Birch worked with Devils GM Sunny Mehta as part of the Florida Panthers’ front office that helped win back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2024 and 2025. He has spent the past 12 years with Florida, working as Director of Hockey Operations and Salary Cap Management for the past five years, and previously serving as Special Assistant to the General Manager. Birch started his career as an intern, and throughout his time in Florida, touched every area of the hockey business, including salary cap management, finance, and the pro scouting department. 

Born in Hamilton, Ontario, on September 25, 1989, the Chicago Blackhawks selected Birch with the 179th overall pick (sixth round) in the 2008 NHL Draft. The left shot defenseman started his professional career in 2013-14, where he played in the ECHL with Florida and Colorado, while also spending time in Liiga (Finland) with HIFK where he was an assistant captain. Before his professional experience, Birch played four seasons, 2009-10 to 2012-13, at Cornell University (ECAC), where he scored 21 points (5g-16a) and accumulated 92 penalty minutes in 128 career games.  He served as tri-captain during his senior season with the Big Red. Birch grew up playing minor hockey with Oakville (OJHL/OPJHL), Nanaimo (BCHL), and Stoney Creek (GHL). He also has a master’s degree in Sports Management from Florida Atlantic.

Parent was drafted by the Nashville Predators in the first round, 18th overall, in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. After playing three seasons in the Ontario Hockey League with the Guelph Storm, Parent joined the Milwaukee Admirals for the 2006 American Hockey League playoffs. Parent also played on both Canada's 2006 and 2007 World Jr. Hockey Championship gold-medal winning teams. During his NHL career, he totaled 106 games played for Philadelphia and Vancouver. Over 10 seasons in the American Hockey League, Parent skated in 251 games for seven clubs. Parent has been the assistant coach for the New Jersey Devils AHL club since the 2018-19 season.

Voakes, 41, previously served as Player Development Coach, where he worked with New Jersey’s Director, Player Development, Meghan Duggan. He was actively engaged with Utica’s coaching staff and players, as well as the organization’s prospects at all levels, including extensively working on-ice with the AHL club this past season. A native of St. Thomas, Ontario, Voakes played 14 seasons at the professional level. The former centerman played three seasons split between the ECHL (Cincinnati, Bakersfield, and Greenville) and AHL (Portland, Rochester) from 2009-10 to 2011-12. He scored 45 points (14g-31a) in 93 career AHL games and 75 points (28g-47a) in 93 career ECHL games. Voakes played in Germany’s top professional league (DEL) in Krefeld, Wolfsburg and Munich from 2012-13 to 2020-21. Voakes played 382 career regular-season games (106g-225a=331pts) in the DEL and owned the league’s best plus/minus rating (17) during the 2015-16 campaign. Before joining New Jersey, he spent one season as a scout in the DEL with EHC München.

Carkner, 44, spent the past three seasons from 2022-23 to 2024-25 as Head Coach of Orlando in the ECHL. He compiled a 105-82-29 record during his tenure in Orlando, leading the team to two postseason berths in each of the last two seasons. Carkner began his coaching career as an assistant in the AHL with Bridgeport in 2016-17 and held the role until the end of the 2020-21 season. The Winchester, Ontario native was drafted by Montreal in the second round, 58th overall, in the 1999 NHL Draft. He played professionally at the NHL and AHL level for 15 seasons from 2001-02 to 2015-16. Overall, Carkner played in 237 career regular-season games in the NHL and tallied 27 career points (4g-23a) with 556 penalty minutes. He logged his NHL debut with San Jose in 2005-06, played for Ottawa from 2008-09 to 2011-12, and the New York Islanders from 2012-13 to 2013-14.

Brian Eklund enters his second season with the New Jersey Devils as Assistant Coach, Goaltending.

Eklund, drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning 226^th overall in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft, played four seasons at Brown University. After his collegiate career, Eklund signed a two-year deal with the Lightning and starred for their ECHL team, the Pensacola Ice Pilots, before earning a ring with the Lightning as the team’s third goaltender during their run to the 2004 Stanley Cup title. He went on to make his NHL debut with the Lightning during the 2005-06 campaign and played two seasons in the AHL with the Springfield Falcons and Providence Bruins.  

Eklund, who owns Massachusetts Crease, a goalie school designed to develop aspiring goalies, helped Harvard University excel in goal during his time as a coach there, leading to school records in wins, saves and starts. 

Brian Suslow is the new Video Coach for the Utica Comets, bringing a wealth of experience from his time at Penn State. Previously, he served as the Nittany Lions' Video Coordinator, where he was integral in the team's video analysis and pre-scouting. With expertise in breaking down game footage and supporting coaching strategies, Suslow's detailed eye and hockey knowledge will now enhance the Comets’ performance analysis. His contributions will be key in refining team tactics and improving player development for the organization

Damion Parmelee is in his 8^th season with the Utica Comets and is working his 23^rd season in professional hockey.

Prior to joining the Comets, he spent eight seasons (2006-14) with the Phantoms, both in Philadelphia and Adirondack. He spent 2003-2006 with the Alaska Aces of the ECHL. In 2006 the Aces won the Kelly Cup Championship. He spent 2000-2003 with the ECHL’s Pee Dee Pride.

He started his professional hockey career in 1999 as an assistant equipment manager for the AHL’s Albany River Rats. Parmelee had the honor of working the 2002 and 2003 ECHL All Star games as well as the 2015, 2016 and 2018 AHL All-Star Games. He celebrated his 1500th game on February 8, 2019. 

He is a native from Binghamton, NY and currently resides in New Hartford, NY with his wife Ashley, sons Wyatt and Truett, and their dog Alyeska.