Cleveland to Utica: Meet Comets' Forward, Justin Pearson

Aug 24, 2026

Utica, NY – Among the plethora of players the Comets have added to the roster this offseason is forward Justin Pearson, and we recently got a chance to connect with the rugged winger.

The Nashua, NH native is set to enter the fourth season of his professional career, the entirety of which has been spent with North Division rival Cleveland up to this point. Pearson is coming off a career year in which he recorded 25 points (12g, 13a) in 56 games.

In describing his career with the Monsters, Justin had nothing but glowing remarks. “It was great. I love the city of Cleveland. We put together some good years and made a couple deep playoff runs which was a lot of fun. I can’t speak highly enough about the other guys and the coaches there,” he stated.

Prior to turning pro, Pearson was able to realize his childhood dream of playing college hockey. He got the chance to do so at a prestigious school not far from home, Yale University. Pearson was stationed at Yale for four years before heading to nearby UConn for his fifth year of eligibility. Reflecting on his time at Yale, he said, “Getting the chance to play there was awesome. It wasn’t all hockey. It was a good mix of hockey, academics, and social life, so it was fun to mix it up.” Pearson noted that his season at UConn entailed more of a strict focus on hockey, helping him develop into a more well-rounded player and preparing him for the pro ranks.

Back in New Hampshire for the summer, Pearson has enjoyed spending time with family while preparing for the upcoming season. He has been following a structured protocol of five days a week in the gym and three to four on-ice sessions per week. Pearson mentioned that fellow Comets’ forward Marc McLughlin is part of one of the groups he skates with in the summertime.

Aside from training, Justin enjoys taking advantage of all that his home state has to offer for outdoor recreation whether that’s relaxing on the beach, hiking in the mountains, or working on his golf game.

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