Comets Kick Off November with Shootout Win against Hammers

Nov 1, 2026

Utica, NY – The Utica Comets played their inaugural meeting against the Hamilton Hammers on Sunday afternoon and walked away with a 3-2 shootout win.  

The Comets heavily outplayed the Hammers in the first period, but it was the Hammers who were able to grab the 1-0 lead when Matt Luff scored at 2:43 of the first after receiving an aerial pass at center ice from Ryan Healey and then beat Jakub Malek with a nice shot high glove side from the right circle for his second goal of the year. The Comets, however, poured it on and peppered Hamilton netminder Josh Kotai who stopped all 13 of the shots he faced in the first period which didn't include a post that was hit by Colin White. 

The Comets continued to bring the pressure in the second period, registering a total of 11 shots on goal. After the teams traded power play chances, the Comets would eventually get on the board later in the period at even strength when Xavier Parent hit the goal post and Stefan Noesen was able to coral the loose puck and find Colin White parked in front who jammed it home for his first as a Comet at 14:39 to tie the game at one. 

The Comets started the third period with some carryover time on the power play after Hamilton's Pierre Engvall was called for interference late in the second but were held off the board. The Comets would head to the man advantage again later in the third and were able to capitalize after a beautiful zone entry with Xavier Parent feeding Ben Steeves at the top of the crease who tipped it home past the blocker of Josh Kotai to give the Comets a 2-1 lead at 13:34 on Steeve's third goal of the year. Colin White picked up the secondary assist. The Hammers would not go away, however, when Ethan Bear made a long stretch pass to Joey Larson who snuck behind enemy lines and beat Jakub Malek around the left pad to tie the game at two at 16:56 for his second goal of the year.  

60 minutes was not enough to decide things, and the Comets headed to overtime for the first time this season. The Comets carried the play in the extra session despite not registering any shots on goal. Jakub Malek stopped both of the shots he faced at the other end.  

After a scoreless overtime, the teams proceeded to a shootout. Each team went 2-for-2 in the first two rounds, with Lenni Hameenaho and Ben Steeves scoring for the Comets, while Joey Larson and Quinn Finley scored for Hamilton. The next two shooters for each team were stopped, but then in the fifth round, it was Topias Vilen who beat Josh Kotai between the pads to give the Comets the advantage. Ryan Healey was the fifth shooter for Hamilton and needing a goal to keep his team alive, he rang the crossbar as the Comets prevailed to pick up the extra point. 

The Comets outshot the Hammers 38-11, while going 1-for-4 on the power play and 3-for-3 on the penalty kill.  

The Comets are back home this Friday, November 6th against the Syracuse Crunch at 7 PM. For tickets, please visit uticacomets.com/tickets or call 315-790-9070.