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AHL Utica Comets

Comets in the Community

January 30, 2014 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Utica Comets News Release


After a long and successful trip to Western Canada, where the Comets completed yet another sweep of the Abbotsford Heat, the team was back in the Mohawk Valley for another small homestand and another set of appearances within our community.

Yesterday was a busy one for the Comets, with two different appearances made by the team. First our mascot, Audie, stopped by Little Roma's Pizzeria in Utica to see Season Ticket Holder Hans Kunz and his family as a part of our "15 Prizes in 15 Days" promotion from earlier in the season.

After a fun and tasty visit from our very own alien, the Comet players made their way back into the school setting, as forwards David Marshall and Patrick Kennedy were at General Herkimer School in North Utica. The two players were on hand to spend a couple of hours with the school's fifth and sixth graders during an assembly.

The Comets players arrived at the school to a packed gymnasium, filled with eager children ready to get to know two of their community heroes a little bit better. Marshall, one of our most active players off the ice and Kennedy, our newest addition to the roster were located in front of the group of admiring children for a question and answer.

The two players fielded questions from the large group of students sitting in the bleachers for nearly an hour, ranging from off-ice questions, to on-ice accomplishments and even what it meant to the two men to have the opportunity to play hockey for a living, a question that even caught our players a bit off guard.

The players then talked with the kids individually and signed autographs for everyone in attendance, sending the children back to class with a commemorative of the day's festivities.

One of the highlights of the day was with one younger student, who although not a part of the assembly, was a diehard Comets fan and was able to get the chance to meet Marshall and Kennedy. The fan who, according to his teachers, wears his Utica Comets coat nearly every day to school since he got it for Christmas.  The young child was brought into the gym and was thrilled for the chance to get his outerwear signed by two of his hockey idols.

The Comets were out and about again today as Audie visited St. Elizabeth's in Utica to take pictures and sign autographs with the kids currently in the care of the hospital.  Audie navigated through the hospital to see patients who were in the pediatric ward for the day.

Most of the children, just two or three years old, had their days brightened by the presence of our friendly neighborhood alien.  Audie was an especially friendly face for one group of children, who were big Utica Comets fans and were extremely excited to see him.

In addition, Friday evening's game against the Syracuse Crunch is Pink the Rink night at The AUD. Comets players will wear pink jerseys that will be auctioned off to benefit The Breast Care Center of The Regional Cancer Center at Faxton St. Luke's Healthcare.

For future community appearances, keep an eye on the appearance schedule.

Check out the Utica Comets Statistics

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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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