Local executives react to Comets affiliation deal with New Jersey Devils City of Utica Mayor Robert Palmieri and Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente respond to new Comets affiliation deal. Posted: May 7, 2021 12:22 AM Posted By: Chelsea Sherrod Utica, N.Y. - The Utica Comets are reuniting with a familiar face. A reunion 34 years in the making. The New Jersey Devils have signed a 10-year affiliation deal with Utica starting next season. The colors will change but the name remains the same. “I first want to say to Vancouver, thank you very much. They are a great organization. They came in at a time in our city that we were starting to rebuild and they had a lot to do with it,” said City of Utica Mayor Robert Palmieri. “The spirit that they brought to this great city and I'm very excited to have New Jersey back it's almost like coming home again to Utica.”