A Sit-Down with Second-Year Pro, Dylan Wendt
Sep 30, 2025Utica, NY – With training camp in full swing and players back in town, we had a chance to sit down with Comets’ forward, Dylan Wendt.
Wendt grew up as the middle child between two brothers in Grand Haven, MI, a small beach town on Lake Michigan of about 11,000 people and what he describes as the best place in the world during the summertime. This past summer, he had the privilege of living under the same roof with his parents and two brothers for the first time in several years, despite how crazy it must’ve driven his mother he joked.
The 24-year-old forward has risen to the second highest rung of the professional hockey ladder with the Comets, just one step below the NHL, but he does not come from a so-called "hockey family." He said that his brothers stopped playing hockey in high school and that his parents didn’t come from much of a sports background at all. Looking back at how his interest in hockey developed, Wendt mentioned that his uncle, who played Division I hockey at Ferris State, had a big influence on him.
The Wendt family’s relationship with Dan Bylsma, a fellow Grand Haven native and former NHL player and coach, fueled Dylan’s passion for the sport as a kid. Bylsma’s stint as Head Coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins gave Wendt an avenue to meet several players like superstar forward Sidney Crosby, a guy he idolized throughout his childhood as both a hockey player and a person.
At the age of 13, Wendt moved away from home to the east side of Michigan to pursue AAA hockey. He spent two years playing for Belle Tire and a year for Honeybaked while living with his grandparents, whom he described as tremendous influences during his formative years as a young teenager through high school, a period in which he attended four different schools over the course of four years.
Wendt shipped off to Wisconsin in 2018 to play for the USHL’s Green Bay Gamblers. As is customary for junior hockey players, Wendt lived with a billet family during his time in Green Bay. With the Gamblers’ arena being right next to Lambeau Field, he recalls the buzz on Sunday’s when the Packers were in town, particularly from his billet family who were longtime season ticket holders.
Wendt returned to Green Bay the following year but was traded to the Muskegon Lumberjacks just nine games into the 2019-20 season. With Muskegon being just 25 minutes away from Grand Haven, Wendt was grateful to be able to move back home with his family after having spent several years away. He also served as captain for a team he had longed to play for, which made his experience with Muskegon even more meaningful.
Wendt had a strong desire to stay local and in 2021, began his collegiate career at Western Michigan University. In addition to having his family in attendance at several games, among Wendt's favorite memories was heading to Ann Arbor to play the University of Michigan his rookie season. “It was my third college game ever and I got my first goal against them; that was an awesome experience. I used to be committed to Michigan, so I always had them circled on the calendar.”
After wrapping up his career at Western Michigan, Wendt made his pro debut in the spring of 2024 with the Comets. When describing the transition to pro hockey, he said, “It was wild. One minute you’re going to classes and the next minute you’re here and playing with teammates who have families and kids...It was cool to get my feet wet and to be able to experience that and understand what (it takes) to be a pro.”
While hockey remains front and center for Wendt, he has a business that he enjoys working on in his spare time: “BILTONG.” Wendt and a family friend started the air-dried steak brand in December of 2024 with the goal of providing people with a nutritious, high-protein snack. “It’s something I’m passionate about because of how healthy it is. Just six ingredients, no sugar, and something that I’d put in my body, so it’s cool that I get to represent that brand and offer it to people who are health-conscious like I am,” he stated.
Having recently moved production back to Michigan, Wendt and his business partner look forward to getting their product out quicker to the masses. In addition to selling online, he mentioned wanting to eventually make the products available to collegiate teams, gyms and other local retailers. When asked about his long-term goal with BILTONG, Wendt said, "(We want to) build it up as much as we can and see what happens. We love it. (It’s more about) being passionate about what we do and enjoying the process.”
While BILTONG continues to gain momentum, Wendt is thrilled to be back in Utica with his teammates as he gears up for his second season of pro hockey. The Comets kick off the 2025-26 season next Friday October 10th at 7 PM against the Cleveland Monsters. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by visiting www.uticacomets.com/tickets or calling 315-790-9070.