Utica Comets host their home opener Monday: What to know about the season
Five months have passed since Uticans trudged out of the Adirondack Bank Center.
A North Division title and 95-point regular season ended in a semifinal game five loss to the Rochester Americans.
But Monday night, fans will return to the Aud for the 10th season of Utica Comets hockey for battle with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
The Comets fell 3-1 to the Hershey Bears Saturday evening in chocolate town, but Monday serves as the home opener.
More:Utica Comets bounced from playoffs by Amerks after squandering third-period lead
Here is what you need to know before the home season kicks off:
Utica Comets roster updates
Utica’s four leading goal scorers from last season – Alexander Holtz, Fabian Zetterlund, A.J. Greer and Chase De Leo – all departed the Mohawk Valley in the offseason.
That core tallied nearly 40 percent of goals scored last season. Holtz led the bunch with 26 goals. The 20-year-old Stockholm native now stars for the Devils, where he recorded his first career goal Thursday night.
Captain Ryan Schmelzer scored 18 goals last season and returns healthy, despite off-season surgery. Schmelzer, a Buffalo native and AHL lifer, prepares for his 13th season.
Nolan Foote, 14 goals, also comes back this year. The 2019 first-round pick played seven games for the Devils, where he scored three goals.
Zach Senyshyn signed with the Comets in the off-season after a 19-goal performance in Providence last season.
Elsewhere, 2021 defenseman of the year Robbie Russo returns and anchors a defense that allowed less than three goals a game.
In goal, Akira Schmid and Nico Daws both reemerge in Utica after experiencing some playoff time in Newark last season. Coach Kevin Dineen has said he feels good about either option in net.
Key games on Utica Comets schedule for 2022-23
All AHL teams will play 72 games in the 2022-23 season and the rival Syracuse Crunch are the Comets most frequent opponent with 14 showdowns. Despite that, the Crunch won’t come to Utica until January 20.
The Americans will arrive much sooner. The first time occurs November 5 as the second of the two teams 10 meetings.
The Comets once again host a Veterans Day game, this one versus the Laval Rocket. Laval advanced to the Eastern Conference Final in 2021, where it lost to Springfield. The Thunderbirds come to the Aud on December 17.
Atlantic Division Charlotte visits Utica on January 25 and March 3. The regular season concludes on April 15 in Syracuse.
The full schedule is available here.
Utica Comets promotional schedule and ticket info for 2022-23
Numerous promotions are scheduled for this season. Friday night, October 21, every fan in attendance receives a Comets magnetic schedule.
Eight days later, the team will hold the first of its 11 nights celebrating the 35th anniversary of the Utica Devils.
Retro music lovers need to mark their calendars for December 17 for 80s night and March 25 for 90s night. Both events feature live music around the concourse.
Finally, the local community will be honored on February 18 with Utica night. Local food will be on tap, and the squad intends to wear a special jersey.
The full list of events can be seen here.
Fans can purchase single game tickets through Empire State Tickets. Season tickets are available at uticacoments.com/szn.
Utica Comets on TV and radio
For spectators who can’t make it to the Bank Center, local NBC affiliate WKTV will air seven Saturday night games, the first of which commences on October 29 against the Toronto Marlies. The other six transpire on November 19, December 17, February 4, February 18, March 25 and April 8.
Jason Shaya will provide the play-by-play in his second season with the Comets. All Comets games can be heard on 94.9 KROCK.
Noah Ram is a sports reporter for the Observer-Dispatch. Email Noah Ram at nram@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: Utica Comets 2022-23: Key schedule dates, players, what to know
