New Jersey is getting another hockey team; however, it won't be in the NHL. It was announced last year that the Utah Grizzlies (ECHL) would relocate to Trenton and rebrand as the Ironhawks. They will play their home games at Cure Insurance Arena.
For the first time since 2013, professional hockey is returning to Trenton. There was early speculation about whether the New Jersey Devils would end their affiliation with the Adirondack Thunder and move on to the Ironhawks. The Devils originally owned Trenton's hockey club from 2006 to 2011, which is why the team was called the Trenton Devils at the time.
However, it was revealed that the Ironhawks would be the New York Islanders' ECHL affiliate. Ironically, the Islanders were Trenton's ECHL affiliate before the Devils purchased them. Presently, the Devils and Thunder agreed to a mutual third-year option on May 22. Affiliation aside, Devils fans should actually be excited about the return of professional hockey in Trenton.
1. More Options
Obviously, being a Devils fan is the top priority. However, having more professional teams in the Garden State is a great thing. Whenever I take the train from Trenton Transit Center to Penn Station-Newark, I notice the train being filled with Devils fans after each stop.
Another great example would be the recent success of the PWHL. The New York Sirens play their home games at the Prudential Center. They averaged about 5,095 fans per game last season and will continue to climb. This shows that fans in New Jersey are yearning for more hockey whenever the Devils aren't in town. Realistically and logistically, more Devils fans will be able to catch an Ironhawks game compared to Islanders fans.
2. Nostalgia
As previously mentioned, Trenton last had an ECHL team in 2013. The Devils owned them for many years. Since they're playing in the same arena as before, longtime New Jersey hockey fans can enjoy nostalgic moments while creating new ones. The ECHL is more popular than ever. That's why cities like Trenton, Greensboro, and Augusta are reviving their ECHL teams. Diehard Trenton fans probably remember Mike Pandolfo (Jay Pandolfo's little brother) dominating during the 2006-07 season.
The ECHL provides entertaining hockey nightly, and fans should expect a great atmosphere. Lessons have been learned compared to the first tenure. Fans should expect the organization to work diligently to make sure that history doesn't repeat itself. So far this summer, the front office has been hiring many interns to help get the ball rolling and reach out to the community to get everyone excited for the upcoming season.
Obviously, with this being a new team, fans shouldn't anticipate a Kelly Cup in the first season, but with enough time and support, they'll get there. Having experienced plenty of ECHL contests, it's definitely going to be exciting to watch.
