No Bobby, No Alex, No Problem! Comets top Marlies 5-2 By Jay Flemma, Special to Facewash Magazine UTICA, NY – There’s no I in this team, but there sure is a capital D, because despite losing All-star Bobby Sanguinetti and workhorse Alex Biega to the parent Vancouver Canucks, the feisty Utica Comets smothered the Toronto Marlies 5-2 last night at the Utica...
Utica Comets Fans Don’t Fear AHL Realignment —by Jay Flemma, Special to Facewash Magazine— The AHL will look more radically different next season than it has it its 80 year history. Five western NHL franchises will move their AHL affiliates to California for the 2015-2016 season, forming a Pacific Division of the Western Conference. Here’s...
Top Five Teams to Come Through the Utica Aud at the AHL Halfway Point by Jay Flemma, Special to Facewash Magazine As we close in on the AHL All-star break, the plucky, feisty, surprising Utica Comets are the darlings of the AHL and a feel-good story resounding all around hockey. Yes, they lost last night 2-1 to Milwaukee on a goal in the final minute, but with three...
By Jay Flemma, Special to Facewash Magazine UTICA, NY – The Utica Comets season has been like an old Brady Bunch episode, only instead of Jan plaintively wailing “Marsha Marsha Marsha,” it’s “Marky Marky Marky.” For a journalist it’s getting difficult to come to come up with something new, because every other column starts...
—by Jay Flemma, Special to Facewash Magazine— UTICA, NY – There was almost as much action before and after the Comets-Flames showdown at the Utica Aud as there was during it. Tempers flared early, often, and all game long…and even the clock showing 0.0 wasn’t the end. A replay review was needed before the final horn sounded on a 2-1 Comets...
TEXAS TOAST! COMETS COMEBACK STUNS STARS by Jay Flemma, Special to Facewash Magazine UTICA, NY – This was a different kind of win for the Comets. Sure it was another one goal win, another Cardiac Comets high-wire act, but this win was a different arrow in the quiver. This was the comeback win – and the Comets are going to need to know how to win those...
by Jay Flemma, Special to Facewash Magazine UTICA, NY – It was full-throated. It was sustained. It was almost defiant, (especially when aimed at Syracuse). And it had to be downright surreal being on the other team and skating in the middle of it. “U! TI! CA!” “U! TI! CA!” “U! TI! CA!” It’s bad enough when you’re...
They Stepped Into the Freezer – Syracuse Crunch and Utica Comets Play Largest Indoor Hockey Game in Continental History By Jay Flemma, Special to Facewash Magazine SYRACUSE, NY – Syracuse Crunch owner Howard Dolgon set out to prove a point and he did – upstate New York is a national hockey epicenter. 30,715 ardent hockey fans braved the aftermath of...
Comets Regain Top Record in AHL Behind Fourth Markstrom Shut-out By Jay Flemma – Special to Facewash Magazine UTICA, NY – The AHL is going to have to start a peer support group for league goalies called Markstrom Anonymous or “Mark-anon.” “Hello, my name is Andy, and my team was shut-out by Jacob Markstrom.…” “Hi Andy...
Trick and Treat – Senators Halt Streaks, Comets Steal Point By Jay Flemma – Special to Facewash Magazine UTICA, NY – Were there tricks or were there treats at the Utica Aud last night? I’m afraid it’s both. The Utica Comets saw two streaks halted by the Binghamton Senators 4-3 in overtime, yet still stole a point from their division...
Golden Goose Eggs – Utica Goalie Markstrom Seeks AHL Shutout Streak Record By Jay Flemma – Special to Facewash Magazine UTICA, NY – When the foghorn blared for the last time Saturday night at the Utica Aud, the ovation that rocked the arena from the basement to the rafters was more than just a tribute, it was an acknowledgement. The word had spread...
We’ll have our recap of last night’s COMETS-barons Game 7 up later tonight. In the meantime, never let it be said that we don’t engage in self-effacing humor here:) Send in your captions too. Winner gets their’s published. AND KEEP IT CLEAN PEOPLE:) The best so far… 10. I had one drink with Jay and look what happened. 9. Who’s that...
by Jay Flemma, Special to Facewash Magazine UTICA, NY – There’s an old saying in football: if you have two quarterbacks, you have none. (See “Redskins, Washington” for Exhibit A). There’s a different saying in hockey: if you have two goalies, you win, and the plucky, feisty Utica Comets proved that adage true again. Continuing their...
COMETS DOUSE FLAMES, STREAK TO VICTORY IN HOME OPENER By Jay Flemma – Special to Facewash Magazine UTICA, NY – Riding a second consecutive shutout by goalie Jacob Markstrom and two 3rd period goals by Nicklas Jensen and Brandan DeFazio, the Utica Comets smothered the Adirondack Flames 3-0 in their home opener at a buoyant and rowdy Utica Memorial...