2024-25 Utica Comets and ECHL thread

[Bad Goalie]

With the arrival of Nemec, MacKinnon can sit.
The left side has:
Misyul
Vilen
White

The right side:
Casey
Nemec
DeSimone

Diotte was sent back to Adirondack upon the reassignment of Nemec.
Extras will be MacKinnon on the left side and Welinski on the right side. The first time all season that the D doesn't have a weak link.

As to who plays with whom Casey has been paired with White and Misyul has been with DeSimone. That would leave Nemec with Vilen. There is nothing to say that's how it will play out, but that's not exactly a weak setup.

Parent ran his first practice as the Comets new head coach. The Comets ran a promotion of $10 tickets for Friday's game and the seats are reportedly sold out but standing room is available.

There are no changes in the forward group which is where the major problem has been. Time for those guys to get their heads out of their asses, make some passes as well as learn how to take them, play much better defense, and score some goals.

Looking forward to watching both Nemec and Casey on the Comets roster. There is no telling how long that will last, but I plan on enjoying every minute of it for however long it will last.

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

Haven't seen Adirondack discussed much here but what is the atmosphere there like? I'd assuming that since they had a successful season last year the Comets were hoping some of those players would be AHL-ready this season. Or are they elsewhere now?

 

[Bad Goalie]

Haven't seen Adirondack discussed much here but what is the atmosphere there like? I'd assuming that since they had a successful season last year the Comets were hoping some of those players would be AHL-ready this season. Or are they elsewhere now?

For the best info on Adirondack @Guttersniped is the one to seek out (sorry GS if you didn't want the intrusion). Follows them much more than I do.

Their 2024 playoff roster listed these players who had played some regular sesason games in Utica:
Tyler Brennan - NJ draft selection did not play a game with Utica last season. He was injured for most of last season and didn't play well when he was available. He is on the Thunder roster and will be 1 of 3 with Brodeur as the unquestionable #1.
Will MacKinnon - Last season MacKinnon played 40 games with Utica and 29 with Adirondack. He then played 17 playoff games.
Colin Felix - Played 23 games last season for the Comets. He is currently playing for the AHL Rockford IceHogs.
Jackson van de Leest - Played 6 games for the Comets.
Timur Imbragimov - Played 35 games for the Comets last season. He has returned to the VHL (Russia's AHL level farm system)
Filip Engaras - He played 53 games with the Comets last season and 6 with the Thunder. He then played 17 playoff games with the Thunder.
Andre Ghantous - Ghantous was signed to an AHL PTO at the end of the season and played 3 games. He then played10 regular season games and 14 playoff games with the Thunder.
Erik Middendorf - Played 24 games with the Comets and 36 games with the Thunder. He played 12 playoff games for the Thunder. He is currently a member of the AHL Hershey Bears.
T.J. Friedmann - He played 3 games for the Comets last season. He played 26 regular season games and 14 playoff games with the Thunder.
Isaac Poulter - He was Utica's top keeper statistically in 28 GP. He played 15 playoff games taking over for Brodeur and posted a 1.86 GAA and .939 SV%. He is sharing this season's net once again with Daws.

They currently have Will MacKinnon, Filip Engaras, Tag Bertuzzi, and Kevin O'Neil on 1-way AHL contracts.
Jace Isley, Andre Ghantous, Jackson van de Leest, and TJ Friedmann are on AHL 2-ways.

Will MacKinnon has been on the Comets roster since opening night and has been on the game night roster for all 9 games . With the arrival of Nemec, I would suspect he gets his first night off.

Due to the number of centers DiNeen had on opening night Filip was the #4 center. He played the 1st 4 games and started game 5 in Laval where he suffered a bad upper body injury when crashing head/shoulder first into the end boards. No idea on when he might return.

Bertuzzi was recently called up and has played inthe last 2 games and is a-2 without a point.

O'Neil has not played a game here.

Of the 2-way contrract players only van de Leest has played for the Comets. 2 games and a -1 with no points.

That's the best I can do for you. hope hat gives you an idea. The Comets don't have any of the top point getters from last season's Thunder playoff team on their roster except for Poulter, MacKinnon, and Engaras. All 3 had basically become Comets last season and went down at the season's end to play well for the Thunder as should have been expected. Except for Poulter the other 2 are a bottom 3rd pair D-man and a #4 center. They hold their own, but will not be the catalysts for the Comets to become a better team.

 

[My3Sons]

For the best info on Adirondack @Guttersniped is the one to seek out (sorry GS if you didn't want the intrusion). Follows them much more than I do.

Their 2024 playoff roster listed these players who had played some regular sesason games in Utica:
Tyler Brennan - NJ draft selection did not play a game with Utica last season. He was injured for most of last season and didn't play well when he was available. He is on the Thunder roster and will be 1 of 3 with Brodeur as the unquestionable #1.
Will MacKinnon - Last season MacKinnon played 40 games with Utica and 29 with Adirondack. He then played 17 playoff games.
Colin Felix - Played 23 games last season for the Comets. He is currently playing for the AHL Rockford IceHogs.
Jackson van de Leest - Played 6 games for the Comets.
Timur Imbragimov - Played 35 games for the Comets last season. He has returned to the VHL (Russia's AHL level farm system)
Filip Engaras - He played 53 games with the Comets last season and 6 with the Thunder. He then played 17 playoff games with the Thunder.
Andre Ghantous - Ghantous was signed to an AHL PTO at the end of the season and played 3 games. He then played10 regular season games and 14 playoff games with the Thunder.
Erik Middendorf - Played 24 games with the Comets and 36 games with the Thunder. He played 12 playoff games for the Thunder. He is currently a member of the AHL Hershey Bears.
T.J. Friedmann - He played 3 games for the Comets last season. He played 26 regular season games and 14 playoff games with the Thunder.
Isaac Poulter - He was Utica's top keeper statistically in 28 GP. He played 15 playoff games taking over for Brodeur and posted a 1.86 GAA and .939 SV%. He is sharing this season's net once again with Daws.

They currently have Will MacKinnon, Filip Engaras, Tag Bertuzzi, and Kevin O'Neil on 1-way AHL contracts.
Jace Isley, Andre Ghantous, Jackson van de Leest, and TJ Friedmann are on AHL 2-ways.

Will MacKinnon has been on the Comets roster since opening night and has been on the game night roster for all 9 games . With the arrival of Nemec, I would suspect he gets his first night off.

Due to the number of centers DiNeen had on opening night Filip was the #4 center. He played the 1st 4 games and started game 5 in Laval where he suffered a bad upper body injury when crashing head/shoulder first into the end boards. No idea on when he might return.

Bertuzzi was recently called up and has played inthe last 2 games and is a-2 without a point.

O'Neil has not played a game here.

Of the 2-way contrract players only van de Leest has played for the Comets. 2 games and a -1 with no points.

That's the best I can do for you. hope hat gives you an idea. The Comets don't have any of the top point getters from last season's Thunder playoff team on their roster except for Poulter, MacKinnon, and Engaras. All 3 had basically become Comets last season and went down at the season's end to play well for the Thunder as should have been expected. Except for Poulter the other 2 are a bottom 3rd pair D-man and a #4 center. They hold their own, but will not be the catalysts for the Comets to become a better team.

MacKinnon has a lot of plot armor

 

[Slapshottothehead]

Comets facebook page is touting tonights game as "Epic"... not really sure how a winless team can have an epic game at 0-8... but whatever works for them... update, another 3-2 shootout loss. Dont get anymore "Epic" than that.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

Utica lost in the shootout

0-8-2

 

[My3Sons]

Utica lost in the shootout

0-8-2

Baby steps

 

[Guttersniped]

View attachment 927549

Utica lost in the shootout

0-8-2

Utica in OT:

Adirondack in OT:

(no video yet *grr*)

Edit: Here’s the OT winner with bonus uncalled Goalie Interference lol.

 

[Guttersniped]

Diotte with 2 points (1G 1A) in the 4-3 OT win.

 

[My3Sons]

View attachment 927549


Utica in OT:
View attachment 928096

Adirondack in OT:

(no video yet *grr*)

Edit: Here’s the OT winner with bonus uncalled Goalie Interference lol.

You know he makes me want to shout

 

[Bad Goalie]

MacKinnon has a lot of plot armor

With the re-call of DeSimone, MasKinnon moved into his spot. A LHD that's not all that on the left side now playing RD with Vilen on the left. The guy is either blessed or has a horseshoe up his ass. He is always finding a way to be in the game day lineup.

 

[Bad Goalie]

11/9/24
Utica Comets at Lehigh Valley Phantoms

Forwards:
(34) Beckman/ (26) Schmelzer/ (25) Foote
(20) Willman/ (15) Bowers/ (24) Halonen
(19) Filmon / (11) Legare/ (61) Stillman
(48) Bertuzzi / (13) Malone/ (37) Wendt

D-Pairs:
(6) White / (22) Casey
(83) Vilen/ (17) Nemec
(93) Misyul (3) MacKinnon

Goal (1) Poulter

Comets still looking for their 1st win. Currently 0-8-0-2. That's O/10 as far as I am concerned. They lost both games that they got the loser points.

They have played better in those 2 games, but their goalie kept them in both games with big saves on shots by wide open opponents from between the dots to the net front.

The selection of some players to take the chances in the shootouts are questionable.
Beckman has a high scoring history and had a breakaway goal in the Cleveland game.
Foote scored the lone Comet goal in the Rochester loss.

Beckman took the same shot in both shootouts a deke and a shot right into the catching glove.
Foote deked and went high glove side on hos goal. Last night he came down the middle and half-way between the hashmarks and the net took a slapshot that was confidently kicked out.

In the Rochester shootouts the last 2 shooters were 4th line players not known for their scoring prowess and they lived up to that fact.
Apparently that wasn't proof enough because with a must core or lose chance out came Laberge and he was stick checked by the goalie while crossing in front of him.

There are some very well-paid forwards on this team. If they are not trusted to take free chances vs a goalie, why are they making that kind of money? They haven't been scoring in the 10 games played thus far either, but that's besides the point.

So, here we go again.

Period 1

Poulter already has had to make 3 really tough saves in close

Comets to the PP at 2:54.
Worthless PP.

Lots of play
back and forth with little happening at either end

TV TO
11:58 to go

Malone gets 2 for tripping.

Comets PK ranked #31 out of 32 AHL teams.
Phantoms have the #2 PP in the AHL.

Guy right out of the corner allowed to walk right to Poulter who makes the stop.

Comets out shorthanded. Beckman brought it out and Stillman for the left dot off the bar and IN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Comets 1-0

That didn't take long.
The #31 PK unit allows the #2 PP to score on the PP that Utica scores their shorty on.

1-1

TV TO
8:36 left

Comets another PP.

Comets a couple good chances. Casey setting things up.

Shorty for Lehigh and Poulter stops him.

PP over and the Phantoms roar back in and Poulter makes 2 more beauties. He's keeping the Comets in this or this one would be out of reach already.

The Phantoms have woken up and they are getting good chances in close and the Comets are chasing in their own zone. 2 more shots and 2 more saves by Isaac.

Again as in every game so far the opponent is allowed to go where they want in the O-zone and take shots from very close in.

TV TO
4:14to go.

Beckman a breakaway and the back checker broke it up from behind right in the crease.

Another biggie from Poulter.
TH Comets do nothing to alter the path of any Phantom. They go where they want and do what they want with little to no resistance.

Utica's offense as ceased to exist.

Bowers does absolutely nothing to indicate he is the center on his line.

What a line this is put together by Parent. Malone centering Bertuzzi and Wendt. It really is an ECHL line.

Period ends

1-1

SOG:
14-8 Phantoms
Just looking at these numbers doesn't tell the tale. It's where the Phantoms have been getting those chances, how open they are, and how close to Poulter they are when taking them. Also have to consider the way they are moving the puck all over the zone with speed and the accuracy of passes so they can choose when to take shots and when to just keep the puck moving around amongst a lost, gassed Comets 5-some.

 

[Bad Goalie]

Period 2

Let's see if the Comets can slow down this Phantom offense and mount some serious offense of their own. If they can't, the end doesn't look promising. No team can win games allowing their opponent to own them like the Comets were owned in the 1st.

Here we go!

Foote a good shot form the right dot and Schmelzer is stopped on the rebound.

Foote then takes a penalty and the Comets are back to the PK.

Comets get a 2 on 1 shorthanded and Halonen fires a shot from the left dot and
S----------C--------------O-------------R-------------E------------S
Halonen at 1:22

2-1 Comets

Penalty is killed.

Bowers simply doesn't like to dish the puck to his mates. Just tried to take the puck from the corner to the net while being harassed and he turned it over.

A perfect pass to Filmon as the Comets came in on the rush and he couldn't take it and the puck is turned over. That was a real good chance for the Comets and he just blew it up.

Willman and Halonen are so single minded. They insist on keeping the puck and can't beat the defender and turn it over. The fact that they are on the same line is ludicrous. Add to this that their center is Bowers. That makes the entire line puck hogs.

Penalty called
TV TO
12:59 to go

The penalty is slashing on Samson.

Comets to the PP.

Casey a shot and the tip is missed. Poulter stops a SH breakaway and then again on the rebound. Vilen hooked and the Comets are on a short 5 on 3.

Nothing doing and it's back to 5 on 4.

Comets PP effort is very weak.
It's been close to 4 minutes of a man advantage.

PP is over.

Wasted opportuinity.

Now we've got a Phantom in the circle on the rush. He rips a hard one and Poulter stands tall again.

TVTO
9:05 to go

Penalty on Filmon tripping a Phantom moving lateral on the blueline. He reached in from behind and tripped him. This guy is not showing anyhting thus far this season.

Nothing going in the first 46 seconds.


Comets clear off the faceoff. 1 minute to go and here they come, but it's poked out at the point.

Now they ice it.
:32 to go.

Puck out of play with :13 to go.

A hand pass is called.
:03 to go
faceoff outside the blueline
PK successful.

Comets rush comes up empty as Wendt can't handle a pass as he was heading to the net and wiped out.

Phantoms swarming and the Poulter makes 2 stops and the Comets can't get it out. Stillman 2 chancesto clear and fails on both chances.

Now a slow puck on a clear is called icing. Comets are gassed.
They get it out. Change up happens.

Foote a real good move in the circle and rifles a good shot, but it's stopped.

Phantom comes in on Vilen, uses him for a screen and scores high over Poulter's left shoulder.
2-2

TV TO
3:36 to go.

If only the rest of this team could find a way to pass the puck through traffic tape to tape breaking out of their zone or in the O-zone like Casey and Nemec do, but Casey does it so often with what looks like ease when you know it's so difficult to do. He is a joy to watch.

Period 2 comes to an end.

2-2
SOG
8-6 Phantoms

2-period total
22-14 LV

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

another loss.

 

[Bad Goalie]

Period 3 delayed as the Comets noted a problem behind their net. Big holes in the ice and the ice crew comes out ans sprays canisters of something and fills the holes. It's deemed okay and the period is underway.

Period 3 is underway

Comets under pressure for the first minute + and the puck goes out of play.

Phantoms are just taking turns firing long shots wth guys in front looking to tip.

Comets into the Phantoms zone and every time something breaks down Filomon is there. Finally a shot deflected out of play.

Comets with some pressure of their own, but nothing dangerous ensues.

Halonen surges in and shoots it wide.

2 more big stops on a Phantom who crosses in front of Isaac with the puck. He stops a shot and continues across the crease following him and swallows the rebound.

TV TO
12:43 to go

Puck bounces in front of the Phantom keeper. The D-man reaches down with his hand and can't stop it,Wendt pokes at it and Malone picks up on the fly and and bangs it off the post and in!

G______________O________________A_______________L!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Malone's 1st professional goal.

3-2 Comets at 7:38.

Lots of time in this one. Don't let up boys. They will eat you if you do. Get it out of your end and deep into there's. Poulter a save, but gave up a big rebound and the Comets won the battle for it. Phantoms in and Poulter a save. Foote blocks a shot.
Poulter anotherstop and Foote blocks another. Puck out of play.

TV TO
8:56 to go

I'd love to see them hold on, but I can't make myself be confident, LOL.

Faceoff is lost and Poulter a stop. These continuous face off losses are going to kill them

The Comets are hemmed in and the Phantoms keep the pressure on. Comets ice it. This is not the way you hold onto a lead.

Comets are trying to hold on instead of getting up ice. Blocking shots will not be enough.

Filmon moves in and loses control while trying to stick handle it and turns it over.

Schmelzer moves it in and shoots and Legare tries to keep it in, but fails.

Puck out of play in the Comets end.

6:13 to go

Foote a shot and it goes over the net off a Phnatom stick.

Halonen a 1-timer and it's stopped.

Comets keep shooting it out and in bothering every puck handler.

Dumb dump is icing.

A shot right off the draw from the back of the circle and the Phantoms score.

3-3 with 6:39 to go.

Remeber, faceoffs don't matter. Yeah, right. Comets are not good at faceoffs and the draws have been killing them and this was the biggest bite.

Parent has to sit this 4th line. They cannot compete against the pressure and it's no crime to skip them for a couple of shifts.

1:49 to go and the Phantoms ice it. However, they once again win the draw and get ti out. Comets back in and the Phantoms shoot it out. 1 minute to go.

Phantoms off sides with :27 to go.

Phantoms win the draw.

Period ends and we are going to OT for the 3rd straight game.
3 points in 3 games, but it means little if they lose their 11th without a win. Little steps?????

5 minutes or less.

Bowers, Willman, and Nemec to start.

Lose the draw and Phantoms are in. They control, and move out of the zone and change up and come back in.

Casey falls down backing out of the zone. Halonen goes in strong and is stopped in the crease. Halonen 1- timer stopped. Halonen cross-ice pass and another 1-time is stopped.

Bowers hits the post on a 1-timer. Thatv was the game!!!!!!!

Phantoms back in and a shot attempt by the rushin g phantom mrolls off his stick and slides past the goal. The shooter keeps on it and tries a wrap around. Poulter is down to defend the wraparound. It ends ends up going right acroos the crease and another picks it up wide of the net down low and low shoots it back behind Poulter trying to get back to the other side.

On that sequence Poulter blocked the left side of his crease against the Phantom comng to him but the onrushing phantom lost control of the puck but regained itbehind the net and tried a wraparound to Poulter's right. Isaac slid back across his crease to stop it , but itthe attempt went through the crease and he juist couldn't get all the way back across again before the puck went behind him into the net.

This sequence was bang, bang, bang.

Comets Lose 4-3 in OT.

They really had a good OT and came up empty on great chances and lost on a play you can't map out.

It looks like no matter how hard they are trying of late something always comes back to bite them in the ass.

Next game Monday at 5 p.m. at the Aud in a rematch with the Cleveland Monsters.

 

[Bad Goalie]

Final score - Lehigh Valley 4 Utica 3, OT

SOG:
UTC - 8 6 6 3 = 23
LHV -14 8 8 1 = 31
The Comets have to come up with a way to put more pressure on an opponent these kind of numbers for shots/period are just not enough to win most hockey games.That fact has proven to be true in game after game of this dismal start to the season. 11 gems played and 11 games lost. the ONLY solace is the 3 loser points. 22 possible points and the Comets have 3.

Scoring:
Stillman (1) from Beckman (4) SHG
Halonen (5) from Bowers (3) and White (4) SHG
Malone (1) from Wendt (2) and Casey (8)

Poulter
31 SA/ 27 SVS/ 4 GA

 

[Guttersniped]

another loss.

 

[UticaHockey]

With the re-call of DeSimone, MasKinnon moved into his spot. A LHD that's not all that on the left side now playing RD with Vilen on the left. The guy is either blessed or has a horseshoe up his ass. He is always finding a way to be in the game day lineup.

One word and one word only. Nepotism

 

[PizzaAndPucks]

Seamus Casey has 9 points in 7 games and is a +1 on this dumpsterfire of a team.

Josh Filmon has 0 points in 8 games. Has had a hard time even getting shots on goal each game. Rough start for him.

Dylan Wendt not doing much as a rookie either.

 

[My3Sons]

Seamus Casey has 9 points in 7 games and is a +1 on this dumpsterfire of a team.

Josh Filmon has 0 points in 8 games. Has had a hard time even getting shots on goal each game. Rough start for him.

Dylan Wendt not doing much as a rookie either.

Filmon and Wendt are why god invented the ECHL.

 

[Bad Goalie]

Seamus Casey has 9 points in 7 games and is a +1 on this dumpsterfire of a team.

Josh Filmon has 0 points in 8 games. Has had a hard time even getting shots on goal each game. Rough start for him.

Dylan Wendt not doing much as a rookie either.

I don't know what I missed but Casey was on the ice for 5 goals against and with 9 points that should be +2, yes?

Filmon belongs in the ECHL. He looks like a lost puppy out there right now. He's already missed 3 of the 11 games without an injury and has recorded 0 points.

Wendt has been sent to Adirondack but had to be recalled due to injuries in house. If all hands on deck were healthy, he'd still be there. He has only played in 4 of the Comets 11 games, but he does have 2 assists.

Stillman scored his 1st of the season last night while having played 10 of the 11games. He also has a whopping 1 Assist.

26 players have taken the ice for the Comets this season:
11 have not scored

8 have 1 goal.

Only 4 players have scored 2 or more goals
- 2 of those have only played 6 games, Beckman and Dowling
-the other 2 have scored:
5 - Halonen
4 - Foote
The Comets have been outscored 47- 21.

Their goals for is #31 out of 32 teams
Their goals allowed are tied with Iowa and Henderson. However, Iowa has 9 Pts with 4 wins and Henderson has 6 Pts with 3 wins.
Bridgeport while giving up 48 goals, the most in the AHL has 6 Pts and 2 wins.

As we all know Utica has 3 Pts with 0 wins.

Utica's PP is #12 in the league at 18.6%.
Utica's PK % is dead last also at 18.6%.

No matter how you stack it, this is not a good hockey team as of this post and I don't see any miracles ahead. They will win some hockey games, but I wouldn't bet on them turning this season around. The odds are definitely not good.

*** Edit
The number of goals he's been on the ice for vs goals against also figure into his points to calculate the +/-.
He's played 7 games and is tied for the team lead in points with Foote, both with with 9 Pts.
Casey has only played in 7 of the Comets 11 games.
Beckman is the only other Comet with a PPG total at 1 or better. He has 6 in 6 GP.
Foote is damned close with 9 Pts in 10 GP.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

Utica is about to lose again.

 

[tailfins]

Utica is about to lose again.

MacKinnon seat oughta be getting pretty warm.

 

[Bad Goalie]

MacKinnon seat oughta be getting pretty warm.

He admitted in an interview with Shaya that in spite of DiNeen working hard and being a good guy it was time for him (MacKinnon) to let Kevin go. So based upon that it would seem Mac exerted a power of his position. If so, I have all kinds of evil thoughts about the construction of the Comets!!
It would mean he is heavily responsible for the past 2 rosters ('23-24 and '24-25) not just NJ as we have been led to believe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

Is this team so ass awful that it may begin to impact our D’s development down there? Not having any centers really wrecks your ability to do anything.