utica – Page 2 – CanucksBanter

WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 11: Goalie Thatcher Demko #35 of the Vancouver Canucks warms up on the ice before the start of their game against the Washington Capitals at Verizon Center on December 11, 2016 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) — WASHINGTON, DC – DECEMBER 11: Goalie Thatcher Demko #35 of the Vancouver Canucks warms up on the ice before the start of their game against the Washington Capitals at Verizon Center on December 11, 2016 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

By Andrew Chernoff

December 13, 2016

Vancouver Canucks General Manager Jim Benning announced today that the club has re-assigned goaltender Thatcher Demko to the AHL Utica Comets.

Demko was called up to the Canucks to backup Jacob Markstrom for Friday nights game against the Tampa Bay Lightning, when Ryan Miller was unable to do so because of a lower body injury. He backed up Markstrom the following night as well against the Washington Capitals.

It was Demko’s first call up to the National Hockey League after playing 14 games with the Comets this season.

With Utica this season, Demko has distinguished himself, even though he had a tought start:

The highly touted Demko had a tough start to the season. But, Demko has been stellar for the Comets after fellow goaltender Richard Bachman went down with a lower-body injury on Nov. 19.

In his last nine starts, the 6-foot-4, 200-pound Demko has a 7-2 record.

He totaled 24 saves in Friday’s 4-3 loss against Binghamton, which was the first time in seven appearances he allowed more than two goals.

In 14 games, he has a 7-5-1 record, a 2.59 goals-against average and a .909 save percentage.

Source: Ben Birnell

Demko joins Andrey Pedan, Jayson Megna, Michael Chaput, Troy Stecher, Joseph Labate, Alex Grenier, and Michael Garteig, who have all been called up to the NHL club this season.

Source: Demko Reassigned to Utica

team_ahl_utica_commets

By Andrew Chernoff

November 25, 2016

The Utica Comets improved their record to 7-9-1-0, with their 4th win in a row Friday night over the Rochester Americans at Blue Cross Arena, by a 5-2 score.

The Comets are now 5-4-1-0 in their last 10 games, and are in 5th place in the North Division, 4 points out of 3rd, and 7 points behind first place, Albany Devils.

Rochester dropped their 5th game in a row, with the loss.

Darren Archibald, Wacey Hamilton, Borna Rendulic, Colby Robak and Andrey Pedan had multi-point games.

Jordan Subban scored a goal and Jake Virtanen received an assist on the Comets final goal.

Vancouver Canucks prospect, and Comets rookie goalie, Thatcher Demko, made 30-saves for his 4th consecutive win, and is 4-3-1 on the season, with a 2.94 GAA and .899 SV%.

Demko in his four straight wins, including the game he came in for Richard Bachman when he got hurt, has a 2.14 GAA and .930 SV%

Utica next play the Toronto Marlies at the Air Canada Centre tomorrow at 1:30 pm Eastern time.

COMETS 5, AMERKS 2

Utica 1 2 2 – 5

Rochester 2 0 0 – 2

1st Period-1, Rochester, Bonis 2 (Cornel, Burgdoerfer), 1:53. 2, Utica, Hamilton 1 (Shields, Pedan), 13:22. 3, Rochester, Baptiste 9 (Bailey, Nylander), 17:01 (PP). Penalties-Archibald Uti (tripping), 6:43; Burgdoerfer Rch (delay of game), 10:33; Pedan Uti (hooking), 14:05; Bancks Uti (cross-checking), 15:32.

2nd Period-4, Utica, Rendulic 1 (Robak, Roy), 5:41. 5, Utica, Pedan 1 (Hamilton, Rendulic), 12:10. Penalties-Aviani Rch (high-sticking), 15:18.

3rd Period-6, Utica, Subban 5 (Robak, Archibald), 7:51 (PP). 7, Utica, Archibald 6 (Virtanen), 19:13 (EN). Penalties-Catenacci Rch (tripping), 6:38.

Shots on Goal-Utica 9-13-10-32. Rochester 11-9-12-32.

Power Play Opportunities-Utica 1 / 3; Rochester 1 / 3.

Goalies-Utica, Demko 4-3-1 (32 shots-30 saves). Rochester, Ullmark 6-7-1 (31 shots-27 saves).

A-5,647

Referees-Mike Campbell (36), Reid Anderson (33). Linesmen-Brian Oliver (74), Brian Wasilewski (79).

Source: Utica Observer-Dispatch