Adam Comrie's New AHL Home With Utica
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ALLENTOWN - Five weeks ago, Adam Comrie was a member of the Lehigh Valley Phantoms on a professional tryout contract (PTO) - playing defense and specializing on the penalty kill and in a shutdown type of role. Last week, he returned to PPL Center under an AHL contract with the Utica Comets - playing forward against the team he was just a part of a month ago.
Now in his eighth season of pro hockey, Comrie, 27, has had quite the journeymen's tour of both the AHL and ECHL - playing on four different ECHL and now five different AHL teams after finding a new home with Utica earlier this season.
"I've obviously been around a lot of different places, a lot different roles," Comrie said after Utica's overtime win over Lehigh Valley in the final game for both teams before the AHL's All-Star break. "I enjoy being a part of this team, this group. It's a lot of fun being able to play with no worries, play hard and have fun."
Comrie was up and down between Lehigh Valley (AHL) and Reading (ECHL) on an ECHL-only contract with the Royals prior to joining the Comets on a standard player's contract at the AHL level. At this point in his career, he's used to the constant shuffling but also happy to have found some kind of stability for the season.
"I got a call from Utica. They want me to play forward, and be a utlity guy in case a defenseman goes down," Comrie explained. "I'm just happy to have the opportunity here that I do. It's a great opportunity with Trent Cull and just a great staff, great guy. It's a lot fun, makes the game a lot easier."
Comrie had appeared in 13 games with the Comets prior to facing the Phantoms - his former team - so it wasn't as if he had just been teammates with the guys he was battling with last weekend. But in his mind, it doesn't change a thing.
"They're all good guys, great group of men over there but I'm going to war with these guys now," Comrie said, adding, "They're a part of my squad, so I'm going to defend myself and make sure everyone knows that I'm going to be a warrior out there and not let anything get in the way of that. And that's just winning."
