Manchester Calder Cup raise

The Manchester Monarchs celebrate following their victory against the Utica Comets in the Calder Cup American Hockey League series at Utica Memorial Auditorium on Saturday, June 13, 2015, in Utica, N.Y. Manchester won 2-1 and took the series 4-1. (Mark DiOrio/Observer-Dispatch via AP)

(Mark DiOrio)

When the Manchester Monarchs clinched the 2014-15 Calder Cup with a 2-1 victory over the Utica Comets in Game 5 on June 13, Mike Stothers figured postgame ceremonies would be relatively muted.

After all, the triumph took place on opposition ice at Utica Memorial Auditorium. A sellout crowd of 3,835 saw their team's season end with playoff disappointment.

Instead, Comets fans made the Monarchs feel almost at home.

"

When we ended up winning there and all the on-ice presentations were going on, they stayed and they cheered," Monarchs head coach Stothers said. "I thought, Well, OK, it's going to be a mass exodus. Everybody's going to be running out the door to their cars there.

"

But they stayed and they were very supportive of us as a team. I thought that was great. That's a very classy organization and a classy city."

The building played a significant role in Stothers' season. Utica Memorial Auditorium also hosted the 2015 AHL All-Star Classic, where Stothers served as a coach for the Eastern Conference team.

"

That rink, those fans, were loud and passionate," Stothers said. "They were definitely doing everything they could for their team. But I really have to applaud them and give them their props.

"

It was unbelievable how that city has taken to the Comets. I think back when New Jersey was there. I don't remember it being anywhere close to that. Man oh man. You've got to give some props when people deserve it and a city deserves it."

Former Hershey Bears player and assistant coach Stothers had a Hershey connection on the Utica bench. Former Bears player and assistant coach Paul Jerrard is a Comets assistant coach.

Stothers was teammates with Jerrard in Hershey and also coached him with the Bears.

"

Paul has always been a real good guy," Stothers said. "I enjoyed being around him in Hershey. We've kept in touch over the years. He's a great person.

"

During the handshake, he said, 'You know what? If I had to lose to somebody, I'm glad it was you.' That means a lot coming from Paul."

The end of the series meant the end of a coaching communication blackout. Stothers also knows Comets head coach Travis Green from their coaching days in the WHL and said he had a nice visit with him and Jerrard before Game 1 in Manchester.

"

We talked and talked and talked and talked," Stothers said. "Then I just said, 'OK, we're done until the series is over.' Outside of hello or a nod, I said there will be no more dialogue.

"

After celebrating with our guys in the locker room for a bit [following Game 5], I went down the hall in Utica and went into Travis' office and had a refreshment with him and [Comets President] Robert Esche and talked to them then."

NOTEBOOK

The Caps unveiled a retro third jersey that will be worn for select home games during 2015-16.