Tampa Bay Leaks Affiliation Move

While nothing is “OFFICIAL” yet, the writing is on the wall. The Tampa Bay Lightning are taking the puck and moving to Syracuse. Earlier today the Virginian-Pilot/PilotOnline.com released a story about the impending move. This article confirmed everything what we have been hearing for months now. The Admirals and Lightning officials have been trying to avoid the subject and wanting to concentrate on the Admirals playoff run and Calder Cup win. Now that the season is over and the parties are over it is as good enough time as any to put this “Worst Kept Secret” to rest.

The official announcement is expected within the week from the Lightning. Syracuse Crunch owner, Howard Dolgan, tweeted that a “A proper and professional announcement coming from the Crunch re new affiliation. Stay tuned.” Evidently he is upset that a Lightning official leaked the information and stole his thunder. Not exactly a good way to get things rolling in  a new relationship. The Crunch’s previous affiliation with the Anaheim Ducks ended on a sour note with the Ducks being shown the door by Dolgan. Good luck to Tampa with the Crunch ownership.

So what about hockey in Norfolk? There is nothing to worry about right now. Admiral’s owner Ken Young assures us that we will have hockey in Norfolk in October. “One thing the fans have said that they are worried about is that they won’t have AHL hockey here,” Young said. “That won’t happen. There will be an AHL team here.” This quote was backed up with a press release from the Admirals that stated the Admirals were aware of reports that the Tampa Bay Lightning have signed an affiliation agreement with the Syracuse Crunch. They also reassured us that there will still be AHL hockey at Scope next season. Announcements of a new National Hockey League partner will be made in the near future in the near future.

What does our future look like? The Anaheim Ducks are the likely candidate to fill our affiliation needs. Another possible candidate would be the Florida Panthers. The Ducks and the Panthers have not announced any affiliation agreements. The Panthers were partnered with the San Antonio Rampage last season, but that could all change as we witnessed today. Anaheim appears to be the likely candidate. One bright point to bring out of this situation is that this years Crunch were a good team. Hopefully the team that appears on Scope ice next year will not be like the early years of our Tampa affiliation.

This is a developing story and until everything is said and done…… Stay Tuned

GO ADMIRALS!!!!

Admirals Win 6-1, Sweep The Marlies, Win The Calder Cup

By Ronnie Shuker, The Canadian Press

TORONTO – Tyler Johnson and Mike Kostka each scored twice as the Norfolk Admirals defeated the Toronto Marlies 6-1 on Saturday to capture their first Calder Cup championship.

Richard Panik and Pierre-Cedric Labrie had the other goals for the Admirals, who swept the American Hockey League best-of-seven final.

Norfolk goalie Dustin Tokarski stopped 18 shots for his 12th win of the post-season and Cory Conacher chipped in with four assists. Johnson added two assists to also finish the night with four points.

Mike Zigomanis had the lone goal for Toronto. Ben Scrivens made 27 saves in front of a sell-out crowd of 8,084 at Ricoh Coliseum.

It’s the first championship title for Norfolk in its 12-year franchise history, capping off a remarkable and record-setting season.

In early February, the Admirals sat third in their division and were simply fighting for a playoff spot. But since a loss on Super Bowl Sunday to the Springfield Falcons, the Admirals went 43-3, which included a 28-game winning streak from Feb. 10 until April 20 – a professional hockey league record.

In the playoffs, Norfolk went 15-3, defeating the Manchester Monarchs 3-1, the Connecticut Whale 4-2 and then sweeping the St. John’s IceCaps and the Marlies.

Just as in the first three games of the series, Norfolk scored first in a chippy opening period with 31 minutes in penalties.

Panik, a 2009 second-round pick of the Tampa Bay Lightning, drove to the Marlies net and wristed a weak backhand shot toward the net that deflected off Marlies defenceman Juraj Mikus’s skate and in past Scrivens 6:17 into the game.

Toronto tied it with 16.1 seconds left in the period on a long 5-on-3 power play with Panik given a five-minute major and game misconduct for elbowing.

The Marlies worked it around the perimeter until Joe Colborne found Zigomanis, playing just his second game of the series, alone at the side of the net for an easy tap in.

It was the first goal Tokarski had allowed in 88:36 after shutting out the Marlies 1-0 in Game 3 and just the second power-play goal for Toronto, which went just 2-for-26 on the man advantage in the series.

Norfolk retook the lead 4:26 into the second period on a delayed penalty call. Ondrej Palat dished from the behind the goal line to Game 3 overtime hero Kostka who ripped a shot from the point past a screened Scrivens for his fifth of the playoffs.

The Admirals then made it a 3-1 game at 16:45. After Scrivens made a sensational sliding blocker save on Johnson off a one-timer, Johnson picked up the rebound behind the net and banked it off Scrivens’ back and into the net.

The Admirals took a three-goal lead less than a minute into the third on the power play. Kostka, a hometown player from Etobicoke, Ont., blasted a shot from the top of the circle high past Scrivens.

Johnson, an undrafted free agent signing by Tampa Bay in 2011, got his second of the game at 12:35 with Scrivens pulled for an extra attacker. Labrie then made it 6-1 Norfolk, snapping in a rebound past Scrivens into an open net.

Norfolk Admirals 6 at Toronto Marlies 1 – Status: Final
Saturday, June 9, 2012 – Ricoh Coliseum

Norfolk   1 2 3 – 6
Toronto 1 0 0 – 1

1st Period-1, Norfolk, Panik 5 (Johnson, Conacher), 6:17. 2, Toronto, Zigomanis 4 (Colborne, Lashoff), 19:43 (PP). Penalties-Dupuis Tor (interference), 1:02; Aulie Nor (interference), 3:20; Holzer Tor (interference), 8:49; Mikus Tor (roughing), 12:46; Cote Nor (roughing, roughing), 17:24; Panik Nor (major – elbowing, game misconduct – elbowing), 17:24; Orr Tor (roughing), 17:24; Kostka Nor (high-sticking), 18:40.

2nd Period-3, Norfolk, Kostka 5 (Palat, Conacher), 4:26. 4, Norfolk, Johnson 5 (Killorn, Aulie), 16:45. Penalties-Angelidis Nor (roughing), 9:50; Colborne Tor (holding), 18:02; Zigomanis Tor (slashing), 18:37; Holzer Tor (slashing), 19:25.

3rd Period-5, Norfolk, Kostka 6 (Conacher, Johnson), 0:44 (PP). 6, Norfolk, Johnson 6 (Cote, Conacher), 12:35 (EN). 7, Norfolk, Labrie 5 (Ouellet, Smith), 13:33. Penalties-Lashoff Tor (roughing), 4:39; Mikus Tor (tripping), 7:30; Angelidis Nor (slashing), 9:47.

Shots on Goal-Norfolk 12-12-8-32. Toronto 8-7-4-19.
Power Play Opportunities-Norfolk 1 / 8; Toronto 1 / 6.
Goalies-Norfolk, Tokarski 12-2-0 (19 shots-18 saves). Toronto, Scrivens 11-6-0 (31 shots-26 saves).
A-8,084
Referees-Graham Skilliter (48), Terry Koharski (10).
Linesmen-Kiel Murchison (35), Matt MacPherson (83).

CALDER CUP CHAMPIONS!!!!!!

Calder Cup Game 4 – Admirals Vs. Marlies

The quest for the cup continues. Norfolk have the Marlies up against the wall in what could be the final game of the AHL season. The only plans you should have today should involve the Admirals. Get yourself in front of the TV, Computer, Radio. It’s time once more to support the Admirals. We Want The CUP!!!!

The game starts at 3pm today. You can follow the game on these media outlets:  WGNT CW27, CBS Sports Network, or AHLlive.com. Listen at 102.1-FM, 1490-AM or 1021TheGame.com . No excuses…..Support The Admirals!

The History Of The Calder Cup

The coveted Calder Cup has been a motivational force for American Hockey League teams throughout the League’s 75-year history. It is one of our sport’s greatest challenges and ultimate honors to hoist the Calder Cup in victory.

The trophy is named for Frank Calder, who served as the National Hockey League’s first President from 1917 to 1943. During the 1920’s, Mr. Calder was instrumental in guiding hockey into the mainstream of America’s major cities including Boston, New York, Detroit and Chicago, while helping in the formation of the American League.

The Calder Cup trophy itself was actually first awarded in 1938 to the Providence Reds for winning the second International-American Hockey League championship. (In 1996, George Parsons of the Syracuse Stars was presented the Calder Cup in a ceremony at the Onondaga County War Memorial, as it is believed the Stars never received a trophy for their 1937 championship.)

In 2001, the trophy’s base was changed to include two tiers of plaques, which feature the rosters of each of the last 20 Calder Cup champions; the plaques from all previous champions are on display in the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. The entire Calder Cup trophy now stands 24 inches tall and weighs 30 pounds. The bowl, made of sterling silver, is 12 inches high and eight inches in diameter. The hardwood base is made of poplar.

A total of 27 different cities have had their AHL member club win the Calder Cup, led by Hershey with 11 following the Bears’ 2010 championship. Cleveland (nine), Springfield (seven), Rochester (six), Providence (five), Portland (four), Glens Falls (four) and Chicago (two) are the other active cities with more than one title.

Twenty-seven members of the Hockey Hall of Fame have won the Calder Cup in their careers, including Johnny Bower, Terry Sawchuk, Emile Francis, Gerry Cheevers, Al Arbour, Andy Bathgate, Larry Robinson, Doug Harvey and Patrick Roy.

Not only have great players won the Calder Cup, but outstanding coaches have also hoisted the AHL’s championship trophy. Hall of Famer Fred “Bun” Cook holds the distinction of winning seven Calder Cups in his career; no other AHL head coach has ever won more than three. Current NHL head coaches with Calder Cup titles on their resumes include Nashville’s Barry Trotz (Portland, 1994), the New York Rangers’ John Tortorella (Rochester, 1996), Philadelphia’s Peter Laviolette (Providence, 1999), San Jose’s Todd McLellan (Houston, 2003), Winnipeg’s Claude Noel (Milwaukee, 2004) and Anaheim’s Bruce Boudreau (Hershey, 2006).

More than 100 players and coaches have won both the Calder Cup and Stanley Cup in their careers, including Ace Bailey, Brian Engblom, Dick Gamble, Butch Goring, Adam Graves, Peter Mahovlich, Kirk Maltby, Ab McDonald, Patrick Sharp, Fred Shero, Brian Skrudland and 2011 Stanley Cup champion Dennis Seidenberg.

Two-time Calder Cup champion Darren Haydar is the AHL’s all-time leader in playoff goals (59), assists (76) and points (135), and three-time winner Bryan Helmer has played in more Calder Cup Playoff games (144) than anyone else. Marcel Paille’s 49 playoff victories are the most ever by a goaltender, and Bill McDougall set single-season records that may never be broken when he tallied 26 goals, 26 assists and 52 points during the 1993 postseason with the Cape Breton Oilers.

Four men share the honor of having won the most Calder Cups during their playing careers: Bob Solinger, Les Duff, Fred Glover and Mike Busniuk each skated to five titles.

Calder Cup-winning teams have impacted significantly on the success of their NHL parent clubs. On three occasions an AHL club and its NHL affiliate won their league championships in the same year: In 1976 and 1977, the Montreal Canadiens won the Stanley Cup while their AHL affiliate, the Nova Scotia Voyageurs, won the Calder Cup, and in 1995, the Stanley Cup champion New Jersey Devils saw their AHL affiliate, the Albany River Rats, win a title as well. In 2008, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and their parent club in Pittsburgh both reached their respective league Finals before bowing out, and in 2010 the Hamilton Bulldogs and Montreal Canadiens both reached the conference finals.

Only one team in 75 years has been able to win the Calder Cup in three consecutive seasons: the Springfield Indians, under the leadership of Hockey and AHL Hall of Famers Eddie Shore and Jack Butterfield, skated to Calder Cup championships in 1960, 1961 and 1962.

Fluke goal in OT puts Admirals just one victory from Calder Cup

Photo: Graig Abel

If the Norfolk Admirals are a team of destiny, as well as one of the greatest pro franchises in Hampton Roads sports history, the ending of Thursday night’s game proved it.

A fluke goal 9:09 into overtime by Mike Kostka gave the Admirals a 1-0 victory in Toronto and a 3-0 lead over the Marlies in the best-of-seven Calder Cup finals.

The Admirals can clinch the American Hockey League’s championship trophy by winning Saturday’s 3 p.m. game, which, like Game 3, will be shown in Hampton Roads on WGNT-TV 27.

Goalie Dustin Tokarski made 21 saves for the victory, which came oddly after more than 69 scoreless minutes.

Photo: Graig Abel

Near the red center line, Kostka dumped the puck into a corner, and Marlies goalie Ben Scrivens went behind the net to play the expected carom. But the disc took a weird bounce into the net and went just beyond the goal line to stun the crowd of 8,084 and TV-watchers around the U.S. and Canada.

Admirals coach Jon Cooper said, “I’m sick to my stomach for Scrivens.”

Norfolk Admirals 1 (OT) at Toronto Marlies 0 – Status: Final OT
Thursday, June 7, 2012 – Ricoh Coliseum

Norfolk  0 0 0 1 – 1
Toronto 0 0 0 0 – 0

1st Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Holzer Tor (holding), 0:31; Tokarski Nor (interference), 2:45; Ashton Tor (slashing), 6:29; Smith Nor (boarding), 8:03; Dupuis Tor (cross-checking), 10:09; Segal Nor (cross-checking), 18:44.

2nd Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Conacher Nor (goaltender interference), 10:25.

3rd Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Barberio Nor (tripping), 6:10; Fraser Tor (holding), 15:06.

OT Period-1, Norfolk, Kostka 4   9:09. Penalties-served by Picard Nor (bench minor – too many men), 1:12.

Shots on Goal-Norfolk 6-8-10-7-31. Toronto 11-5-3-2-21.
Power Play Opportunities-Norfolk 0 / 4; Toronto 0 / 6.
Goalies-Norfolk, Tokarski 11-2-0 (21 shots-21 saves). Toronto, Scrivens 11-5-0 (31 shots-30 saves).
A-8,084
Referees-Marcus Vinnerborg (45), Jean Hebert (43).
Linesmen-Kiel Murchison (35), Mathieu Chenier (71).