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Michael Gwizdala The Hockey Writers

Published on Monday, February 16, 2015

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Very Presidential New Jersey Devils

No, the New Jersey Devils have never won the Presidents’ Trophy but the red, white and black do have some Presidential namesakes. At 25 Lafayette Street, President Lou Lamoriello calls the shots. Here’s a look at some Devils who have a connection of sorts to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

Greg (John) Adams: Sharing the same last name as the second and sixth U.S. President’s, Adams played for the Devils from 1984 to 1987, collecting 145 points in 186 games.

Tommy Albelin, Tom Chorske, Tom Kurvers, Tom Kostopoulos (Thomas Jefferson): You’re probably wondering where former Devils minor-leaguer Mike Jefferson/Danton is on this list. This includes the current Devils Assistant Coach Albelin, who was a defenceman on the 1995 and 2003 Stanley Cup winners. Chorske, who totaled 114 points at left wing and was a member of the 1995 Cup team. Kurvers, who registered 100 points on the blue line in 131 games. Plus Kostopoulos, who appeared in 15 games in 2013.

Andy Greene, Andrew Peters, Andy Brickley (Andrew Jackson): Headlined by the current Devils Alternate Captain Greene, who has 149 points on defence, in 477 contests for New Jersey. Peters piled up 93 penalty minutes in 29 games, during the 2009-10 campaign. Brickley garnered 45 points in 96 games, from 1986-88.

Barry Tallackson (Barack Obama): The closest I could get to Barack. In parts of four seasons, from 2005-09, Tallackson registered a goal and an assist in 20 games for the Devils.

Ben Hankinson, Ben Walter (Benjamin Harrison): From 1992-95, Hankinson skated in 25 games for New Jersey, potting three goals. Walter played in two games, during the 2009-10 season.

Bill Guerin, Willie Mitchell (Bill Clinton, William Howard Taft, William McKinley, William Henry Harrison): Coming up through the Devils system, Guerin played in 380 games, from 1991-98. In his New Jersey tenure, Guerin recorded 214 points and won the Cup in 1995. Mitchell played 18 games on defence for the Devils, from 1999-2001, recording two helpers and 29 penalty minutes.

Dwight Foster (Dwight D. Eisenhower): Foster played in four games for the Devils, during their inaugural season.

George McPhee (George Washington, George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush): From 1987-89, McPhee played six games for the Devils, scoring three goals.

Grant Marshall, Grant Mulvey (Ulysses S. Grant): Marshall played 151 games for the Devils, from 2002-06. Along with his 44 points and 144 penalty minutes, Marshall scored some clutch postseason goals for the 2003 Cup champs. Mulvey scored a goal in 12 games, during the 1983-84 season.

Jack O’Callahan, John Johannson, John MacLean, John Madden, John Vanbiesbrouck, John Wensink, Johnny Oduya, Jon Merrill (John F. Kennedy): O’Callahan posted 52 points in 86 games, playing defence for New Jersey, from 1987-89. MacLean, currently a studio analyst for MSG Plus, potted 347 goals and accrued 701 points in 934 games for New Jersey. MacLean was also part of the 1995 Cup team. Madden posted 297 points in 712 games, won the Selke Trophy and was a member of the 2000 and 2003 Stanley Cup winning clubs. Johannson played five games in 1983-84. From 2000-02, Vanbiesbrouck played nine games. On defence, Oduya posted 70 points in 273 games, from 2006-10. Merrill has been skating on the Devils defence since 2013.

Jim Dowd, Jim Fahey, Jim Korn, Jim McKenzie, Jim Thomson (James A. Garfield, James K. Polk, James Monroe, James Madison): For those who may not know, Garfield died in New Jersey in 1881. Between two stints, Dowd played 121 games for the Devils, totaling 41 points and some important Playoff goals for the 1995 Stanley Cup winning squad. Fahey played 13 games in the 2006-07 campaign. Korn chalked up 451 penalty minutes, from 1987-90. McKenzie racked up 330 penalty minutes, from 2000-03.

Martin Brodeur, Martin Skoula (Martin Van Buren): Brodeur holds virtually every Devils record and most NHL records for goaltending. From 1991-2014, Brodeur won 688 games for New Jersey, four Vezina trophies, a Calder Trophy and five William M. Jennings trophies. Additionally, Brodeur helped backstop the Devils to all three of their Stanley Cup titles. Meanwhile, Skoula played 19 games for the Devils, during the 2009-10 campaign.

Randy Pierce (Franklin Pierce): Pierce played three games for New Jersey in its inaugural season.

Ron Low (Ronald Reagan): From 1982-85, Low was between the pipes for 81 games.

Tyler Eckford (John Tyler): From 2009 to 2011, the defenceman Eckford played seven games for New Jersey, picking up one assist.

Zach Parise (Zachary Taylor): The one-time Captain of the Devils, Parise skated in 502 contests, from 2005-2012. During that span, Parise punctured the net 194 times, recording 410 points in total.

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Martin Brodeur John MacLean Jim Dowd St. Louis Blues National Hockey League
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