NJ Devils May Change Name To 'NJ Angels' ... Allegedly

Newark, NJ - The New Jersey Devils are planning to change their name to the “New Jersey Angels.”

If this statement made you lose your mind, take a deep breath and look at the calendar.

On Friday, April 1, the Garden State’s only professional sports team shocked its fans by declaring that it had submitted the astounding name change for the 2016-17 season.

The team issued a “press release” announcing the change:

“The New Jersey Devils President Hugh Weber announced today that the organization has submitted a name change application to the NHL for the 2016-17 Season. The team will roll out a new era of Garden State Hockey by transitioning from the New Jersey Devils to the New Jersey Angels.

“In an effort to focus on our organizations mission of creating a family-friendly environment, in our state and in our arena, we have elected to change our franchise name to the New Jersey Angels.” Weber proclaimed this morning. Weber, who has been with the team since 2013, believes that a more welcoming team name will highlight community initiatives and open the door to new fans.

“The New Jersey Angels will look to build on the foundation of thirty-four years of world-class hockey while taking the team to new heights.

“Angels are mighty, believers and go above and beyond. This mindset will be an intricate part of the in the team’s culture and displayed on and off the ice. Visit newjerseyangelshockey.com for an early look at prototype uniforms and logos as the New Jersey Angels soar towards the future!”

The tongue-in-cheek announcement – made on April Fools’ Day – inspired a flood of comments on social media as word of the “name change” went viral.

• See related article: Google's April Fools' Day Joke Goes Horribly Wrong

Sign up for Patch NJ email newsletters here.