An official Calder Cup game puck awaiting the start of Game 5 of the Calder Cup Final series between the Utica Comets and Manchester Monarchs.
Nikon D750/Sigma 15mm, 1/125s, f/5.6, ISO 2200, EV +1.0.

For the second time in three years, I was able to photograph the deciding game of the American Hockey League’s (AHL) Calder Cup Final. Two years ago I watched the Grand Rapids Griffins celebrate in the War Memorial Arena.

Manchester Monarchs Adrian Kempe (9) gets the puck past Utica Comets goalie Jacob Markstrom (33) to open the scoring in an American Hockey League (AHL) Calder Cup final game at the Utica Memorial Auditorium in Utica, New York on Saturday, June 13, 2015. Manchester won 2-1.
Nikon D750/70-200VR, 1/1000s, f/2.8, ISO 2800, EV +1.0, 200mm Focal Length, cropped.

This year, the Utica Comets and Manchester Monarchs played for the Calder Cup. It was a tough series with the Monarchs winning the first two games in overtime in Manchester. Utica won the first game at home in the loud and sold out Utica Memorial Auditorium. Then the speed, size and talent of the Monarchs prevailed as they won Game 4 by a score of 6-3 and the series clincher 2-1 to win the Calder Cup.

Players of the Manchester Monarchs celebrate winning the Calder Cup by defeating the Utica Comets in a Best of Seven series, 4 games to 1.

I would like to thank Lindsay Mogle, Comets Team Photographer, and Mark Caswell, Comets Director of Communications, for allowing me to cover a few of the Utica Comets playoff games.