It looks like the Utica Comets aren’t fully confident in Dane Fox’s ability to stay in the lineup just yet. The team announced earlier today that the 22-year-old (as of yesterday, making this an awkward birthday present) forward will be assigned to the ECHL’s Kalamazoo Wings to continue to hone his skills. 

The Chatham, Ontario native is perhaps best known for his insane 64 goals in 67 games with the Erie Otters in his overage year in the Ontario Hockey League. The Canucks signed him as a free agent early into that season and have held his rights ever since. To date, he’s played 73 regular season and playoff games with the Wings, scoring 30 goals and adding 16 assists in that time, along with spending 114 minutes in the penalty box.

Fox’s scoring touch have many still hopeful for him to be a late bloomer in the organization though he’s been unable to crack the Utica lineup since jumping to the professional levels. Mobility is a major concern, and the organization would like to see him take strides in, well, his ability to take strides, along with improving his positional awareness and two-way get. Being sent down now isn’t the end fo the world for him, though if he doesn’t earn himself a call back up soon enough, there may be some room for concern.