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AHL Utica Comets

Comet Tales: Scouting the Penguins

December 14, 2013 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Utica Comets News Release


The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins are one very busy team during this stretch of their fifteenth season in operation.  Before they host the Utica Comets on Saturday night at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza, the Pens will have skated in five games in eight days.

Games with the Hershey Bears. and Eastern Conference foe Springfield Falcons in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania days before the Comets come to town, could very well move the home team up one position in the standings.  Heading into the Falcons game on Wednesday, the Penguins boast a record of 14-6-1-2, behind Springfield by three points, and leading Manchester Monarchs by six.

Averaging 5,300 fans per home game into their arena that has 8,000 permanent seats, with multiple call ups to their parent club Pittsburgh Penguins and dealing with injuries, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton is experiencing a respectable season.  Leadership on the ice continues to play a major role in the ongoing success being experienced by Pens coach John  Hynes' team.  Leadership begins with the man wearing the "C" - Tom Kostopolous.

Kostopoulos,34, has played in more than 1,000 pro games, including  more than 600 in the NHL.  After playing a little more than one dozen contests last season in the Mohegan Sun Arena, Kostopolous was claimed on waivers by the New Jersey Devils, and added 15 more times his name was written  on an NHL line-up card.

"I'm loving it here (WBS).  Getting a chance to play this season for the the Penguins  brings my career full circle," says Kostopolous, drafted by Pittsburgh in the seventh round of the 1999 NHL entry draft. " It would be fantastic to get back to Pittsburgh,too."

Once signing with Pittsburgh, Kostopolous played two seasons for the Penguins' AHL affiliate.  In 2001-02, the Mississauga, Ontario native enjoyed his first 11 games in NHL regular season action.  Today, traveling with his teammates to road games by bus, instead of the usual charter flights experienced in the NHL, Kostopolous enjoys his interacting with the twenty-somethings seated around him.  Recalling his first few weeks this season, Kostopolous was reminded what he looked like and spoke about, when he was that age.

"I like to help the young guys out.  As someone who has been around this game, I owe it to my teammates to help them develop their skills, and to pass along the knowledge I've gotten," Kostopolous said.

Kostopolous believes that Pittsburgh's organization hasn't been this deep in talent, with WBS's roster and the Penguins ECHL affiliate, the Wheeling Nailers rosters, in many years.  Although he is flattered and accommodating in educating his teammates, Kostopolous really enjoys lightening the mood in the Penguins dressing room.

"After the lockout last season, I thought my career was over.Wilkes-Barre/Scranton gave me a chance to keep things going.  When New Jersey picked me up, it was fun playing consistently again,"Kostopolous tells.

Of the half dozen NHL clubs Kostopolous has worn jerseys for, there's no debate as to which seasons have been the most special.  Being Canadian, Kostopolous rates his two years with the Montreal Canadiens  (2007-09) as his career highlight.  "My wife and kids really enjoyed their time in Montreal.  Of all the teams I've played for in my career, Montreal was the closet to my hometown.  My family was able to come see me play, and that was really exciting," Kostopolous explains.

In switching gears  from recalling his NHL accolades back to the here and now with the Penguins, Kostopolous tells of the team the Comets are playing as a lot different from the roster on opening day.  Getting to play more games during stretches, unlike in the NHL, Kostopolous prefers the AHL schedule.  Teams can bond quicker and become more familiar with one another, at a faster rate towards success.  The one constant to keep team philosophies going in the right direction is the leaders.

Tom Kostopolous is the glue that keeps hockey together and going forward in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.  Watching others dream of NHL careers and gaining a step in their skating speed, or gain a harder shot, brings satisfaction to the Penguins captain. Kostopolous is a friend to all teammates, on all levels of competition.

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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.

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