Jersey Devils

The Jersey Devils were an American professional ice hockey team based in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.

For the NHL team, see New Jersey Devils. For the legendary creature (cryptid), see Jersey Devil.
Jersey Devils
CityCherry Hill, New Jersey
LeagueEastern Hockey League
Operated1964–1973
Home arenaCherry Hill Arena
ColorsRed, black, white (1964–1970)
     
Orange, black, white (1970–1973)
     
Franchise history
1955–1964Philadelphia Ramblers
1964–1973Jersey Devils
Championships
Playoff championships0

The Devils were formed when the Philadelphia Ramblers, a member of the Eastern Hockey League, relocated to Cherry Hill at the end of the 1963–64 season. The Devils played in the Cherry Hill Arena until 1973, when the team folded along with the Eastern Hockey League (EHL).

The Devils had several notable players and also won the highest scoring game in EHL history, a 16–15 win over the Syracuse Blazers on February 24, 1968, at the Cherry Hill Arena before 4,583 fans.[1]

Completed scorecard for a game between the Jersey Devils and Syracuse Blazers in the early 1970s showing the lineups for the two teams.

The EHL split into two fairly short-lived leagues. The Northern teams became the North American Hockey League, while the Southern teams became the Southern Hockey League, however the Devils, who had been the southernmost franchise in the Northern Division of the EHL, did not join either.[2]

Notable players, coaches and owners
  • Bobby Taylor, who was later a backup goalie for the Philadelphia Flyers under Bernie Parent. He later became a color commentator on radio and television hockey broadcasts for the Flyers (1976–1992) and then the Tampa Bay Lightning (beginning in 1993); he has announced that he would retire from his position on the Lightning telecasts once the 2014–15 season ends.[3]
  • Dick Sarrazin, who later played for the Philadelphia Flyers and two WHA teams in the late 1960s and early 1970s.[4]
  • Marcel Pelletier, a former NHL goaltender, who ended his twenty-year career as a player/coach with the Devils in 1969.[5]
  • Rosaire Paiement played the 1966–67 season, scoring 125 points. He later played for the Philadelphia Flyers and Vancouver Canucks in the NHL and for several WHA teams.
  • Vic Stasiuk, the Philadelphia Flyers second head coach was head coach of the Devils for two seasons, 1966–68.
  • Gary Gresdal, who led the EHL in penalties in 1971–72 with 392 minutes. He played briefly for the Quebec Nordiques in the WHA.
  • Larry Pleau, 1968–69 North Division Rookie of the Year who later played several seasons with the Montreal Canadiens. He also appeared for the United States Olympic hockey team in 1968 and the New England Whalers in the WHA before working as their coach and in the front office of the Saint Louis Blues for 13 years.
  • Jamie Kennedy, 1970–71 North Division First Team All-Star Center who played briefly for the New York Raiders in the World Hockey Association. He is also a member of the Prince Edward Island Hall of Fame.[6]
  • John Brophy, all time EHL career leader in penalty minutes (3822), who played his final season as a Devil in 1972–73. He later coached for one season (1978–79) for Birmingham Bulls of the WHA and three (1986–89) with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
  • Jerome Burg, Owner and President of the Jersey Devils during the final years from 1971–73.[7] He later moved to Arizona where he became a radio personality.[8]

Season-by-season record

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, PIM = Penalties in minutes

EHL SeasonGPWLTPtsGFGAPIMFinishPlayoffs
1964–657234344722973129024th in NorthernLost quarter-final to Long Island Ducks, 1-3
1965-667225434542393117335 ft in NorthernMissed playoffs
1966-677239303812922101,1562nd in NorthernWon quarter-final over Johnstown Jets, 3-2
Won semi-final over Clinton Comets 4-2
Lost final to Nashville Dixie Flyers, 1-4
1967-687217514382514581,2315th in NorthernMissed playoffs
1968-697226397592453011,0435th in NorthernMissed playoffs
1969–707420486462784401,1836th in NorthernMissed playoffs
1970–71742239135728235306th in NorthernMissed playoffs
1971–7275254010602372941,6286th in NorthernMissed playoffs
1972–73762341125823930004th in CentralMissed playoffs

References
  1. "Jersey Devils 16 Syracuse Blazers 15 - Highest Scoring EHL Game Ever". 22 May 2014.
  2. "A to Z Encyclopedia of Ice Hockey". Retrieved 2009-01-16.
  3. "Legends of Hockey". Archived from the original on 2003-03-27. Retrieved 2009-01-16.
  4. "Hockey Database". Retrieved 2009-01-16.
  5. "Hockey Database". Retrieved 2009-01-16.
  6. "EHL Devils' Jamie Kennedy to be Enshrined in P.E.I. Sports Hall of Fame on Friday". 13 September 2011.
  7. Jersey Devils Program Reference
  8. Arizona Republic, December 6, 1993, Page 11
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