A Look Back at the Comets Opening Night
October 28, 2013 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Utica Comets News Release
There are certain nights in sports that go beyond what the numbers in the box score say. For the Utica Comets, the inaugural home opener turned out to be one of those games.
It had been over twenty years since the last time an American Hockey League organization called Utica its home. Ever since June 14, when the collective dream of a few became a reality when the Utica Comets were announced, the Mohawk Valley community has rallied behind this team. It wasn't until last night, however, that we could see and hear what professional hockey in Utica was really about. And boy could we hear it.
A crowd unlike one I had ever heard before in an AHL arena gave a thunderous ovation so loud that you could barely hear that the public address was welcoming hockey back to Utica. It was a roar that was twenty years in the making.
Everything began with the Comets Fan Fest, which officially started at 4 PM on Whitesboro Street next to The AUD. I looked out the window of our office building and was delighted to see droves of Mohawk Valley locals walking over for the opportunity to meet some of hockey's legends, as early as an hour before. "Mr. Hockey", Gordie Howe, and the Hanson Brothers, from the film "Slapshot", were on hand for the spectacle that included a performance from classic rock legends Night Ranger. On a side note, if you haven't rocked out to Sister Christian at some point then you're missing out. The fan fest offered a great start to the evening for fans and it was only the beginning.
Fast forward 90 minutes and the typically tame lobby areas surrounding our box offices were overflowed with season ticket holders eager for their first look at the newly renovated AUD. After I talked with a few season ticket holders, there was amazement at the support for this team. The ravenous Comets fans tried to move through the gates faster than could possibly be accommodated, which created quite the atmosphere. And we were still over an hour and a half away from game time.
The in game festivities began with video tributes to the Comets return. Imagine Dragons "Radioactive", featuring the lyrics "welcome To the new age', became more than just lyrics as Utica's fans were treated to the transformation from black and white photos of the old Clinton Comets to the new era of Comets hockey. This was followed by a montage of everyone in the Utica area who helped to make the Comets a possibility, ending with team president Robert Esche, which drew a large, and loud ovation from the Comets faithful.
It was just one of those nights where even a problem could turn into an unforgettable moment. When Night Ranger came out to sing the national anthem, a microphone glitch prevented the rock-n-roll band from singing America's song. But it allowed a sold-out crowd to sing it instead, in a rendition that seemed all too fitting for the moment. It was a special moment that took center stage for many fans in attendance.
Talking with my colleague Don Laible throughout the game, he said he had never seen an event in this area generate the kind of buzz with the media that the Comets home opener did. And how could anyone disagree? Everyone who's anyone in mainstream media was at The AUD last night. The Comets had become Utica's team before even playing a game and wow what an experience it was to be a part of it.
As we approached puck drop with rally towels waving, it felt like a playoff atmosphere at The AUD, but for us it's only the beginning. With 37 home games left on the schedule, there's so much to be excited about in Utica and our fans are such a big part of that. This is a community that blindly embraced this franchise and last night proved what everyone has been saying for the past 20 years.
The AHL belongs in Utica.
American Hockey League Stories from October 28, 2013
- Wednesday Is 'Leon Etienne Night' - Utica Comets
- Tarasov Scores Them All, Including Club's 1st Hat Trick Since 2010 - Worcester Sharks
- Amerks to "Salute the Troops" Monday, November 11 - Rochester Americans
- Brossoit Assigned & Ortio Recalled - Abbotsford Heat
- Wolves Weekly Notes - Chicago Wolves
- Amerks to Support "Try Hockey for Free Day" at Local Rinks - Rochester Americans
- Glendening Recalled, Two to Toledo - Grand Rapids Griffins
- IceHogs Recall Bobby Shea from Toledo - Rockford IceHogs
- Wolf Pack Weekly - Hartford Wolf Pack
- IceCaps Rock Report - St. John's IceCaps
- Falcons Weekly Notes - Springfield Falcons
- Muse Named AHL Player of the Week - Charlotte Checkers
- Charlotte's John Muse Named CCM/AHL Player of the Week - AHL
- Coyotes Recall Szwarz from Portland - Portland Pirates
- Western Conference Leading Hogs Extend Point Streak - Rockford IceHogs
- Anaheim Recalls Center Rickard Rakell from Norfolk - Norfolk Admirals
- San Antonio Rampage Weekly Update - San Antonio Rampage
- February 9 Game Time Changed to 1:00 Pm - Milwaukee Admirals
- Ryan Craig Returned on Loan to Springfield - Springfield Falcons
- A Look Back at the Comets Opening Night - Utica Comets
- Comet Tales: Opening Night - Utica Comets
- Pirates Sign Randy Jones to PTO - Portland Pirates
- Canadiens Recall Greg Pateryn - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Sound Tigers Recall Keenan from Stockton of the ECHL - Bridgeport Islanders
- Bears Wrap Up Light Month with Big Win; Busy November Starts Friday - Hershey Bears
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
