In Binghamton, Everything (with hockey) Changed- By: Sam Wismer

Picture Courtesy of: www.uticacomets.com

Things change every year within the world of hockey. Players are moved, traded, and free agents. Franchises are new or get moved to new locations. This is no different for the AHL teams and organizations. It all works interchangeably within both the NHL and AHL. In 2021, the biggest news came out of the New Jersey Devils organization, there will be no more Binghamton Devils.

                In May of this year, the AHL board of governors authorized the New Jersey Devils to move its AHL team from Binghamton to Utica. This announcement came within weeks after New Jersey announced that it wanted to move its farm team. When the request was filed to move Binghamton to Utica, listed in the request was the Utica Devils, which will now be the Utica Comets, but with the red, white, and black colors of the Devils and not the prior blue and green. Also, clothing and entertainment services were requested. Prior to this move, the Utica Devils were an AHL team from 1987 to 1993. The Comets were in a 6-year deal with the Vancouver Canucks, which began in the 19-20 season. In that 6-year deal with the Canucks, however, they had the ability to opt out. The Canucks did exercise the option to leave Utica, and they started a new team named the Abbotsford Canucks, who make their AHL debut in October.

The B-Devils made their debut in the AHL world in the 2017-2018 season. This move was made when New Jersey relocated from Albany. The Devils previously had a 15-year affiliation with the Ottawa Senators. That affiliation ended because Ottawa moved to Belleville, Ontario, hence the now Belleville Senators. When this news developed, regarding hockey in the town of Binghamton, it came after the 10th anniversary of the community celebrating the 2011 AHL Champions- the Binghamton Senators. 

-Samantha Wismer- Olde City Sports Network