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OT: It’s Official, Professional Hockey (ECHL) is Coming Back to Trenton

e5fdny

e5fdny

Heisman
Nov 11, 2002
114,264
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102
As has been rumored recently, it is now officially confirmed that pro hockey is coming back to the Cure Arena in Trenton.

The Utah Grizzlies ECHL (two levels below the NHL) farm team of the NHL Colorado Avalanche was sold to a group in NJ and they are moving them east to begin play in the 2026-2027 season.

Press Release

You even have a chance to name the team:

Team Naming Contest Form
 
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J

JL23

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Oct 4, 2005
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Will be known as the Ironhawks.
Kind of disappointing as I thought they might go back to the Titans, and if not, have something unique
Ironhawks sounds blah, not sure why they decided on that

Regardless, I'll go check out their first game back, as I'm sure it'll be full of pomp and circumstance
Arena is easy to get to, and tickets will be affordable

Hopefully they can really revitalize the area around the arena
Lot of potential around there to make it a place people want to hang out pre and post-game

There's been talks for years and it looks like they've started to finally make some progress
Fingers crossed they do things right
 
WhiteBus

WhiteBus

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Oct 4, 2011
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JL23 said:
Will be known as the Ironhawks.
Kind of disappointing as I thought they might go back to the Titans, and if not, have something unique
Ironhawks sounds blah, not sure why they decided on that

Regardless, I'll go check out their first game back, as I'm sure it'll be full of pomp and circumstance
Arena is easy to get to, and tickets will be affordable

Hopefully they can really revitalize the area around the arena
Lot of potential around there to make it a place people want to hang out pre and post-game

There's been talks for years and it looks like they've started to finally make some progress
Fingers crossed they do things right
Click to expand...
Trenton had a big steel/iron history many years ago. Hawk was added for power and speed.
Two famous iron and steel companies were NJ Steel and Iron and Roebling and Sons who supplied the Warren trusses for the Trenton Makes bridge
 
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e5fdny

e5fdny

Heisman
Nov 11, 2002
114,264
53,334
102
JL23 said:
Will be known as the Ironhawks.
Kind of disappointing as I thought they might go back to the Titans, and if not, have something unique
Ironhawks sounds blah, not sure why they decided on that

Regardless, I'll go check out their first game back, as I'm sure it'll be full of pomp and circumstance
Arena is easy to get to, and tickets will be affordable
Click to expand...
Agree.

My take…those who still owned the Titans name wanted too much $$$ and assumed the new ownership would pay.

👎👎
 
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e5fdny

e5fdny

Heisman
Nov 11, 2002
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But…I can understand the new group wanting to start out new and fresh, with their own identity.

Just make the hawk more “hawky” like the logo and less “eagley” (specifically the Philadelphia Eagle) like we’ve seen on their social media.
 
S

SandystonScarlet

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Used to go to Titans games-met Dave "The Hammer" Schultz and Bernie Parent during pre-game events.

The ECHL works well in the right markets. My oldest lives walking distance to the Cincinnati Cyclones arena and those games are consistently packed. If Trenton runs promotions like $3 beer night they'll get folks in the building.
 
e5fdny

e5fdny

Heisman
Nov 11, 2002
114,264
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SandystonScarlet said:
Used to go to Titans games-met Dave "The Hammer" Schultz and Bernie Parent during pre-game events.

The ECHL works well in the right markets. My oldest lives walking distance to the Cincinnati Cyclones arena and those games are consistently packed. If Trenton runs promotions like $3 beer night they'll get folks in the building.
Click to expand...
They used to do what was done for Football this year:

The 4 for $48 promotion that included 4 tickets, 4 hot dogs, 4 sodas and 4 bags of chips.

My family and extended family used to go all the time when that was available.

Now that they’ve taken care of the name first it won’t matter who they get for the NHL affiliate.

Was not a good idea to name the previous team the Trenton Devils in what is really Flyers country.
 
J

JL23

Junior
Oct 4, 2005
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WhiteBus said:
Trenton had a big steel/iron history many years ago. Hawk was added for power and speed.
Two famous iron and steel companies were NJ Steel and Iron and Roebling and Sons who supplied the Warren trusses for the Trenton Makes bridge
Click to expand...
I get that but the name itself is underwhelming and pretty odd / generic
 
J

JL23

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Oct 4, 2005
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e5fdny said:
Agree.

My take…those who still owned the Titans name wanted too much $$$ and assumed the new ownership would pay.

👎👎
Click to expand...
Shame if true - it's not like the Cosmos where it still holds a lot of weight
 
R

robcac26

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JL23 said:
Went to game 5 of the 2005 ECHL finals vs. the Florida Everblades
Place was rocking, Titans down 2-0 in the third period, they ripped off 5 straight goals to win and take a 3-2 lead going back to Florida

They closed it out in game 6 to bring home the Kelly Cup
2005 Kelly Cup Finals - Game 5 - The Third Period
Click to expand...
I was at that game too, that Titans playoff run was a great fill-in for the NHL lockout. Scott Gomez was on the team they played in the conference finals, the Alaska Aces, but he missed the entire series due to an injury from earlier in the playoffs.
 
J

JL23

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Oct 4, 2005
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robcac26 said:
I was at that game too, that Titans playoff run was a great fill-in for the NHL lockout. Scott Gomez was on the team they played in the conference finals, the Alaska Aces, but he missed the entire series due to an injury from earlier in the playoffs.
Click to expand...
Man, I miss Gomer
Favorite memory of him was at Game 5 of the 2001 cup finals vs. the Avs, series tied at 2-2

Devs down 2-1, 10 minutes to go, offense stale
Roy misplays the puck, loses it and Gomer taps it in for the typing goal

Few minutes later, Elias to Sykora for the game winner, 5 hole through Roy's legs
The old barn was rocking that night!
 
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e5fdny

e5fdny

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JL23 said:
Shame if true - it's not like the Cosmos where it still holds a lot of weight
Click to expand...
After thinking about it, I hope this was their reasoning…
e5fdny said:
But…I can understand the new group wanting to start out new and fresh, with their own identity.
Click to expand...
Although it’s not like the NAHL Titans are the only sports team with that name. It is funny though how they are using the old Trenton Titans logo while being actually named the NEW JERSEY Titans and playing in Middletown.

My speculation…Haviland was approached, named his price (or outright said no) and the ownership either didn’t counter or just passed.
 
WhiteBus

WhiteBus

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JL23 said:
I get that but the name itself is underwhelming and pretty odd / generic
Click to expand...
Generic? How many Ironhawk teams do you know about? If anything Titans is the generic name with no connection to the area.
 
J

JL23

Junior
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WhiteBus said:
Generic? How many Ironhawk teams do you know about? If anything Titans is the generic name with no connection to the area.
Click to expand...
They're both pretty generic, but the Titans at least have some history in the area
Regardless, it's awesome that they're building up the entertainment area around the arena and excited that hockey's back in the capital city
 
J

JL23

Junior
Oct 4, 2005
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e5fdny said:
After thinking about it, I hope this was their reasoning…

Although it’s not like the NAHL Titans are the only sports team with that name. It is funny though how they are using the old Trenton Titans logo while being actually named the NEW JERSEY Titans and playing in Middletown.

My speculation…Haviland was approached, named his price (or outright said no) and the ownership either didn’t counter or just passed.
Click to expand...
I could see that
Plus, new ownership could want their own spin on things
 
WhiteBus

WhiteBus

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JL23 said:
They're both pretty generic, but the Titans at least have some history in the area
Regardless, it's awesome that they're building up the entertainment area around the arena and excited that hockey's back in the capital city
Click to expand...
They have a history only because of the previous team. "Titans" doesn't really have a connection to the area. I get it you liked the past team but this team has no connection to the previous team. Again I don't see where Ironhawk is a generic name. Not as good as the NJ Devils but a great combination to the area. It makes sense to the history of the Trenton area.
 
J

JL23

Junior
Oct 4, 2005
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WhiteBus said:
They have a history only because of the previous team. "Titans" doesn't really have a connection to the area. I get it you liked the past team but this team has no connection to the previous team. Again I don't see where Ironhawk is a generic name. Not as good as the NJ Devils but a great combination to the area. It makes sense to the history of the Trenton area.
Click to expand...
I just hope they catch on
The Thunder have been there since 1994, so there's a proven recipe for the town, and, along w/the redevelopment of the area attracting new fans & visitors alike, I'm thinking they have a good chance of making it long term
 
e5fdny

e5fdny

Heisman
Nov 11, 2002
114,264
53,334
102
JL23 said:
I just hope they catch on
The Thunder have been there since 1994, so there's a proven recipe for the town, and, along w/the redevelopment of the area attracting new fans & visitors alike, I'm thinking they have a good chance of making it long term
Click to expand...
They got screwed by the Yankees and then MiLB in the reorganization.

They are an entity now, not really an organization anymore. Especially without a MLB affiliation. The Draft League thing just doesn’t move the needle for many folks.

Hopefully they can get another shot at a MLB affiliate. Maybe even AAA. 🙏
 
J

JL23

Junior
Oct 4, 2005
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e5fdny said:
They got screwed by the Yankees and then MiLB in the reorganization.

They are an entity now, not really an organization anymore. Especially without a MLB affiliation. The Draft League thing just doesn’t move the needle for many folks.

Hopefully they can get another shot at a MLB affiliate. Maybe even AAA. 🙏
Click to expand...
I grew up going to Somerset Pats games and it's a great park/area, but you're right that Trenton got majorly hosed in the process
 
T

tico brown

Heisman
Oct 16, 2005
44,097
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e5fdny said:
But…I can understand the new group wanting to start out new and fresh, with their own identity.

Just make the hawk more “hawky” like the logo and less “eagley” (specifically the Philadelphia Eagle) like we’ve seen on their social media.
Click to expand...
John Cena Peacemaker GIF by HBO Max
 
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