Comets Sign Phil DeSimone

by Mark Caswell, Jr.

Utica Comets Director of Hockey Operations Pat Conacher has announced that the club has signed forward Phil DeSimone to a professional tryout contract (PTO).

DeSimone, 29, attended training camp with the St. John’s IceCaps before being released on Oct. 12. Last season he split time between the Lehigh Valley Phantoms and Graz EC of the Austrian National League. In 28 games with the Phantoms, the East Amherst, NY native collected 13 points (5-8-13), and 26 penalty minutes. In his AHL career, DeSimone has posted 65 points (28-37-65) in 148 games with the Hamilton Bulldogs, Albany Devils, and the Phantoms.

The 5-foot-11, 193-pound forward was drafted in the 3rd round (84th overall) by the Washington Capitals in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.