Jr. Comets Prepare for 2008 AAA Season

Utica, NY- The Utica Jr. Comet 2008 AAA team is excited for the challenging and competitive 2021-2022 season.

The team will consist of the top 2008 born players in the area. Players can look forward to an elite 50-55 game schedule and two practices a week. The team will compete against some of the best teams not only in New York but across the North East. The team will also conduct Power Edge Pro training sessions to help players improve on puck handling skills, skating techniques and overall confidence. Players will not only improve on the ice, but off the ice as well. The team will conduct off-ice workouts that will focus on strength and conditioning.

The 2008 team will add multiple competitive tournaments to their schedule that will focus on giving players the best challenge and amount of exposure as possible. One tournament already on tap for the 2008 team is the 52nd edition of the International Granby Bantam Tournament. Tournaments like these will help the team prepare for the New York State tournament in March as they look to punch their ticket to the National Tournament.

The team will feature a well balanced coaching staff with a wealth of experience. Taking the helm is Kris Smith, who is entering his 6th season with the 2008 team. Assisting Smith on the bench will be Nate VanWire and Adam Kernan who will bring balance and extensive knowledge. Smith brings twenty years of coaching experience between youth hockey and highschool hockey. Before coaching, Smith played two seasons at Division II Bentley University as the starting goaltender where he earned ECAC Rookie of the Week three times along with ECAC players of the week. Smith took home the teams MVP award in both seasons. Smith transferred to SUNY Cortland for his final two seasons where he was league MVP his senior year. Smith is excited to be back on the bench guiding the 2008 AAA team.

“Our team has steadily improved each season and we have added new players each year with the goal of improving and making the most competitive team we can. With skill development at the center of all that we do we also work a good deal with increasing hockey IQ, promoting a positive team first mentality, and pushing our players to be the most creative, competitive and hardest working players they can be,” said Smith.         

Tryouts for the 2008 team will be held on May 5, 5:00 P.M.-6:15 at Skaneateles YMCA and May 6, 5:00 P.M.-5:50 P.M. at the Adirondack Bank Center. Anyone interested in trying out should register now here.