Utica Comets Director of Hockey Operations Pat Conacher announced today that the club has signed forward Darren Archibald to an American Hockey League contract for the 2016-17 season.
Archibald, 26, has spent the previous three seasons with the Comets and collected a total 65 points (34-31-65) and 305 penalty minutes in 180 games. Last season with the Comets, despite joining the team in November, he was on pace to set career highs in goals, assists, and points before suffering an injury and missing 11 of the team’s last 16 games. Archibald had a flare for the dramatics as three of his 10 goals served as game-winning goals, which tied for the team lead. The 6’3”, 212-pound winger scored the team’s first goal in his first game back with the Comets on Nov. 4 after signing a PTO.
During the 2014-15 season, the fan-favorite left winger recorded a career-high in games played (70), goals scored (14) and penalty minutes (107). During the 2015 Calder Cup Playoffs the Newmarket, ON native played in six games and scored a goal and two assists. His lone goal scored served as an overtime game-winning goal in Game 3 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals against the Chicago Wolves.
