The Utica Comets’ schedule for the team’s 10th American Hockey League season features many of the similar elements from other usual seasons.

The full American Hockey League schedule for the 2022-23 season was announced Thursday afternoon. It is another step toward the familiar after the 2021-22 season featured a full schedule following two seasons truncated by challenges with the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Comets, who are beginning their second season as the AHL affiliate of the New Jersey Devils, remain in the seven-team North Division.

For the first time, the Comets are set to play the first two games of the season against Atlantic Division teams with Utica opening the season Saturday, Oct. 15, at Hershey. It will be the first time the Comets open the regular season against the Bears.

As previously announced, Utica is set to open the home portion of the team’s schedule at 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 17, against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. The day is notable as it marks the 35th anniversary of the Utica Devils’ inaugural game when Utica was previously New Jersey’s affiliate in the late 1980s to early 1990s.

Four of Utica’s six scheduled games in October are at home. Two are against North foes in the Cleveland Monsters (Oct. 21 and Oct. 28) and another against the Toronto Marlies (Oct. 29). Utica visits the Atlantic’s Providence Bruins (Oct. 22) as part of the October slate.

Here are 8 things to know about Utica’s schedule:

1. 72 games on tap

Like last season, the Comets are playing 72 regular-season games. The most notable change is all 32 AHL teams are playing the same number of games, which means points — not points percentage — will determine standings position.

The top five teams in the North Division will make the playoffs, according to the AHL.

The Comets’ regular-season is scheduled to wrap up Saturday, April 15.

2. Number of matchups

Because of the short distance between the teams, Utica and Syracuse are set to be frequent foes again.

The teams are scheduled to meet 14 times (seven home, seven away), which is a similar number of meetings as past seasons. Utica claimed the season series in 2021-22 with a record of 11-1-2-0.

Utica will take on the rival Rochester Americans 10 times after the teams met in the playoffs last spring. Utica is set to take on the Cleveland Monsters eight times. Utica will face North Division Canadian opponents in the Laval Rocket, Belleville Senators and Toronto Marlies six times.

Utica also is scheduled to play Atlantic Division foes Providence and Charlotte each four times. Utica is set to take on Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Lehigh Valley, Springfield, Hartford, Hershey and Bridgeport twice.

3. Working for the weekend

The Comets play 27 of their 36 home games during the weekend with 15 Friday contests, 10 on Saturdays and two on Sundays. The team plays eight Wednesday home games.

Home games start at 7 p.m., with the exception of the two Sunday games, which have 3 p.m. starts.

4. 3 in 3s

The Comets have a four stretches of three-games-in-three days this season. That’s up from two last season.

One 3-in-3 takes place in the first week of January when Utica plays visiting Hartford before road games Springfield and Providence.  The are two 3-in-3s in March and another that goes into the first weekend of April.

5. Busiest months

January and March are scheduled to be the Comets’ busiest months with 13 games each. The team will play 12 in December, 11 in November, 10 in February.

6. Longest homestand

The longest homestand of the season is five games from Sunday, April 2 through Saturday, April 14 when the Comets are scheduled to take on all North Division opponents. That could also go along way in deciding playoff positions in the division.

The team also has a season-most six home games in November, December and March.

7. Longest road trip

The longest road trip is five games from Saturday, March 11 through Saturday, March 18 when the schedule starts in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and goes to Lehigh Valley, Belleville and Laval. The team has a total of eight road games in January.

8. Notable games

The Comets said that their annual Veterans Day age will take place on Friday, November 11th against the Laval Rocket. The team has worn special jerseys for that game in the past.

Utica is set to play Toronto at Scotia Bank Arena at 3 p.m. Feb. 20. The arena is the home of the Maple Leafs. Utica and Toronto AHL teams have played at the arena in past seasons.

Besides Utica honoring the Utica Devils’ 35th anniversary on Oct. 29, other theme nights have not been announced as of Thursday.

For the full schedule, visit uticacomets.com. Single-game tickets will be on sale later in the summer.

Season Ticket Memberships are available for the 2022-23 season. All new Season Ticket Members will receive an exclusive Comets 10th anniversary jersey with their ticket package, according to the team. Season ticket information is available at uticacomets.com/szn.

Comets fans can guarantee a ticket to five premier games with the premier pack. This five-game package starts at $99 at uticacomets.com/tickets.