Utica Comets November Update

The game featured a late first period goal from Angus Crookshank who, as of this writing, leads the team with four goals on the year. Mike Hartman tallied early in the second for his team-leading second power play goal of the season to give the Comets a 2-0 lead. The Penguins made it 2-1 late in the second period, but former Penguin Jonathan Gruden scored an empty-net goal late in the third to seal the deal for the Comets. Nico Daws had a solid game in net, stopping 25 of the 26 shots he faced.

The following Friday, the Comets hosted the Belleville Senators on Muzzys and Mullets Night, dedicated to raising cancer awareness. The Comets were one of 23 teams across the AHL to host a game during the 27th annual Hockey Fights Cancer Month and continued their winning ways with a 3-0 win over the Senators. Matyas Melovsky opened the scoring with a power play goal late in the first period for his second career goal. Defenseman Caleb Addison made it 2-0 in the second period with his first goal as a Comet. Angus Crookshank, the all-time leading scorer in the Senators’ franchise history, added an insurance marker later on in the period, scoring against his former team to make it 3-0. Nico Daws picked up his fifth career shutout, typing the Comets’ franchise record.

After a 4-0 loss in Wilkes Barre on November 8th, Utica returned home to host the Syracuse Crunch on Veterans Day, the sixth consecutive Veterans Day Game for the Comets and their seventh in franchise history. The game was preceded by a ceremony in the World Championship Village to honor Veterans and the area’s Citizen Service Members. Despite a 62 loss to the Crunch, it was a special day for the community, marking the continuation of a Comets tradition and the celebration of those who have made great sacrifices for our country. Comets’ rookies Lenni Hameenaho and Ethan Edwards scored their first career goals in the game.