NEW HARTFORD NATIVE MIKE ZALEWSKI NAMED ASSISTANT COACH

Aug 18, 2026

Utica, NY – The Utica Comets announced today that New Hartford native Mike Zalewski has been hired as an Assistant Coach to round out Head Coach Ryan Parent's coaching staff. Zalewski returns to the Mohawk Valley after having spent most of his North American playing career with the Comets. He played a total of 167 regular-season games with the Comets while recording 63 career points (24G, 39A) between 2014 and 2017. Born and raised in New Hartford and having played for several teams in Central New York, Zalewski is a local guy through and through. 

He was a part of the team's run to the Calder Cup Finals during the 2014-15 season. The former left winger suited up in 27 career Calder Cup Playoff games while registering four points (1G, 3A). He also made his NHL debut with the Vancouver Canucks in April of 2014 and appeared in six total contests with the club while registering two assists. 

When asked about the chance to coach his former team, Zalewksi said, “I couldn’t be more excited to join Ryan’s staff and have the opportunity to work in Utica as part of the Devils organization. Utica is a special place to me in so many ways, and the chance to represent this club again means a great deal and it’s an opportunity I don’t take lightly. This is a tremendous hockey community with some of the best fans in the game, and I feel incredibly fortunate to be a part of it. I can’t wait to get started and see everyone back in the building when the season begins.” 

Zalewski played for the EJHL's Syracuse Stars in 2009-10 to kick off his junior hockey career and later played collegiately at Rensselaer Polytech Institution (RPI) where he was a top five points leader during both of his seasons there, tallying 47 career points (21G, 26A) in 71 career games from 2012 to 2014. 

Zalewski, 33, will serve as an Assistant Coach alongside Assistant Coach Matt Carkner and Goaltending Coach Brian Eklund. This marks the first coaching position for the 33-year-old since concluding his playing career with Klagenfurt AC in Austria in 2022-23. 

The 2026-27 season is less than two months away as the Comets get set to face the Providence Bruins on October 2nd and will play their Home Opener on October 10th against the Rochester Americans. Tickets to the Home Opener are available in the six and 12-game packs which can be found at www.uticacomets.com/tickets/pack.  

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