Hockey is returning to New Jersey’s capital city, and on Tuesday, officials unveiled the name of the city’s new minor league hockey team: the Trenton IronHawks.
It’s a nod to the region’s industrial manufacturing history and its new slogan, “Forged to Win.”
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The team will begin play this October in preparation for bringing professional hockey back to the city.
From submissions from 2,000 fans, officials selected the Ironhawks as the winning team.
Hockey fans Joel Perez of Bordentown and Jim Miller of Lawrenceville both submitted their names and won season tickets.
“When I saw it, I thought, ‘Oh, I guess that’s me.’ And then I looked at it and I thought, ‘Is that you?'” Perez said.
Miller said the name reflects the area’s industrial roots.
“This area. Roebling, the steel mills, the steel history of the area,” he said.
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Mayor Reed Gusciora said the brand honors the community’s past.
“This is a city forged in the Industrial Revolution. Long before there were hockey sticks and bats, Trenton shaped the country with steel and wire.”
The IronHawks will be Trenton’s first ECHL team since the Titans folded in 2013.
The current Utah Grizzlies franchise will relocate to Trenton after this season.
“At the end of the season, everything moves to Trenton and then we decide which players we’re not going to accept and then we build from there,” Trenton hockey president Bob Olablo said.
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More than 650 season tickets have been sold, with fans queuing up on Tuesday to purchase newly released merchandise.
Pennington’s Paul Warner said the team’s arrival will make it easier to watch the game.
“We’ll be here more often. It’ll be easier. Just be around the corner and enjoy some hockey,” Werner said.
Phillip Altobelli of Hamilton was one of the early buyers.
“The day they announced we could put down season tickets, I put the deposit down. I was super excited,” he said.
Mercer County plans to spend about $8 million to upgrade Cure Arena before the season.
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County Administrator Dan Benson said improvements include a new ice machine, new dashboards, renovated locker rooms, a new scoreboard, updated signage and renovated suites.
A fan event featuring games, merchandise and arena tours is scheduled for Tuesday at 5:30 pm at Cure Arena.
Season tickets are on sale now and the team will play 35 home games each season.