COVID issues with AHL teams force rescheduling of Utica Comets, Rochester Americans games

Update: Rochester's game Saturday against Syracuse was also postponed. No makeup date has not been announced.

Five American Hockey League teams are impacted by COVID-19 protocols, which has forced the league to shuffle games involving the teams located in New York state.

The AHL announced Wednesday games involving the Rochester Americans have been postponed through Friday, contests involving the Hartford Wolf Pack and Springfield Thunderbirds have been postponed through Saturday and games involving the Hershey Bears and Providence Bruins have been postponed through Sunday.

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The Utica Comets have not had any recent reported issues related to COVID-19. The team earned a 2-0 win over Belleville on Wednesday for their third consecutive win and improved to 16-1-0-0. Akira Schmid had his second shutout in as many games.

Rochester announced via social media earlier Wednesday that Amerks head coach Seth Appert would be unavailable "in accordance with COVID-19 protocols." The team's games were postponed later Wednesday.

During the shortened 2021 season, both Utica and Rochester were under COVID-19 protocols.

Here’s how the league's scheduling changes impact the teams for upcoming games:

Utica

The Comets' road game Saturday at Hartford was postponed. A make-up date was announced Dec. 8 as being Monday, March 28 in Hartford.

With that game postponed, Utica is now scheduled to play at Bridgeport at 7 p.m. Saturday. That meeting had originally been scheduled for March 19.

Utica's other road game this weekend — Sunday at Providence — has been postponed. The game has been rescheduled for 7:05 p.m. Monday, Jan. 10.

Utica's road game at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton has been rescheduled for 7:05 p.m. Saturday, March 19, from March 18.

Rochester

Home games Wednesday against Syracuse and Friday against Springfield are postponed. No makeup dates have been announced for either game.

Ben Birnell is a sports reporter for the Observer-Dispatch. Email Ben Birnell at bbirnell@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: AHL COVID-19 issues force rescheduling for Utica Comets, Rochester Americans