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AHL Utica Comets

Inside the Comets: In-Game Host Cecelie Pikus

April 25, 2014 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Utica Comets News Release


It isn't easy keeping up with Cecelie Pikus at The AUD during games.

It's till a couple of hours before game time and Pikus, a Hamilton College graduate, keeps a steady presence and pace at The AUD. She has to - it's her responsibility. As the in-game host during Comets home games, what sponsorships, products, and contests fans have become quite familiar with, that seems to be the easier part of her title.

What and where Pikus is needed has become routine. When the Syracuse Crunch were on the ice for their pre-game warm-ups during their only appearance in Utica this season, Pikus was close to the skaters. On the opposite side of the glass of the Crunch, with two minutes to go before the ice is to be cleared of players and the zambonis take over, Pikus is meeting with the woman who will sing the national anthem. It's Pink the Rink Night, the Comets' contribution in recognizing breast cancer awareness. Pikus is demonstrating her commitment to stamping out the disease that overwhelming effects woman, by wearing her rose pink pants.

As the last of the players heads back to the visiting team's dressing room, Pikus is still concentrating on making sure the national anthem goes off without a hitch. There is a contingency of boy scouts who will accompany the singer out on to the ice. Pikus is administering last minute instructions for adults and scouts.

Details are what Pikus' responsibilities with the Comets are all about. By drop of the puck this Friday evening, Pikus will have been in The AUD for nine hours - with several more to go. After uploading pre-cut highlights to CometsTV for public viewing, Pikus' schedule will likely have her leave Oriskany Street West approximately one and a half hours after each home game.

With no prior experience working before thousands of people at a time, there are no visible pre-game, or in-game nerves for that matter, for the Short Hills, New Jersey native. "I've never done this before, except a public speaking class at Hamilton," says Pikus. "Opening night I was a little nervous but much less now."

As the pre-game ceremony is unfolding, the two ceremonial puck drops make things a little more complicated for Pikus. Still in her rhythm, all come off as planned. The rugs placed on the ice for the flag-bearing scouts and those being recognized are being rolled up, and scooped off the playing surface. Next up for Pikus, she will be doing a live promo for First Source Credit Union, a Comets corporate sponsor, halfway through the first period of this and every home game.

"I have no script. I pretty much wing it; ad lib," Pikus, who shares the same hometown with such notables as former New Jersey Devils Brian Rolston and actress Anne Hathaway, tells.

The small-town atmosphere of Hamilton (Pikus' brother currently attends her alma mater) and the Mohawk Valley, appeals so much to Cecelie that she decided to remain in the area after graduation. She tells of many of her classmates moving to New York City and Chicago for employment. Coming from a commuter town where a large portion of its residents work in the 'Big Apple', Pikus gives the impression that, for now at least, she won't be changing her New Hartford address.

Relaxed and enjoying the comings and goings throughout The AUD's nearby lower bowl seated fans, Pikus high-five's one of the evening's cameraman's young son. So, how did Pikus get her foot in the Comets' proverbial door? Completing a summer internship for the New Jersey Devils in their social media and marketing department was a big influence for her career path.

"I was working as a waitress at a local sports bar (in New Jersey) a couple summers ago and at one of my tables was a guy who told me he was a part owner of the Devils," Pikus recalls. "This was during their (New Jersey) Cup run in 2012. There were 30 interns."

Labeling working on the American Hockey League level more personal than her experiences while being around the NHL in Newark, Pikus does have aspirations to work her way up to the next level. "It's going to be a shocker for me when the season is over. I still remember how busy we were last July when I was hired," Pikus explains.

Along with her corporate sponsorship duties in pitching advertisement options to clients and hosting CometsTV on YouTube, Pikus tells of also working on The AUD side of Mohawk Valley Garden, parent company of the Comets, with concert responsibilities. There is also her regular contributions on the Comets website with a Comets Corner feature on players, that fans have come to read regularly. Plus, it is Pikus that counts down the seconds before The AUD rains squishy blue pucks during the Honda sponsored Chuck- A- Puck contest, between the second and third periods.

Be it in section 116 informing fans they could have the very seats in her vicinity just by texting at that time, sponsored by First Source, presenting flowers to a season ticket holder of the game, or facilitating trivia contests with prizes at stake, Pikus has become the ultimate sales person associated with the Comets. Along with the club's Comettes dance team, Pikus also leads the way for a sponsor's TV commercial of awards and apparel.

Pikus has no designated spot, at any given Comets game at The AUD. Dressed casually and comfortably, Cecelie Pikus remains in motion by necessity. This team of one's sole purpose is to entertain the masses on game night. Effortlessly going about her business, even as the horn sounds, ending the game, Pikus reports immediately down near the Comets dressing room for the post-game press conference. She tapes coach Travis Green's comments, and any of the players who are brought out for questioning, then uploads the footage, along with previously cut highlights, to the CometsTV channel.

It's dark outside The AUD as Pikus, after completing her last duties, but inside, while the public fills the seats, she continues to make it a bright time for all.

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