-Rahman | first = Sulaiman | title = ECHL's Trenton Devils suspend operations | publisher = ''[[The Trentonian]]'' | date = July 6, 2011 | url = http://www.trentonian.com/articles/2011/07/06/sports/doc4e14ca3a86873929944249.txt?viewmode=fullstory | accessdate = July 7, 2011}}</ref> Trenton Devils, LLC, a subsidiary of the New Jersey Devils, returned the franchise to the league and ceased operations.
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===Trenton Titans (2011&ndash;current)===
===Trenton Titans (2011&ndash;current)===
Blue Line Sports LLC, managed by John and Eileen Martinson, took over the team, restoring the original Titans moniker and affiliating the team once again with the [[Philadelphia Flyers]].<ref name = "Titans return">{{cite news | last = Rosenau | first = Joshua | title = Trenton Titans minor league hockey team to be revived at Sun National Bank Center |publisher = ''The Times of Trenton'' | url = http://www.nj.com/mercer/index.ssf/2011/07/trenton_titans_minor_league_ho.html | date = July 27, 2011 | accessdate = July 28, 2011}}</ref><ref name="ECHLapproval2011">{{cite news | last = Press release | title = ECHL Board of Governors approves membership for Trenton Titans | publisher = [[ECHL]] | url = http://echl.com/echl-board-of-governors-approves-membership-for-trenton-titans-p171962 | date = July 28, 2011 | accessdate = July 28, 2011}}</ref> The team will remain in the Eastern Conference's Atlantic Division and will play according to their original schedule for the [[2011&ndash;12 ECHL season]].<ref name="ECHLapproval2011"/>
Blue Line Sports LLC, managed by John and Eileen Martinson, took over the franchise, restoring the original Titans moniker and affiliating the team once again with the [[Philadelphia Flyers]].<ref name = "Titans return">{{cite news | last = Rosenau | first = Joshua | title = Trenton Titans minor league hockey team to be revived at Sun National Bank Center |publisher = ''The Times of Trenton'' | url = http://www.nj.com/mercer/index.ssf/2011/07/trenton_titans_minor_league_ho.html | date = July 27, 2011 | accessdate = July 28, 2011}}</ref><ref name="ECHLapproval2011">{{cite news | last = Press release | title = ECHL Board of Governors approves membership for Trenton Titans | publisher = [[ECHL]] | url = http://echl.com/echl-board-of-governors-approves-membership-for-trenton-titans-p171962 | date = July 28, 2011 | accessdate = July 28, 2011}}</ref> The team will remain in the Eastern Conference's Atlantic Division and will play according to their original schedule for the [[2011&ndash;12 ECHL season]].<ref name="ECHLapproval2011"/>


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 team. Former Titans' general manager from 2001&ndash;05, Richard Lisk, rejoined the team and was appointed to be the franchise's president and CEO.<ref>{{cite news | last = Duffy | first = Erin | title = Fans cheer the return of the Trenton Titans | publisher = ''The Times of Trenton'' | url = http://www.nj.com/mercer/index.ssf/2011/07/fans_cheer_the_return_of_the_t.html | date = July 29, 2011 | accessdate = July 29, 2011}}</ref>
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 team. Former Titans' general manager from 2001&ndash;05, Richard Lisk, rejoined the team and was appointed to be the franchise's president and CEO.<ref>{{cite news | last = Duffy | first = Erin | title = Fans cheer the return of the Trenton Titans | publisher = ''The Times of Trenton'' | url = http://www.nj.com/mercer/index.ssf/2011/07/fans_cheer_the_return_of_the_t.html | date = July 29, 2011 | accessdate = July 29, 2011}}</ref>

Revision as of 13:21, 19 September 2011

Trenton Titans
File:TrentonTitans.png
CityTrenton, New Jersey
LeagueECHL
ConferenceEastern Conference
DivisionAtlantic Division
Founded1999
Home arenaSun National Bank Center
ColorsRed, black, silver, white          
Owner(s)Blue Line Sports, LLC
General managerRichard Lisk
Head coachVince Williams
MediaThe Trenton Times, The Trentonian, WZBN
AffiliatesPhiladelphia Flyers (NHL)
Adirondack Phantoms (AHL)
Franchise history
1999–2007Trenton Titans
2007–2011Trenton Devils
2011–currentTrenton Titans
Championships
Regular season titles2001–02
Division titles2000–01, 2001–02
Conference titles2000–01, 2004–05
Kelly Cups2004–05

The Trenton Titans are a professional minor league ice hockey team that currently plays in the ECHL. The team participates in the Atlantic Divison of the ECHL's Eastern Conference. The Titans play their home games at the Sun National Bank Center in Trenton, New Jersey. Established in 1999, the team is currently owned by Blue Line Sports, LLC, a local ownership group.[1] They are 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 franchise played as the Trenton Titans from 1999-2007. From 2007-2011, the franchise played as the Trenton Devils. The franchise was renamed back to Trenton Titans for the 2011–12 ECHL season.

History

Trenton Titans (1999–2007)

The ECHL awarded Trenton an expansion team in 1996, three years before the club played a game. The franchise started as the Trenton Titans and played their first season in 1999. The Titans were affiliated with 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.

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.

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.

Trenton Devils (2007–11)

Main logo (2007–2011)

In 2007 the New Jersey Devils renamed the Titans to the Trenton Devils.[2] This re-branding alienated fans in the Trenton area, many of whom were part of the Philadelphia Flyers' fan base. The name change and the team's lackluster record led to a significant decline in attendance, positioning Trenton at or near the bottom of the league in attendance.[3] 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.[4]

On July 6, 2011, the New Jersey Devils announced that the Trenton Devils would be suspending operations immediately, citing a desire to restructure their player development system to more closely mirror those of other NHL franchises (New Jersey was the only NHL team to wholly own its ECHL affiliate). Trenton had failed to qualify for the playoffs in three 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.[3] Trenton Devils, LLC, a subsidiary of the New Jersey Devils, returned the franchise to the league and ceased operations.

The ECHL worked to find an new ownership group for the franchise, with the NHL's Philadelphia Flyers eager to affiliate with franchise and help in cross-promotion. The Flyers, however, were not interested in owning the ECHL franchise.[5] 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.[6] One week after the Devils suspended operations, a group of local fans began lobbying investors to restart the franchise under the Titans name.[7]

Trenton Titans (2011–current)

Blue Line Sports LLC, managed by John and Eileen Martinson, took over the franchise, restoring the original Titans moniker and affiliating the team once again with the Philadelphia Flyers.[1][8] The team will remain in the Eastern Conference's Atlantic Division and will play according to their original schedule for the 2011–12 ECHL season.[8]

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 team. Former Titans' general manager from 2001–05, Richard Lisk, rejoined the team and was appointed to be the franchise's president and CEO.[9]

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.[10][11]

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[12] of the team during their time as the Devils. Local television station WZBN does regular reports on the team as well.

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

  1. ^ a b Rosenau, Joshua (July 27, 2011). "Trenton Titans minor league hockey team to be revived at Sun National Bank Center". The Times of Trenton. Retrieved July 28, 2011. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  2. ^ Kimelman, Adam (May 18, 2007). "Trenton Titans become Trenton Devils". The Times of Trenton. Retrieved July 7, 2011. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  3. ^ a b Abdur-Rahman, Sulaiman (July 6, 2011). "ECHL's Trenton Devils suspend operations". The Trentonian. Retrieved July 7, 2011. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  4. ^ "Game Summary 610". ECHL. February 21, 2009. Retrieved July 7, 2011.
  5. ^ Kimelman, Adam (July 6, 2011). "Flyers prospect achieves "Trial on the Isle" first". National Hockey League. Retrieved July 10, 2011.
  6. ^ Creamer, Chris (July 6, 2011). "Trenton Devils suspend operations... Titans returning?". SportsLogos.Net. Retrieved July 10, 2011. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  7. ^ Duffy, Erin (July 16, 2011). "With Trenton Devils iced, local group wants to revive hockey team's predecessor". The Times of Trenton. Retrieved July 19, 2011. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  8. ^ a b Press release (July 28, 2011). "ECHL Board of Governors approves membership for Trenton Titans". ECHL. Retrieved July 28, 2011.
  9. ^ Duffy, Erin (July 29, 2011). "Fans cheer the return of the Trenton Titans". The Times of Trenton. Retrieved July 29, 2011. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  10. ^ "Williams named head coach of Titans" (Press release). ECHL. August 1, 2011. Retrieved August 1, 2011.
  11. ^ "Trenton Titans name Williams head coach". The Trentonian. August 1, 2011. Retrieved August 1, 2011.
  12. ^ Inside the Trenton Devils

External links

Preceded by Kelly Cup Champions
2004–05 		Succeeded by
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