By Raeanne Raccagno
News Editor
TRENTON, N.J. — New Jersey’s state capital will once again host a minor league team after the ECHL Board of Governors approved the sale and transfer of the Utah Grizzlies from Grizzlies Hockey Club, LLC to Pro Hockey Partners, LLC.
On Sept. 9, Mercer County Executive Dan Benson, Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora and CURE Insurance Arena leadership came together to announce, at the CURE arena, that at the end of the 2025-2026 minor hockey league season, the Utah Grizzlies team will be relocating to Trenton, N.J.
"I could not be more excited to welcome professional hockey back to Trenton,” said Benson, according to a news release on the ECHL website. “... This is another major step in our mission to make Mercer County, and especially our Capital City of Trenton, a true destination for sports, business, entertainment and tourism. I can't wait for our new hockey team to drop the puck for its first season.”
The ECHL, formerly East Coast Hockey League, was founded in 1988 as a mid-level professional minor league where players aiming for the AHL or NHL can further develop their skills.
According to the ECHL website, Pro Hockey Partners, LLC is a 14-partner team that was formed to bring hockey to Trenton, N.J. The partners plan to not only be dedicated to their team on and off the field but also make an impact on the community surrounding them in Central New Jersey and Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
The Utah Grizzlies first announced and began the process of selling their team on June 22. After playing in Utah for 30 years, the selling decision came after the death of former owner Dave Elmore in 2023 and the declining health of Co-Owner Donna Tuttle, according to 2KUTV.
"This was a difficult decision, but it is one that we feel is in the best long-term interest of the franchise," said D.G. Elmore, the chairman of Elmore Companies, in a news release on the Utah Grizzlies website. “Our focus right now is entirely on the fans and the community that have supported us for three decades. We are dedicated to delivering the best possible experience for our final season and celebrating the incredible memories we've made together."
The Grizzlies’ schedule begins on Oct. 11, playing against the Idaho Steelheads at the Idaho Central Arena, and their season closer will be on April 11, hosting Rapid City Rush.
According to video coverage by CBS Philadelphia, Fran Rodowicz, CURE Insurance Arena General Manager, shared that the new Trenton team will play 36 home games, increasing the arena’s events to over 125 per year and bringing more than 300,000 people to Trenton.
The new minor league team has yet to be named, and owners are asking the public to submit their ideas online, which will eventually be chosen by the team’s staff. CBS Philadelphia also reported that the team will be completing infrastructure improvements, including a new ice system.
The team will also have planned affiliations with AHL and NHL teams, which have yet to be decided as well. Fans can learn more about the ECHL Trenton team on their website before their inaugural 2026-2027 season, secure a season membership or propose potential team names.
Trenton’s Hockey History
This is not the first time Trenton has been home to a minor league hockey team. The Trenton Titans, the former ECHL team associated with the state capital, was established in 1999 and played at the CURE arena when it was still known as the Sun National Bank Center, according to HockeyDB.com.
The team was affiliated with the Philadelphia Flyers and Philadelphia Phantoms and won the ECHL’s Kelly Cup in the 2004-2005 season. The New Jersey Devils purchased the team in 2007, renaming it the Trenton Devils, also known as the T-Devils.
The T-Devils quickly fumbled with poor records and attendance ranking last in the ECHL, according to NJ.com. This led to another ownership turnover, where the Devils became the Titans once again in 2011 after Blue Line Sports, LLC took over the team after the New Jersey Devils shut the team down.
NJ.com also reported that when the New Jersey Devils closed their doors in Trenton, they still had 36 scheduled games to play. Local fans and officials lobbied and encouraged people to purchase season tickets to prompt investment in the team.
Despite fans and the news owners' efforts, the Trenton Titans once again struggled financially and closed their doors officially in 2013.
“The CURE Insurance Arena is excited to welcome pro hockey back to Trenton,” said Rodowicz. “Twenty years ago, we proudly hosted the 2005 ECHL Kelly Cup championship season with incredible support from our fans and the community. … Hockey will once again play a prominent role among the many diverse and dynamic events we host each year, and we can’t wait to drop the puck.”
