Hockey in the Mohawk Valley is right around the corner as the Utica Comets officially announced their 2026-27 Home Opener. The Comets’ first regular season home game will be on Saturday, October 10th at 6 PM at the Adirondack Bank Center with the opponent still to be determined. 

The 2026-27 campaign marks the second full season under head coach Ryan Parent, who took over as bench boss in November of 2024. Last year, he led the Comets through an incredible second half, finishing just one point outside a playoff spot in a scenario that came down to the very final game of the 2025-26 AHL regular season.

With Coach Parent’s leadership as well as several key returning players, there is much anticipation and excitement for the upcoming season. Among the players set to return to Utica this fall are forwards Angus Crookshank, Shane Lachance, Cam Squires, and Matyas Melovsky, as well as defensemen Mikael Diotte and Ethan Edwards. In his first season with the Comets, Crookshank led the team with 24 goals and finished second in points with 36.