
The Norfolk Admirals started out the week down in Charlotte for a Sunday match-up with the Checkers. Rod Pelley got his first goal of the season and Netminder Jeff Deslauriers made his first appearance for the Admirals. Unfortunately for the Admirals Pelley’s goal was the only one of the night and Charlotte lit up Deslauriers for 6 goals. Needless to say the Admirals had a long and silent bus ride back to Norfolk.

Photo: John Wright
The Checkers provided the opposition for the Wednesday night game at Scope. Charlotte has had our number this season and have always been a tough competitor. This game however was all about the Admirals. Luca Caputi, Jay Rosehill and Dan Sexton all scored goals for the Admirals. Special teams were running at full steam. Two of the goals were scored on the power play and the Admirals stopped all seven of the Checkers power play opportunities. Igor Bobkov was in goal for the Admirals and only allowed one goal. The Admirals turned in a solid 3-1 Norfolk victory.

Photo: John Wright
The Bridgeport Sound Tigers rolled into town Friday night and they brought the snow with them. A very small crowd was on hand as the Admirals and Sound Tigers got down to business. Bridgeport was solid for the first two periods. The Sound Tigers held on to a 1 – 0 lead over Frederik Anderson and the Admirals into the third period. Norfolk would finally get on the board seven minutes into the third period. Dan Sexton put a shot on goal that was stopped, but Patrick Maroon swept in to clean up the garbage and tied the game up at 1 each. Four minutes later Maroon would force a turnover and send a pass to Josh Brittain. Brittain put the puck in the net for the Admirals 2-1 lead and the Admirals Victory.

Photo: John Wright
Saturday night at Scope had the Admirals and Sound Tigers back in action. Norfolk was riding high on two consecutive victories and wanted to go into the AHL All-Star break with another victory.The weather had calmed down some and the snow was melting away. There was the annual Guns and Hoses game for CHKD and that brought in a nice crowd for the Admirals game as well. Tonight was another solid performance for the Admirals. Emerson Etem turned in two goals and an assist. Luca Caputi chipped in a goal and two assists. Josh Brittain and Rod Pelley would contribute a goal each in a 5-0 Admiral victory. Frederik Anderson would stop all 23 Sound Tiger shots he faced.
Norfolk has the beginning part of the week off as the AHL All-Star game is being played in Providence. The Admirals return to action on the road Friday in Adirondak and on Saturday in Bridgeport. The next home action is Feb 8 and 9 against the WB/S Penguins.
Bridgeport Sound Tigers 1 at Norfolk Admirals 2 – Status: Final
Friday, January 25, 2013 – Norfolk Scope
Bridgeport 1 0 0 – 1
Norfolk 0 0 2 – 2
1st Period-1, Bridgeport, Campbell 2 (DeFazio, Landry), 1:13. Penalties-Nelson Bri (holding), 1:49; Gallant Bri (fighting), 5:32; Letourneau-Leblond Nor (fighting), 5:32; Combs Bri (delay of game), 16:27; McIver Bri (fighting), 19:21; Kurtz Nor (fighting), 19:21.
2nd Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Gallant Bri (unsportsmanlike conduct), 6:18; Brittain Nor (unsportsmanlike conduct), 6:18; Brittain Nor (high-sticking), 8:38.
3rd Period-2, Norfolk, Maroon 12 (Sexton, Guentzel), 7:00. 3, Norfolk, Brittain 4 (Maroon), 10:39. Penalties-Halmo Bri (fighting), 3:38; Kennedy Nor (roughing, fighting), 3:38; Maroon Nor (interference), 16:02; Mitchell Nor (elbowing), 19:52.
Shots on Goal-Bridgeport 13-15-10-38. Norfolk 16-8-14-38.
Power Play Opportunities-Bridgeport 0 / 4; Norfolk 0 / 2.
Goalies-Bridgeport, Poulin 12-10-2 (38 shots-36 saves). Norfolk, Andersen 9-10-1 (38 shots-37 saves).
A-4,575
Referees-Jamie Koharski (84).
Linesmen-Luke Murray (92), Mark Hamlett (81).
Bridgeport Sound Tigers 0 at Norfolk Admirals 5 – Status: Final
Saturday, January 26, 2013 – Norfolk Scope
Bridgeport 0 0 0 – 0
Norfolk 1 2 2 – 5
1st Period-1, Norfolk, Etem 11 (Maroon, Caputi), 6:11. Penalties-Kabanov Bri (slashing), 2:18; Cantin Bri (roughing), 3:49; Brittain Nor (roughing), 3:49; Cantin Bri (cross-checking), 7:40; Smaby Nor (interference), 18:50.
2nd Period-2, Norfolk, Caputi 3 (Etem, Vatanen), 7:30 (PP). 3, Norfolk, Brittain 5 (Sexton, Parent), 14:56. Penalties-Gallant Bri (unsportsmanlike conduct), 2:47; Wagner Nor (slashing), 3:45; McIver Bri (boarding), 7:04.
3rd Period-4, Norfolk, Etem 12 (Vatanen, Caputi), 12:47 (PP). 5, Norfolk, Pelley 2 (Letourneau-Leblond, Mitchell), 19:19 (PP). Penalties-Pelley Nor (holding), 0:26; DeFazio Bri (slashing, fighting, misconduct – continuing altercation), 11:26; Kennedy Nor (fighting), 11:26; McIver Bri (instigating, fighting, misconduct – instigating, game misconduct – aggressor), 11:35; Maroon Nor (roughing), 11:35; Brittain Nor (roughing), 13:19; Halmo Bri (high-sticking), 18:28.
Shots on Goal-Bridgeport 10-6-7-23. Norfolk 16-7-12-35.
Power Play Opportunities-Bridgeport 0 / 3; Norfolk 3 / 8.
Goalies-Bridgeport, Nilsson 7-10-0 (35 shots-30 saves). Norfolk, Andersen 9-10-1 (23 shots-23 saves).
A-7,574
Referees-Jamie Koharski (84).
Linesmen-Luke Murray (92), Mark Hamlett (81).
People are going to be busy over the next few days with the Thanksgiving holidays. There are Turkeys to prepare, decorations to be put up, and shopping to be done. Lets not forget one other big component of the weekend. The Admirals have a game tonight against the Checkers.I hope to see a good crowd out at Scope tonight as Norfolk tries to get things back in order against a tough Checkers club.
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Peter Holland, Kenndal McArdle and Chris Wagner all had goals for Norfolk. Marco Cousineau (27 Shots 23 Saves) and Igor Bobkov (6 Shots 6 Saves) split time in the Norfolk Net. Cousineau took the loss.
Norfolk struck early in the third with a nice Kenndal McArdle goal. McArdle intercepted the puck in the neutral zone, came down the right wing and sent a wrist shot that beat Muse to get he Admirals within 2 goals at 1:25 of the third period. Norfolk’s Chris Wagner would strike at 9:22 when he chipped a shot over a sprawled out Muse to get the Ad’s within 1 goal. Emerson Etem and Ryan Lasch assisted on Wagner’s goal. That would be the last goal of the game as Charlotte clamped down and hung on for the 4-3 win. The Admirals out shot Charlotte 10-6 in the final frame.
VS 
Hockey returned to Hampton Roads Tonight as the Admirals took on the Charlotte Checkers in the first of a two game match-up. This was the first opportunity to see the new look Admirals as they prepare for the opening of the 2012/2013 this friday.
The first period was a back and forth defensive battle. Norfolk controlled the flow of the period and out shot the Checkers 11-5. The Admirals opened up the scoring on a snap shot from Corey Elkins that beat Justin Peters at 9:17 of the first period. Emerson Etem got the assist on Elkins goal.
The second period saw the defensive battle rage on. Charlotte managed to out shoot Norfolk 10-7, but could not put the puck into the net. Norfolk’s Kyle Palmieri would open up the scoring in the third with a one timer that beat Peters at 7:54. Corey Elkins would seal the 3-0 victory when he grabbed the rebound from a Matt Smaby shot at 12:56.