March 26, 2014 - American Hockey League (AHL) Utica Comets Someone, please get Mark Caswell, Jr. a pair of sneakers to wear in The AUD.

When going to the Utica Comets staff page on the web, as you scroll halfway down, "Mark Caswell, Jr. - Director of Communications" is found. However, when The AUD's doors swing open for business, the Utica native is more than likely among the first to be flagged down by a multitude of people.

From the response Caswell, 28, receives, either walking the corridor inside The AUD, or seating aisles, everyone seems to know or have a connection to him. He smiles and shakes hands, seemingly personalizing each contact, with sincerity and understanding. In another profession Caswell could be well-prepared for an elective position. When shadowing Caswell what you see is what you get.

On a cold Wednesday February evening, the southwest based San Antonio Rampage are visiting Utica for a date with the Comets. For the better part of 20 minutes, I have been in search of Caswell. The press box, the Comets office, and the team locker rooms, usual haunts by the club's communications director, prior to game time show no trace of him. Walking from one end of The AUD's corridor to the other, Caswell is finally located.

It's 6:15pm, with all his pending demands for the evening ahead, it's at the 50/50 raffle kiosk where the communication director is keeping busy. Outside of section 215, what has become a big business boom for the Comets' charitable arm of the 50/50 offerings, the kiosk isn't working properly. A steady line of would-be customers are lining up for their chance to leave the evening several thousands of dollars richer.

With the kiosk's attendant having difficulty signing in, Caswell, a social media/computer specialist, within minutes solves the problem. Comets commerce resumes with gusto. Then, what has become familiar since opening night last October, the Caswell speed-walk kicks off. Tonight's starting line is a brief visit to the media room. Across from the now fully functional kiosk are stairs leading to ground level of The AUD.

Picking up a bottle of Coca~Cola, Caswell heads for his next "house call". Moving with the energy of someone who is just coming off an eight-hour sleep, when in actuality quite the opposite has been experienced by the former ESPN Stats Analyst. On this game day, as is routine with all Comets home dates, by puck drop, Caswell will already have put in close to a dozen hours of work.

Equipped with a key to the office, by 7:30am Caswell begins to ramp up the necessities for the night's activities. "The home team supplies the league stats, we print and supply game notes for the coaches and in the press box," Caswell said while en route to the Comets locker room.

There are two junior Comets players who appear to be between five and seven-years old; tonight's "tunnel team". Positioned against the wall, next to the open glass leading on to the ice, with their parents watching off to the side, these two fans get to give and receive high-fives to the players. Led by goalie Joacim Eriksson, followed by Nicklas Jensen, one by one the excited twosome give their hockey heroes an appreciative send-off.

Requests continued to come in as Caswell's phone constantly goes off. The next crisis requiring Caswell's undivided attention comes from the Rampage's coaching room. The team's video equipment isn't working. With difficulties in the electrical connections Caswell, who attended SUNY Cortland and studied Sports Management, puts out a call for an electrician.

Read the original here:

Inside the Comets: Director of Communications Mark Caswell, Jr.