FOUR JR. COMETS CHOSEN FOR NCDC ALL-STAR GAME

The National Collegiate Development Conference announced its selections for the Utica Jr. Comets 2023 NCDC All-Star “Best of the Best” and Young Guns Game. The "Best of the Best" game is set to kick off at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, while the Young Guns will play at 11:00am Feb. 21, at Foxboro Sports Center in Foxboro, Mass.

Medrick Bolduc C • Utica Jr. Comets • 7/9/2003 • 5-9/175 • R • Val-d’Or, Que.

Bolduc is a second-year Jr. Comet who has blasted past last year’s 25 points by putting up a 12-33-45 line in 43 games this season, including the third-most assists in the league. His 70 points in 83 career games with the Jr. Comets are good for fourth all-time, and the most for any player in two seasons or less. 

"Medrick Bolduc has been a great player for us for the past two seasons," said Head Coach Louis Educate. "Medrick was a young gun last season but was unfortunately injured for the game and was unable to play. It will be really nice to get him watch to play in this years All-Star game. I believe he will gather some attention from some schools at the event with his overall speed and play-making abilities. Medricks feet never stop and he never gives up on a play."

Michael Herrera C • Utica Jr. Comets • 6/2/2002 • 5-9/180 • L • Syracuse, N.Y. 

The leading scorer for the Jr. Comets is another returning veteran for his team, having played for the Jr. Comets at both the USPHL Premier and NCDC levels in past seasons. He is also the only All-Star this year with prior NCAA experience, having formerly played for Nazareth College. He is the NCDC’s goal leader with 28, and he also ranks seventh in scoring with 44 points. 

"Mike Herrera has been an unbelievable captain for our group" said Educate. "I can not say enough good things about him and his leadership on and off the ice with our guys. He is constantly doing the right things and has a never give up attitude. That has helped propel him to be the league leader in goals with his dogged determination. Mike will impress every coach that watches him play at the event."

Niko Benjamin  - LW • Utica Jr. Comets • 9/8/2004 • 5-7/155 • L • Phoenix, Ariz.  

Benjamin was a 2021 NCDC Entry Draft selection who made the NCDC squad in his first camp in 2021, posting 11 points in 46 games last year. Benjamin returned for another season with Utica and has 3-5-8 through 32 games so far. 

"Niko Benjamin is another two year player for us," commented Educate. "He has developed a ton over the past two seasons and is still a Young Gun after his second year in the league. Niko's pace of play creates space for others and puts teams on their heels. I believe he leads the league in drawn penalties for the second year in a row. His overall offensive game is continuing to come around and when that fully connects he will be a hell of a player. Niko has a lot of potential and is why he is in the young guns game."

Waylon Esche - Utica Jr. Comets • 3/29/2005 • 6-2/200 • L • Westmoreland, N.Y. 

Esche, the son of NHL alum goalie Robert Esche, played prior seasons at the USPHL 16U level for Utica. This season, he has made his NCDC debut and put together a 11-12-2-0 record. He has won back-to-back games five times this season. 

"Waylon Esche has been the best young goaltender in the league this season," Educate said. "He has developed a ton this season and has been rewarded for all of the hard work that I know he put in during the off season. Along with the continued work that he has done everyday in practice. His maturity has grown rapidly as he has been our starting goalie all year as such a young kid. Being named to this Young Guns team is just one of his achievements this year as he was also called up to the Youngstown Phantoms of the USHL for a month. Waylon's finding some consistency now and it will be great to see him at this game along with his finish down the stretch run for us. I imagine there will be a lot of buzz around his name the last few weeks of the season with opportunities in the future."