The Utica Comets announced the PTO signing of Vincent Arseneau today, which we knew about yesterday, but they also slipped in a little surprise with that announcement by letting us know that forward Tanner MacMaster was also joining the club.

While Areseneau has joined the team on a professional tryout deal, (for the second time this season), MacMaster was given an amateur tryout deal, (ATO) with the club.

MacMaster, a 22-year-old undrafted forward, has spent the past four seasons plying his trade in the NCAA with Quinnipiac, putting up 30 goals and 54 assists to give him 84 points in 150 games. He has also put up 195 penalty minutes during that span. This season, he has put up 33 of those points in 38 games.

Depending on where you source your info, MacMaster is anywhere from 5’10’ to 6’1″, (I have been assured that he is definitely not 6’1″) and that he tips the scales at anywhere between 172lbs, and 185lbs.

The Comets have three games in three days this weekend and are expecting to get their captain, Carter Bancks back into the lineup, so this signing may be for insurance for the weekend. It’s also possible that the Comets/Canucks have been eyeing MacMaster for a look regardless of how many games they have coming up. Either way, the Comets are back in action today at 4:00 pm Pacific as the Laval Rocket are in town for game number 62 of the Comets season. As always, CanucksArmy will have your post-game report following the game.