Pro Hockey Returns to Trenton With Need For New Name

Professional ice hockey is returning to the Garden State's capital ahead of the 2026-2027 season. A new team will play in the ECHL, a minor professional ice hockey league, beginning in October 2026. It will feature players hoping to eventually reach the NHL. But first the team needs a name, and it's turning to the public for help.

Fans can enter an online contest to help name the Trenton Hockey Club. Those who want to participate are being asked to consider what makes Trenton and its surrounding area distinctive and fun. The fan who submits the winning suggestion will be chosen to receive a pair of full-season memberships to the hockey club's first year. 

Officials with ECHL; Mercer County, New Jersey; and the CURE Insurance Arena made the announcement about the new Trenton team on Tuesday, Sept. 9.

"We are thrilled to reintroduce the ECHL to Trenton and Mercer County, a region known for its strong hockey culture and passion for the sport," said Bob Ohrablo, president of Pro Hockey Partners, LLC and Trenton ECHL Hockey, to CBS News Philadelphia. "The ECHL/Trenton Hockey Club will attract hundreds of thousands of fans to the CURE Insurance Arena and Downtown Trenton each season. This presents an opportunity for families to enjoy exciting pro hockey nights at affordable prices, along with a variety of family-friendly promotions throughout the season."  

The new Trenton team will compete at the CURE Insurance Arena in the state's capital. The venue seats approximately 7,000 people. Before this announcement, the CURE Insurance Arena hosted the ECHL's Titans and Devils from 1999 to 2013. The arena also held the 2002 ECHL All-Star Classic. 

"With the addition of Trenton hockey and 36 home games each season, we will increase total events to over 125 events a year, bringing more than 300,000 people to the city of Trenton," said Fran Rodowicz, general manager of CURE Insurance Arena and Oak View Group, in remarks made during the ceremony.