Breaking It Down with Ben: Meet Comets' Forward, Ben Steeves

Aug 31, 2026

Utica, NY – One of the Comets’ most anticipated acquisitions this summer has been forward Ben Steeves, and we recently checked in with the third-year pro.

Steeves spent the past two seasons with the Charlotte Checkers (AHL) and joined the Comets in June via a trade which sent former Comets’ forward Angus Crookshank to the Florida Panthers’ organization, the Checkers’ NHL affiliate. The skilled winger led Charlotte this past season with 23 goals and 45 points, in addition to registering two points in three playoff games.

Originally from the Northeast, Steeves spends the offseason in Eden Prairie, MN where his parents now reside. He grew up in Bedford, NH which is where he played the bulk of his youth hockey career. After his family moved to Minnesota eight years ago, Steeves attended Eden Prairie High School for one year before making the jump to junior hockey where he skated for the Sioux City Musketeers (USHL) for two seasons. His second season with the Musketeers was particularly special, clinching a Clark Cup Championship and leading the league with 39 goals.

Hockey runs in the Steeves family. His two older brothers, Matthew and Alex, each attended the University of Notre Dame. Alex has gone on to a pro career and has had the opportunity to play in the NHL for both the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Boston Bruins. With Alex currently being in the Bruins’ system, the two brothers may face off at some point this season if Alex finds himself in Providence or if Ben gets an opportunity up in New Jersey.

Ben took a different path than his brothers and played two seasons at the University of Minnesota-Duluth where he excelled. In his second year with the Bulldogs in 2023-24, he was a Hobey Baker Award nominee as one of the top players in all of Division I, recording 34 points (24G, 10A) in 37 games.

After a two-year stint in Charlotte, the 24-year-old reflected on his professional career so far. “Charlotte’s an unbelievable spot and a good professional city. I really enjoyed my time there and even got to play some golf during the season to take my mind off things, but I’m really looking forward to playing for the New Jersey Devis’ organization this year.”

While he has been focused diligently on his training regimen, Steeves has had a few trips to look forward to this summer. When we chatted with him, he was just a couple days away from heading to Michigan for a Morgan Wallen concert and shortly thereafter would be heading to Nova Scotia to visit his family’s lake house where they spend much of the summer.

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