Forward Lenni Hämeenaho and defenseman Colton White won’t play another game for the Utica Comets during the 2026 Winter Olympic break. A source tells New Jersey Hockey Now the plan is for the two surprise standout recalls to be on the New Jersey Devils‘ roster for the final 25-game stretch in the 2025-26 season.
The Devils reassigned Hämeenaho and White to the American Hockey League eight days ago after New Jersey’s 3-1 loss to the New York Islanders.
The Utica Comets played twice before the AHL All-Star break, however, Hämeenaho and White only played in one game, a 5-1 loss to the Rochester Americans.
Hämeenaho recorded an assist on the lone goal scored by Topias Vilen.
On Thursday, Comets reporter Ben Birnell wrote, “I’ve been told as of Thursday afternoon that the plan re: Lenni Hämeenaho and Colton White is that they will NOT play more games for the Utica Comets Hockey Club the rest of Olympic break. Neither was present during the Utica Comets’ first practice back from break Thursday.”
The plan is for Hämeenaho and White to get some rest while the NHL is on their Olympic break, much like the rest of the NHL roster.
Hämeenaho has already skated in nine NHL games for the Devils. He’s made an instant impact playing alongside Arseny Gritsyuk and Cody Glass. In those nine games, the 21-year-old Finnish forward has netted two goals and four points, helping assert the Glass line as a dominant depth option for head coach Sheldon Keefe. Hämeenaho remains Utica’s leading point collecter with 22 points (nine goals, 13 assists).
White has stood out in a different vein. Amid injuries in 2025-26 on the blue line, White established himself as a steady stay-at-home defenseman who helps prevent scoring chances. In 23 games this season, the left-shot defenseman recorded four assists.
