UticaHockey Posted April 18, 2014 Share Posted April 18, 2014 We are down to the final two games in the inaugural season of Utica Comets hockey. I would like to personally thank the Vancouver Canucks for giving our small city in Central New York a chance to prove to everyone including ourselves that we can support a professional hockey team again. When you look at a list of cities with AHL hockey Utica is spoken alongside places like Cleveland, Chicago, Charlotte, Hamilton and Toronto. I for one never thought that we would never see the day that the AHL would return to the Utica/Rome and the Mohawk Valley. Our area has taking so many economic hits over the past 30 years with the loss of many well paying manufacturing jobs plus the closure of a military base in nearby Rome. Utica being centrally located on the NY Thruway is often overlooked by businesses that chose to locate and develop with our larger neighbors to the east and west in Albany and Syracuse. I think after years of economic decline Uticans needed a reason to feel good about themselves and the Comets are helping to provide just that. I’m not saying that a minor league hockey team can turn around the economic fortunes of a region but they can change some of the attitudes. I think that the tide has turned and the Mohawk Valley is entering a period of slow but steady growth as within the past year new national chain hotels, restaurants and stores that had always bypassed our area have built and opened new facilities. Construction is underway at a local college for a new nano technology research and development center that will provide 1,000 high paying jobs in the next two years. The nano technology field is what will fuel the economic growth of the Utica/Rome area and the State of New York is investing hundreds of millions of dollars in our area to hopefully bring thousands of additional new jobs our way in a few years. We are very lucky to have Robert Esche and Frank DuRoss who drove the effort to bring the AHL back to Utica. Esche is a former NHL goalie with the Coyotes and Flyers and finished up his career in the KHL and in Europe but never forgot where he came from and loves his hometown. DuRoss is a local businessman with experience running minor league sports teams in the past. But the efforts of Esche and DuRoss would have been fruitless unless they didn’t find a NHL team willing to take a chance on them and our community. That is where Vancouver comes in and I would like to say thank you. “We are all Canucks” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AntonRodin Posted April 18, 2014 Share Posted April 18, 2014 I for one am glad you guys are enjoying the farm team down in Utica. I really do hope they stay there instead of moving to Abbotsford that would be very inconsiderate to pull that franchise out of the city after only a year after the fans in Utica have already grown fond of the team and have supported the team the whole year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ice orca Posted April 18, 2014 Share Posted April 18, 2014 Thank you great post, hope the Canucks keep the team there. BTW always loved driving through upstate NY. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VanGnome Posted April 18, 2014 Share Posted April 18, 2014 Seems quite a shame what with the rumours circulating about the Comets relocating to Abbotsford, and the Heat relocating elsewhere. Hopefully another AHL team can slide into place where the Comets are if the rumours do indeed turn out to be true. Solid fan support is not something that should ever be overlooked, and from what you say, it looks as though the economic climate is trending upwards which should help make it more palatable for future AHL franchises. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UticaHockey Posted April 18, 2014 Author Share Posted April 18, 2014 Thanks.....I think the Abbotsford rumors will always be there but from what I have read it appears the Canucks remain committed to Utica moving forward. Only time will tell but I believe the Vancouver/Utica relationship is strong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coconuts Posted April 18, 2014 Share Posted April 18, 2014 Well, thank YOU and your fellow fans for supporting the boys down there. From what I've gathered you guys have passionately embraced the team and it's been a great success story! It's hard to say what will happen with the Heat moving, but I'm hoping the team stays where it's at. Closer to most of the other AHL teams and out of the spotlight. You guys waited a long time too, I'd like to see you guys keep a team down there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smithers joe Posted April 18, 2014 Share Posted April 18, 2014 when the canuck's farm team was in syracuse ny....my brother used to fly from vancouver to ny to watch our team play... i hope in the future we can stock it with better players for uttica fans....they are coming..... i hope life in uttica has a solid upturn and you all prosper.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
73 Percent Posted April 18, 2014 Share Posted April 18, 2014 thank you Utica for taking good care of our prospects. much better than Chicago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PowerAids Posted April 18, 2014 Share Posted April 18, 2014 Great post man, I for one have been very surprised at the level of attention and support the team has gotten in its first season there. Get ready for next year because the team is going to be way more exciting with guys like gaunce and shinkaruk making the jump from junior. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
73 Percent Posted April 18, 2014 Share Posted April 18, 2014 Great post man, I for one have been very surprised at the level of attention and support the team has gotten in its first season there. Get ready for next year because the team is going to be way more exciting with guys like gaunce and shinkaruk making the jump from junior.dont forget mr. dane fox. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madness Posted April 18, 2014 Share Posted April 18, 2014 Great post. Utica has been great! Hope to see the comets in the playoffs next season !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UticaHockey Posted April 18, 2014 Author Share Posted April 18, 2014 Great post man, I for one have been very surprised at the level of attention and support the team has gotten in its first season there. Get ready for next year because the team is going to be way more exciting with guys like gaunce and shinkaruk making the jump from junior. Looking forward to seeing what the team looks like next year. That is one of the fun things about the AHL is one year you can go from the bottom to the top....and the other way around. Last year Syracuse was in the Calder Cup finals and this year they didn't make the playoffs. Last year the Manchester Monarchs (LA Kings) were a middle of the pack team and this year they are the best team in the Eastern Conference. I'm also looking forward to seeing how the divisions get realigned with Abbotsford moving. Hopefully Utica will end up in the Eastern Conference next year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Armada Posted April 18, 2014 Share Posted April 18, 2014 Been a blast. Been following since day 1. Who would have thought the Comets would have been in playoff contention after that 0-10 start. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UticaHockey Posted April 18, 2014 Author Share Posted April 18, 2014 Been a blast. Been following since day 1. Who would have thought the Comets would have been in playoff contention after that 0-10 start. The Comets have shown heart and determination right to the end. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warhippy Posted April 18, 2014 Share Posted April 18, 2014 The Comets have shown heart and determination right to the end. I like you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CB007 Posted April 18, 2014 Share Posted April 18, 2014 I look forward to more of this next season: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xbox Posted April 18, 2014 Share Posted April 18, 2014 I hope Utica still ends up with a team next season, even if it's not Vancouver. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YEGCanuck Posted April 18, 2014 Share Posted April 18, 2014 Your post is appreciated. Utica is in a beautiful part of the country. I went to summer school at Cornell in Ithaca and really enjoyed the people. It felt as though I was in Canada. Best of luck to the Comets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theminister Posted April 18, 2014 Share Posted April 18, 2014 You know, Utica.... I didn't think it would be a good fit. I'm pulling for you now though. And, thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stonecoldstevebernier Posted April 18, 2014 Share Posted April 18, 2014 Thank you for treating our prospects so well! It's really great to see how Utica has embraced them, seeing that enthusiasm made me really get on board with cheering for this group of players. I'm looking forward to seeing playoff hockey in Utica next season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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