Lowell Devils

Lowell Devils
Lowell Devils
City	Lowell, Massachusetts
League	American Hockey League
Operated	1998–2010
Home arena	Tsongas Center
Colors	Red, black, white;
Owner(s)	New Jersey Devils
Affiliates	New York Islanders; (1998–2001); Los Angeles Kings; (2000–2001); Carolina Hurricanes; (2001–2006); Calgary Flames; (2003–2005); Colorado Avalanche; (2005–2006); New Jersey Devils; (2006–2010)
Franchise history
1998–2006	Lowell Lock Monsters
2006–2010	Lowell Devils
2010–2017	Albany Devils
2017–2021	Binghamton Devils
2021–present	Utica Comets
Championships
Division titles	2: (1998–99, 2001–02)

The Lowell Devils were a minor league ice hockey team in the American Hockey League playing in Lowell, Massachusetts, at the Tsongas Center. As their name implied, they were the top minor league affiliate of the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League. The team was founded in 1998 as the Lowell Lock Monsters and was purchased by the Devils in 2006.

After the 2009–10 season, the Devils agreed to move the Lowell franchise to Albany, New York, where their previous AHL affiliate, the Albany River Rats, had played. The new team then became the Albany Devils.

History

Founded as the Lowell Lock Monsters in 1998, the team served as the top AHL affiliate of the New York Islanders for three seasons, the last of which was shared with the Los Angeles Kings. In 2001, the team became the AHL affiliate of the Carolina Hurricanes, serving in that capacity for five seasons, portions of which the affiliation was shared with the Calgary Flames and Colorado Avalanche.

The team was purchased by the New Jersey Devils in 2006 and took the Devils' name for the start of the 2006–07 season. In effect, the Devils' move was an affiliate swap as the Hurricanes contracted with the Devils' former affiliate in Albany. In Lowell, the Devils averaged 2,293 fans per game during the 2008–09 season while receiving the AHL Excellence Award for the Eastern Conference for group sales.^[1]

In February 2010, the University of Massachusetts Lowell took ownership of the Tsongas Center from the City of Lowell.^[2] Negotiations began between the University and the Devils for a lease extension, with the current lease set to expire at the end of the 2009–10 season. They could not come to an agreement and the Devils explored other options. They eventually struck an agreement with Albany, who was to lose the River Rats after the Hurricanes elected to move their top minor league affiliate to Charlotte, North Carolina, as the Charlotte Checkers. Following the season, the Lowell Devils ceased to exist.^[3]

Season-by-season results

Regular season

Season	Games	Won	Lost	Tied	OTL	SOL	Points	Goals for	Goals against	Standing
1998–99	80	33	32	13	2	—	81	219	237	1st, Atlantic
1999–00	80	33	36	7	4	—	77	228	240	3rd, Atlantic
2000–01	80	35	35	5	5	—	80	225	244	4th, New England
2001–02	80	41	25	11	3	—	96	229	209	1st, North
2002–03	80	19	51	7	3	—	48	175	275	5th, North
2003–04	80	32	36	6	6	—	76	208	242	6th, Atlantic
2004–05	80	47	27	5	1	—	100	242	190	3rd, Atlantic
2005–06	80	29	37	—	6	8	72	222	257	5th, Atlantic
2006–07	80	38	30	—	6	6	88	212	220	5th, Atlantic
2007–08	80	25	43	—	7	5	62	183	270	7th, Atlantic
2008–09	80	35	36	—	2	7	79	213	243	6th, Atlantic
2009–10	80	39	31	—	4	6	88	239	232	4th, Atlantic

Playoffs

Season	1st round	2nd round	3rd round	Finals
1999	L, 0–3, Saint John	—	—	—
2000	W, 3–0, Saint John	L, 0–4, Providence	—	—
2001	L, 1–3, Worcester	—	—	—
2002	L, 2–3, St. John's	—	—	—
2003	Did not qualify
2004	Did not qualify
2005	W, 4–2, Hartford	L, 1–4, Providence	—	—
2006	Did not qualify
2007	Did not qualify
2008	Did not qualify
2009	Did not qualify
2010	L, 1–4, Worcester	—	—	—

Players

Team records

Single season: Goals: Chuck Kobasew (38) - 2004–05; Assists: Keith Aucoin (56) - 2005–06; Points: Keith Aucoin (85) - 2005–06; Penalty Minutes: Louis Robitaille (250) - 2009–10; GAA: Cam Ward (1.99) - 2004–05; SV%: Cam Ward (.937) - 2004–05

Career: Career Goals: Mike Zigomanis (77); Career Assists: Mike Zigomanis (114); Career Points: Mike Zigomanis (191); Career Penalty Minutes: Mark Fraser (321); Career Goaltending Wins: Jeff Frazee (42); Career Shutouts: Brent Krahn, Cam Ward (6); Career Games: Mike Zigomanis (254)

Affiliates

New York Islanders (1998–2001)
Los Angeles Kings (1999–2001)
Carolina Hurricanes (2001–2006)
Calgary Flames (2003–2005)
Colorado Avalanche (2005–2006)
New Jersey Devils (2006–2010)

References

^ "AHL announces winners of excellence awards". American Hockey League. July 9, 2009. Retrieved October 16, 2021.
^ "UMass-Lowell takes over Tsongas Arena, alters name". Boston Herald. February 5, 2010. Retrieved October 16, 2021.
^ "Devils shift AHL operations to Albany". New Jersey Devils. June 10, 2010. Retrieved June 11, 2010.

[1] "AHL announces winners of excellence awards". American Hockey League. July 9, 2009. Retrieved October 16, 2021.

[2] "UMass-Lowell takes over Tsongas Arena, alters name". Boston Herald. February 5, 2010. Retrieved October 16, 2021.

[3] "Devils shift AHL operations to Albany". New Jersey Devils. June 10, 2010. Retrieved June 11, 2010.

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