| 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) |
TheLowell Devils were a minor leagueice hockey team in theAmerican Hockey League playing inLowell, Massachusetts, at theTsongas Center. As their name implied, they were the top minor league affiliate of theNew Jersey Devils of theNational Hockey League. The team was founded in 1998 as theLowell Lock Monsters and was purchased by the Devils in 2006.
After the 2009–10 season, the Devils agreed to move the Lowell franchise toAlbany, New York, where their previous AHL affiliate, theAlbany River Rats, had played. The new team then became theAlbany Devils.
Founded as theLowell Lock Monsters in 1998, the team served as the topAHL affiliate of theNew York Islanders for three seasons, the last of which was shared with theLos Angeles Kings. In 2001, the team became the AHL affiliate of theCarolina Hurricanes, serving in that capacity for five seasons, portions of which the affiliation was shared with theCalgary Flames andColorado Avalanche.
The team was purchased by theNew Jersey Devils in 2006 and took the Devils' name for the start of the2006–07 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, theUniversity of Massachusetts Lowell took ownership of theTsongas 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 toCharlotte, North Carolina, as theCharlotte Checkers. Following the season, the Lowell Devils ceased to exist.[3]
| 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 |
| 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 | — | — | — |
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Affiliates