COMETS CHANGE ROSTER AHEAD OF MEETING WITH CLEVELAND
Dec 17, 2021Utica Comets Get Some Help: Utica Comets General Manager, Dan MacKinnon, announced today that the team signed goaltender Bailey Brkin from the Fort Wayne Komets of the ECHL to a professional tryout contract with the club along with one forward and one defenseman from the Adirondack Thunder including forwards Peter MacAruthur and defenseman Chris Lijdsman.
Brkin, 22, hails from Sherwood Park, Alberta and started his professional career this season with the Quad City Storm of the SPHL playing 10 games with an 8-1-1 record holding a .937 save percentage with 1.79 goals against average. The six-foot-three, 175-pound goaltender has played one game with the Komets this season before his PTO with the Comets.
MacArthur, 36, is currently third in points for the Thunder with 16 (five goals, 11 assists). This will be MacArthur's first stint in the AHL since the 2010-11 season where he spent 24 games with the Lake Erie Monsters and one game with the Peoria Rivermen. MacArthur is a native of Clifton Park, NY.
This will be Chris Lijdsman's first AHL call-up. The 30-year-old has appeared in 15 games for the Thunder this season. Lijdsman skated in 127 games in the SPHL (Huntsville, Pensacola, Roanoke, Birmingham), 30 games in the ECHL (15 with Jacksonville), and 23 games in France2 with Tours.
Last Time Out: The Utica Comets returned home to the Adirondack Bank Center after losing two games in a row for the first time this year, turning their luck around against a Cleveland Monsters team that scored eight goals just two nights prior with a 3-1 victory last week on Friday, December 10th.
Despite Cleveland being the team with the hot offense, it was Utica who jumped out to a lead in the first period, Fabian Zetterlund scoring 3:23 into the frame to make it 1-0. The offensive output would not end there for the home squad in the first, Nate Schnarr batting in a puck off a rebound to add some insurance and make it 2-0 for the Comets heading to the break.
The Utica powerplay capitalized just over halfway through the second period, adding another goal, this time off the stick of Graeme Clarke, to increase the lead to 3-0. It would be the lone goal in the frame.
Utica goaltender Marek Mitens and the defense would handle business from there, the Comets not allowing a shot on goal for the first 12 minutes of period number three, and despite a late goal from Cleveland with less than two minutes to play, Mitens picked up his first victory in his Utica Comets debut.
Promo Schedule Updates for Comets Fans: The Utica Comets have announced some important and exciting changes to their 2021-22 promotional schedule! The New Year’s Eve Bar Crawl on December 31 has been canceled. Fans are still welcome to kick off their New Year’s party when our doors open at 3:30! On Saturday, January 22, all fans in attendance will receive an AHL Record Commemorative Banner! Come celebrate our 13-0 start with a special gift! On Friday, January 28, all fans in attendance will receive a special surprise pin!
Save of the Day Foundation Week, previously scheduled for February 2, 4 and 5, has been moved to March 9, 11 and 12. Fans can still expect a unique Save of the Day-themed jersey and other surprises to help raise awareness for the Foundation.
Due to its overwhelming popularity, Rockin’ the Rink, Part II will hit the Adirondack Bank Center on Saturday, February 5! Stay tuned for the lineup announcement in 2022! Saturday, February 12 is all about the kids! The Comets are holding their fourth major kid’s club event. Stay tuned for details! Roaring 20s Night, previously scheduled for March 12, has been moved to Saturday, April 16. More details to come about this one-of-a-kind event! Everything else previously described on the promotional schedule is proceeding as planned. And don’t forget, every Wednesday is $3 beers, and every Saturday is Season Ticket Member Saturday!