Sports stats



AHL Utica Comets

Comet Tales: Meet Darren Archibald

January 3, 2014 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Utica Comets News Release


Some of the loudest cheers that come from Comets fans in The AUD this season have been directed at Darren Archibald.

Whether it be a hard check, patience and success on the power play, or a player standing up for a teammate to send a strong message of unforgiving unity, hockey fans throughout the Mohawk Valley appreciate hard work.  Darren Archibald, an undrafted 23-year old left winger from the suburbs of Toronto, has rapidly become the leader of Utica's "blue collar" faithful.

Archibald, who was raised 27 miles south of Toronto in Newmarket,Ontario (which was ranked by Money Sense Magazine in 2013 fourth out of the top 10 small cities in Canada), appreciates the support shown to him.  "The fans have been great to me, and the whole team," says Archibald, who during the 2010-11 OHL season had current Comet Alex Friesen as his teammate with the Niagara Ice Dogs. "Fans have been drawn to my style of play - high intensity."

Heading into the new year, through 21 games with the Comets, Archibald has collected five goals and four assists.  The other number associated with Archibald's AHL ice time are 48 minutes spent in the penalty box.  Just like any town, New York or Philadelphia where hockey has a long history of being  appreciated, Utica fans respect the enforcer role their 6'3"" 212 lb. Comet has gravitated to.

Some of the loudest and longest ovations this inaugural Comets season have been directed at Archibald.  The rights and lefts swung during his one-on-one disagreements, while taking exception with opposing players, remains effectively entertaining for audiences and equally intimidating to other teams.

Battling, in general, isn't foreign to Archibald.  Earlier this season, his third in the Vancouver Canucks' organization, Archibald received his first call-up for NHL service.  "Definitely it was a surprise," Darren tells.  "There were a couple injuries up there (Vancouver) at the same time.  The (Canucks) line-up is tough to crack."

Archibald is mindful that only a year ago he was splitting his time in the ECHL with the Kalamazoo Wings, and on the AHL level with the Chicago Wolves. After getting to suit up for eight games ( 2 assists earned) with his then teammates in Vancouver, which included such household NHL  names as the Sedins: Daniel and Henrik, Roberto Luongo, plus Rome's Tom Sestito, Archibald could say  he "˜made it'.

Several of his teammates in juniors had already seen NHL ice time, Alex Pietrangelo with St. Louis, Ryan Strome with the Islanders, and in Kyle Clifford's case, winning the Stanley Cup as a member of the Los Angeles Kings.  Now, Darren Archibald earned membership into hockey's most exclusive club. "I'm a late bloomer.  For me, it's been a battle of taking baby steps in my career.  With the ups and downs of moving around, I'm happy to be in Utica," Archibald said during our New Year's Eve conversation.

Since arriving in the Mohawk Valley in late September, Archibald tells of finding the area as not difficult to adapt to. Living in New Hartford with roommate Joe Cannata, Archibald continues his work on improving his game, and dreams of becoming a full-time NHLer.  Former teammates he honed his game in juniors with are, Andrew Agozzino and Michael Sgarbossa currently with Lake Erie, or any players Archibald may have shared bus rides with in the ECHL and AHL that are not wearing a Comets jersey, it's all about business first.

"We exchange hellos before the game, but when the puck drops, we aren't friends on the ice.  There's time to reminisce after the game," Archibald explains.

So, between now and returning to Newmarket for the summer, Darren Archibald keeps to a focused plan of doing what comes natural on the ice - growing as a player, while standing up for those wearing the same jersey.

Check out the Utica Comets Statistics



American Hockey League Stories from January 3, 2014


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.

Other Recent Utica Comets Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central