Shinkaruk, Comets Enjoy Banner Night
October 21, 2015 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Utica Comets News Release
UTICA, N.Y. - The crowd was electric Wednesday for the Comets first home game of the season against the Rochester Americans, as the Comets won their first game of the season by the score of 4-2 at the Utica Memorial Auditorium. Hunter Shinkaruk led the way for the Comets with his first professional hat trick.
Shinkaruk (3-0-3) and Alexandre Grenier (1-0-1) accounted for the team's scoring, while Joe Cannata made 12 saves for his first win of the season.
The Comets got off to a quick start when Shinkaruk fired a wrist shot into the back of the net on a power play for his first goal of the season, just two minutes into the game. Linden Vey and Taylor Fedun assisted on the goal. The Amerks, however, came right back to tie it at one apiece with a goal from Jason Akeson, off a pass from former Comets captain, Cal O'Reilly.
Shinkaruk then gave the Comets the lead again with 1:43 left in the second period, when he scored his second goal of the game, again on another power play. Brendan Gaunce and Jordan Subban assisted on the goal.
Shinkaruk finished off the hat trick with 13:14 left in the third period on assists from Nicklas Jenson and Andrey Pedan. Rochester then cut the lead to 3-2 on a slap shot off the stick of Jerome Leduc on a pass from Chad Ruhwedel. The Amerks pulled their goalie with just under a minute to go, but Grenier put an open netter in for the Comets to cap off the scoring and give the Comets a 4-2 victory.
The Comets dominated the shot count with 47 shots on goal, compared to just 14 for the Amerks. Linus Ullmark recorded 43 saves in net for Rochester.
With the win, the Comets improve to 1-2-0-0 on the season. The loss drops the Amerks to 2-3-0-0 on the season.
The Comets will stay at home for their next game, as they will take on the Hershey Bears on Friday at Utica Memorial Auditorium. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m.
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