COMETS LOSE TO CRUNCH IN PRESEASON GAME, 4-3

Utica, NY – The Utica Comets took to the ice on Friday night at the Adirondack Bank Center in the first of two preseason games before the start of the 2022-23 campaign. The visiting Syracuse Crunch, the Comets opponent, struck early and held on for the victory by a 4-3 score.

After a scoreless first period, it was the Crunch that broke the ice for the game’s initial goal after Shawn Element snuck to the weak side post and fired the puck into the gaping net as Utica goal Mareks Mitens had no chance. The Crunch led 1-0 at 1:07. The Crunch, yet again, tallied a goal to give themselves a 2-0 lead and this time it was Daniel Walcott who deflected a shot by Tyson Feist and into the Comets goal at 8:15. The Comets, down 2-0, dusted themselves off and roared back to tie the contest. The first of their two goals during the second period came from defenseman Ivan Chukarov who blasted a shot passed Syracuse netminder Hugo Alnefelt at 15:02. The goal was assisted by Robbie Russo and Daniel Walker. Just forty seconds later the Comets fans were on their feet cheering the game’s tying goal. This time it was Billy Jerry who bullied his way to the net and helped the puck in after a Xavier Parent shot was stopped. Joe Gambardella added the secondary assist and the goal at 15:42 tied the game, 2-2. Despite the momentum built by Utica, it was Syracus

COMETS DROP 3-1 CONTEST TO BEARS IN SEASON OPENER

Utica, NY – The first game of the Utica Comets 2022-23 campaign took place in Hershey on Saturday night against the Bears. A newly configured Comets lineup stood against the top affiliate of the Washington Capitals and despite getting a goal from the former Hershey Bear, Brian Pinho, the Comets were defeated by a 3-1 score.

In the first period of the year, the Bears struck first, and they did so on the power-play when Henrik Borgstrom swatted in a loose puck in the crease after a save by Comets goalie Akira Schmid. The goal at 8:42 gave Hershey a 1-0 advantage. The Bears added to that lead and it was Mike Vecchione who once again was able to pounce on a puck in the Comets’ crease. Garret Pilon’s shot was originally stopped by the rebound deposted in at 17:42 for a 2-0 Hershey lead.

The Comets entered the next period on the man-advantage, and they capitalized after Brian Pinho, the former Hershey forward struck twenty-four seconds into the period. The goal, assisted by Nolan Stevens and Reilly Walsh, sliced the deficit in half and gave the Comets life as they were down 2-1. That would remain the score at the conclusion of 40 minutes of play.

With a one-goal gap entering the third period, the Comets had an early power-play but couldn’t score the tying mark. The period continue