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AHL Utica Comets

Comet Tales: Clinton Comets Appreciation Night

December 13, 2013 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Utica Comets News Release


Who would have thought it were possible less than one year ago, members of the Clinton Comets would be remembered with an appreciation night in the Utica Memorial Auditorium?  Wishful thinking has become reality for eight former mainstays of the glory teams that made their reputation, while skating at 36 Kirkland Avenue in Clinton.

It has been 40 years since the Clinton Comets last played their final game.  For many of the players, they endeared themselves to the region while playing hockey, which led to them remaining here for life after their professional days.  As eight former members of some of the most successful teams to have skated in the Eastern Hockey League have their jerseys retired on December 13, 2013, including from the awe-inspiring 1967-68 club that garnered a 57-5-10 record, memories and emotions are sure to impact all inside The AUD.

Jack Kane

Jack Kane, who captained many of those dominating Comets squads that played in the Clinton Arena, is one of the selected few who chose to remain a Mohawk Valley resident.  Originally from Peterborough, Ontario, Kane first arrived in Clinton for the 1960-61 campaign.  He would go on to to skate for the organization during a dozen seasons, while wearing a Clinton jersey.

Still living near the Arena, which officially seats 2,000 and allows for 300 standing room fans, Kane remembers well his fellow seven  members from the Clinton Comets fraternity who are being honored in The AUD.

Tom Mitchell, currently the Binghamton Senators vice-president of operations, spent three full seasons in a Comets jersey, as well as a couple games in a fourth.  In the late '60""s and early '70""s, coming from his hometown of Vanderhoof, British Columbia, Mitchell began his professional career in the Arena.  "Tom was a good part of the team," says Kane.  "When he played, better things happened for us."

Cornwall, Ontario's Pete Prevost is one defenseman Kane,and likely those who sat in the Arena for Comets games, haven't forgotten.  "Pete was a very small defenseman (5'8"" 165lbs.) who played very well," Kane said.  "He moved the puck out of the zone quickly."  During Prevost's two full season's playing in Clinton (1967-'68 & 1969-'70, plus 9 games with the 1970-'71 team), he collected 104 points and 160 penalty minutes.

If you quiz Kane as to who his line's left winger was, he rapidly reminds you it was Borden Smith.  From the 1965-'66 season through 1971-'72, Smith was a regular playing for Coach Pat Kelly's teams in Clinton.  "We were together for eight years.  Borden was a great hockey player, who had a tremendous slapshot.  He scored a lot of goals for us," Kane recalls.  Twice as as Comet, Smith reached 60 goals.  In 1965-'66, Smith notched the 60 goal mark, and during the 1967-69 season topped his previous best, by finding the back of the net 69 times.

Dave Armstrong of Collingwood, Ontario was the best centerman, as far as Jack Kane remembers.  Coming to Clinton for the 1964-65 season, Armstrong was fresh out of the Ontario Hockey Association with the Niagara Falls Flyers where he teamed with future NHL stars Derek Sanderson and Bernie Parent.  "Dave was a strong skater and playmaker.  He's a good friend, too," Kane states.

Center Archie Burton scored an amazing 156 points in 124 games, during his three seasons with the Clinton Comets.  "Archie was a little before my time with the Comets," Kane explains.  "He played the game hard and used his stick well.  We played together with the Copper City Chiefs ( 1975-76 New York Amateur Hockey League).

Tim Hook  represented the Clinton Comets in 599 games.  According to Kane, the Barrie, Ontario native was a great utility player.  "Tim worked hard.  He could play defense and forward, whatever we needed,".

With Ian Anderson's recent passing, his son Jordan Anderson will represent him on Clinton Comets Appreciation Night.  Ian racked up 245 penalty minutes during his five seasons making hockey life a whole lot easier for Kane and his other teammates.  A defenseman, Kane looks back at his former teammate as an all-around good hockey player.  One of the more beloved members of the Clinton alumni, Anderson  arrived to the Comets with four professional seasons to his credit.

As for the captain and what it means to be honored prior to the Utica Comets - Binghamton Senators contest, he is humbled.  He will have some relatives in The AUD to take in the festivities .  Sounding every bit the leader today that he was during his playing days on Kirkland Avenue, Kane appears to be taking his recognition as a reflection, not so much from his personal accomplishments, but for all those who wore a Clinton jersey before him.

The Clinton Arena and Utica are separated by nine miles. However, Comets' memories, remain as close as the next hockey fans' conversation about their favorite players and teams.  Comets history comes alive once again in The AUD, long overdue and much appreciated.

- - - - - -

The statistics tell of Tom Mitchell's time spent with the Clinton Comets only half of his professional hockey playing career.  Three full seasons, 211 games, and 137 points  are the official imprint left. However, the friendships and memories from a proud period in the Binghamton Senators vice-president of operations life remain strong.

"When I left Minnesota's (North Stars) training camp, I wasn't sure where New York was, let along Clinton," says Mitchell, 66, originally from Vanderhoof, British Columbia.  "I had three great years being in Clinton. Everyone was so nice to me."

Mitchell's first memory of putting his skates on inside the Clinton Arena was for a game against the Nashville Dixie Flyers. Taking part in the pre-season contest didn't seem any different than playing in most of the arenas he was familiar with in his native Western Canada. "I knew the Arena had a history to it. It looked old back then," Mitchell tells. "When you are focused on hockey, y

Tom Mitchell

ou aren't thinking much about the building you're in."

The staunch support exhibited by hockey fans throughout the Mohawk Valley towards their Comets is what brings out the most vivid thoughts of Mitchell's time in Clinton.  Recalling times when the team returned from long roadtrips and arriving back to the Arena in the wee hours of the morning, Mitchell remembers on several occasions having to step around and make his way through many well-wishers waiting to offer congratulations.

Attending the funeral of his former Clinton teammate Ian Anderson last month, Mitchell met up with some of his Comets teammates of 40 years ago. Seeing familiar faces rekindled thoughts of when they were kids. When Mitchell, who has lived in Endicott, NY for the past 30 years, arrived in Clinton he was 21-years old. With no difficulty, Mitchell rattles off nearly one dozen from Comets rosters he was part of.

"There was Jack Kane, Ian Anderson, Lyle Carter, Don Davidson, Borden Smith, and Peter Prevost. Smith, he could shoot on his head," Mitchell states.

Along with the B-Sens taking part in Friday's game on Clinton Comets Appreciation Night, Mitchell is excited  that his 18-year old son, who is accompanying him to The AUD, will get to take in the festivities." A couple weeks ago we were in New Hartford for a game he played," Mitchell said of his hockey playing son.

A growing family was the reason for Mitchell to retire from the hockey life of Clinton to the world of business. At the conclusion of the 1971-72 EHL season, Mitchell, now in his twelfth season with the B-Sens, thought it was time to get serious about the next chapter of his life. "We were living in Clark Mills at the time. I had an offer to join a business, and it worked out. I never looked back," Mitchell said.

As part owner of the B-Sens, Mitchell has the opportunity to see as much quality hockey that he wants.  Returning to Utica on December 13, 2013 grants him access to friends from long ago, to go back to the future, and remember playing quality hockey with greats of Clinton's hockey past.

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