Full Steam Ahead, Admirals 5 Bears 1

The final stretch of the AHL season is upon us. The Admirals bounce back after an OT loss to the Checkers on Wednesday. Norfolk powered up their offense and set a course for the playoffs with a 5-1 victory over the Bears. There is no guaranteed playoff spot waiting for the Admirals. They are going to have to earn it. Every game won can move them up, every loss will keep them on the bottom.

Game Summary from the Norfolk Admirals:

March 8, 2013

Admirals Out-Gun Bears

NORFOLK – Sami Vatanen and Patrick Maroon each had a goal and two assists and the home team out-shot the visitors, 32-17, as the Norfolk Admirals (26-26-4-1) upended the Hershey Bears (28-22-3-5), 5-1, on Friday night at Norfolk Scope Arena.

Dan Sexton, Josh Brittain and John Mitchell also scored for Norfolk while Hampus Lindholm and John Kurtz notched two assists each. Frederik Andersen (14-11-1) stopped 16 of 17 shots for the win. The Admirals cut their deficit to five points for the eighth and final playoff spot with 19 games remaining in the 2012-13 regular season.

The Admirals will host the Bears again tomorrow night at Scope at 7:15 p.m.

Norfolk took a 1-0 lead midway through the first period on Sexton’s fifth goal of the season. Vatanen stopped a Hershey clearing attempt at the right point. He fed Sexton at the bottom of the left faceoff circle. From one knee, Sexton one-timed the puck past Bears netminder Dany Sabourin at 9:47. Both Sexton and Vatanen extended their point streaks to an Admirals season-high six games on the play.

The home team’s lead doubled with a five-on-three power play goal 6:08 into the second stanza. Maroon sent a pass from the right corner to Vatanen in the opposite circle. Vatanen one-timed the pass beyond the outstretched glove of Sabourin for his fifth goal of the season and a 2-0 Norfolk lead.

Hershey cut into the lead with an unassisted goal less than seven minutes later. Jeff Taffe intercepted a pass in the high slot, skated deeper into the slot and fired a slap shot past Andersen’s glove at 12:49 to cut Norfolk’s lead to 2-1.

However, the Admirals restored their two-goal lead 6:33 into the final frame. Maroon entered the attacking zone along the left wall and sent a shot from near the goal line at the left corner. The puck hit the inside of Sabourin’s left skate and went between his legs and into the net for Maroon’s 15th goal of the season and a 3-1 Norfolk lead.

The Admirals increased the lead to three goals midway through the third period with their second power play goal of the game. Maroon spotted Brittain with a pass from the left corner to the right circle. Brittain one-timed the puck past Sabourin at 11:02 for his ninth goal of the season and a 4-1 lead.

Norfolk closed out scoring with 3:10 remaining in regulation with Mitchell’s seventh goal of the season. Lindholm sent a feed to Kurtz for a shot from in tight that bounced off Sabourin. Mitchell one-timed the rebound into the net for the 5-1 final score.

Sabourin (8-9-3) stopped 27 of 32 shots in defeat.

Norfolk was 2-for-7 on the power play. Hershey was 0-for-4.

Three Stars: 
1. Sami Vatanen – NOR
2. Patrick Maroon – NOR
3. Hampus Lindholm – NOR

Hershey Bears 1 at Norfolk Admirals 5 – Status: Final
Friday, March 8, 2013 – Norfolk Scope

Hershey 0 1 0 – 1
Norfolk   1 1 3 – 5

1st Period-1, Norfolk, Sexton 5 (Vatanen, Kurtz), 9:47. Penalties-DiSalvatore Her (hooking), 1:13; Vatanen Nor (holding), 5:27; Smith-Pelly Nor (roughing), 19:55.

2nd Period-2, Norfolk, Vatanen 5 (Maroon, Lindholm), 6:08 (PP). 3, Hershey, Taffe 16   12:49. Penalties-Parent Nor (delay of game), 4:03; Schilling Her (interference), 4:24; McNeill Her (interference), 4:45; McNeill Her (tripping), 8:57; Irwin Nor (hooking), 14:26; Carman Her (tripping), 18:11.

3rd Period-4, Norfolk, Maroon 15 (Vatanen, Andersen), 6:33. 5, Norfolk, Brittain 9 (Maroon, Guenin), 11:02 (PP). 6, Norfolk, Mitchell 7 (Kurtz, Lindholm), 16:50. Penalties-Wellar Her (fighting), 1:27; Letourneau-Leblond Nor (fighting), 1:27; Marshall Her (holding), 3:19; Brouillette Her (fighting), 3:30; Smith-Pelly Nor (fighting), 3:30; Taffe Her (unsportsmanlike conduct, diving), 9:39; Kurtz Nor (tripping), 9:39; Kane Her (hooking), 10:48; Smith-Pelly Nor (diving), 10:48.

Shots on Goal-Hershey 5-5-7-17. Norfolk 17-4-11-32.
Power Play Opportunities-Hershey 0 / 4; Norfolk 2 / 7.
Goalies-Hershey, Sabourin 8-9-3 (32 shots-27 saves). Norfolk, Andersen 14-11-1 (17 shots-16 saves).

A-5,626
Referees-Trent Knorr (44).
Linesmen-Mark Hamlett (81), Scott Pomento (25).

Norfolk Drops The Penguins 4-1

From The Norfolk Admirals:

NORFOLK – Jay Rosehill and Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond each had three-point nights, Jeff Deslauriers made 31 saves and Josh Brittain broke a 1-1 tie early in the third period as the Norfolk Admirals (19-23-2-1) defeated the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (24-19-2-1), 4-1, on Friday night at Norfolk Scope Arena. The same teams play at Scope again tomorrow night.

Rosehill netted two goals, an assist and had a fight for the “Gordie Howe Hat Trick.” Letourneau-Leblond rung up a goal and two assists. Deslauriers (1-1-0) stopped 31of 32 shots for his first win as an Admiral, as Norfolk scored three unanswered goals in the third period.

Norfolk took a 1-0 lead 7:46 into the first period on Rosehill’s third goal of the season. After a strong forecheck behind the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton net, Letourneau-Leblond intercepted the puck along the right half wall. Letourneau-Leblond then sent the puck towards the net. Rosehill, who was stationed on top of the crease with his back to the goaltender, deflected the puck on his backhand between his legs and past Wilkes-Barre/Scranton goaltender Brad Thiessen.

The Penguins tied the game late in the second period. From the right half wall in the Norfolk zone, an Admirals forward attempted to wrap the puck around the end boards to a teammate on the opposite side. However, the puck caromed off a stanchion back towards the slot. Warren Peters found the carom and sent a shot over Deslauriers’ left leg at 17:42 to tie the game at 1-1.

Norfolk entered the third period with a tied score for the third straight game. This time, they exited the period with the win. Just over three minutes into the final frame, Devante Smith-Pelly entered the attacking zone along the left wing. He sent a pass to Brittain, who was trailing the play in the high slot. Brittain sent a wrist shot past Thiessen at 3:02 for his sixth goal of the season and a 2-1 lead.

Norfolk’s lead doubled just over three minutes later. Rosehill forced a turnover along the right wing and spotted Letourneau-Leblond in the right circle. As he saw the puck coming towards him, Letourneau-Leblond spun around and one-timed the puck between the right arm and leg of Thiessen for his first goal as an Admiral at 6:07.

Less than three minutes later, Letourneau-Leblond started the scoring on Rosehill’s second goal by forcing a turnover in the right corner. Chris Wagner then spotted Rosehill all alone on top of the crease, and Rosehill sent a quick one-timer past Thiessen at 8:59 for his fourth goal of the season.

Rosehill finished the “Gordie Howe Hat Trick” when he dropped the gloves with Bobby Farnham just 26 seconds later.

Deslauriers made the lead stand with 12 saves in the third period alone, as he earned his first Norfolk win.

Thiessen (9-9-1) stopped 23 of 27 shots in defeat.

Both teams were 0-for-5 on the power play.

The same teams will face off tomorrow night at Scope at 7:15 p.m. before the Admirals embark on a four-game road trip.

Three Stars:
1. Jay Rosehill – NOR
2. Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond – NOR
3. Jeff Deslauriers – NOR

NOTES … The Admirals (2-1-0-0, 4 points) now lead the season series with the Penguins (1-1-1-0, 3 points) by one point … Rosehill’s last Gordie Howe Hat Trick and multiple-point game in the AHL came on November 7, 2010, as he posted a goal, an assist and two fights for the Toronto Marlies at Oklahoma City … No player has more goals or points for Norfolk since January than Josh Brittain, who has six goals and eight points in 15 games since joining the Admirals from the ECHL’s Fort Wayne Komets. Two of Brittain’s goals – including tonight’s – were game-winning tallies … Earlier today, the Danish National Team fell to Slovenia, 2-1, in the second game of their Final Olympic Qualification Tournament. With the win, Slovenia will claim Group F’s spot in the 2014 Sochi Olympics … Frederik Andersen, who is 9-10-1 in 23 games for the Admirals this season, posted a 1-1-0 record with one shutout, a 1.01 goals-against average and .960 save percentage in two games for Denmark during the final Olympic Qualification Tournament. Andersen leads all Group F goaltenders in GAA and SV% … Did not play: Gabe Guentzel, John Kurtz, Brandon McMillan, Troy Bodie, Matt Kennedy, Kyle Bushee.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 1 at Norfolk Admirals 4 – Status: Final
Friday, February 8, 2013 – Norfolk Scope

W-B/Scranton 0 1 0 – 1
Norfolk             1 0 3 – 4

1st Period-1, Norfolk, Rosehill 3 (Letourneau-Leblond), 7:46. Penalties-Samuelsson Wbs (slashing), 2:05; Letourneau-Leblond Nor (delay of game), 11:27; Parent Nor (boarding), 18:36.

2nd Period-2, W-B/Scranton, Peters 8   17:42. Penalties-Grant Wbs (interference), 2:47; served by Rosehill Nor (bench minor – too many men), 5:16; Guenin Nor (slashing), 10:05; Megna Wbs (hooking), 11:35; Wagner Nor (slashing), 15:18; Megna Wbs (charging), 18:42.

3rd Period-3, Norfolk, Brittain 6 (Smith-Pelly, Clark), 3:02. 4, Norfolk, Letourneau-Leblond 1 (Rosehill), 6:07. 5, Norfolk, Rosehill 4 (Wagner, Letourneau-Leblond), 8:59. Penalties-Farnham Wbs (fighting), 9:25; Rosehill Nor (fighting), 9:25; Kostopoulos Wbs (interference), 16:22.

Shots on Goal-W-B/Scranton 7-13-12-32. Norfolk 10-7-10-27.
Power Play Opportunities-W-B/Scranton 0 / 5; Norfolk 0 / 5.
Goalies-W-B/Scranton, Thiessen 9-9-1 (27 shots-23 saves). Norfolk, Deslauriers 1-1-0 (32 shots-31 saves).
A-5,267
Referees-Terry Koharski (10), Jeff Smith (49).
Linesmen-Tom George (61), Mark Hamlett (81).

Admirals Take Weekend Series Over Bridgeport.

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).

Different Day, Same Results…. Admirals Fall to Penguins

I almost had to buy a program to figure out who these Admirals were. The NHL is preparing to kick off its lockout shortened season and the AHL teams have been pillaged as training camps continue. Last nights roster had about 6 players that appeared on the Admirals opening night roster. The rest of the squad featured ECHL call ups and a fiesty goalie from the Swedish Elite League. The Ducks wanted to get Viktor Fasth some North-American game time with the Admirals. Fasth performed exceptionally well and did not look rusty at all. In fact it was actually pretty good game. The team skated well, passed well, but could not get any shots on Thiessen of the Penguins. Their failure to adapt to the game led to a 4-2 win for the Penguins.

From the Norfolk Admirals:

January 15, 2013

Penguins Slide by Admirals

NORFOLK – Goaltender Viktor Fasth made 25 saves in his North American professional debut, but the Norfolk Admirals (14-19-2-1) dropped a 4-2 decision the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (18-17-2-1) on Tuesday night at Norfolk Scope Arena.

Nick Schaus and Josh Brittain scored for the Admirals, who were out-shot in the contest, 29-13 – including 21-6 in the final two periods.

The Admirals host the St. John’s IceCaps on Friday and Saturday nights at Scope. Saturday’s game is the sixth annual Pink in the Rink to benefit the Tidewater Affiliate of Susan G. Komen For the Cure.

Norfolk took a 1-0 lead 6:56 into the first period. After John Kurtz forced a turnover in the Norfolk zone, John Mitchell spotted Troy Bodie for a breakout pass. Bodie entered the attacking zone along the right wing and dropped a pass back to Schaus. The Norfolk defenseman sent a slap shot from the right point that eluded the glove of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton goaltender Brad Thiessen for Schaus’ first goal as an Admiral.

The Penguins tied the score at 1-1 with a five-on-three power play goal early in the second stanza. Alex Grant sent a slap shot from the left point. Riley Holzapfel, who was stationed on top of the goalmouth to Fasth’s left, deflected the shot past the netminder at 3:07.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton took a 2-1 lead early in the third period off a pinball play. Holzapfel carried the puck into the Norfolk zone along the left wing and passed the puck toward the slot. The puck bounced in the air after a deflection by Grant, and a Norfolk defender attempted to bat the puck away from danger in the low slot. However, it deflected down to his feet, and Paul Thompson quickly shot it under the defender and Fasth to give the visitors the lead 4:49 into the third period.

The Admirals tied the game at 2-2 midway through the third period with a power play goal. Rod Pelley sent a backhand pass from the slot to Brittain in the left circle. Brittain corralled the puck and sent a wrist shot past Thiessen, stick-side, at 14:46 for his second goal of the season.

However, the Penguins responded with a power play goal of their own less than three minutes later. Grant sent a slap shot from the high slot through traffic and past Fasth at 17:10, giving Wilkes-Barre/Scranton a 3-2 lead.

Brian Gibbons added an empty-net goal with 28 seconds left for the Penguins.

Brad Thiessen (7-7-1) stopped 11 of 13 shots for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

Norfolk was 1-for-5 on the power play. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton was 2-for-4.

Three Stars:
1. Alex Grant – WBS
2. Riley Holzapfel – WBS
3. Viktor Fasth – NOR

NOTES … Viktor Fasth was loaned to the Admirals by Norfolk’s NHL parent club, the Anaheim Ducks, earlier today. Fasth made his North American professional debut after earning back-to-back Swedish Elite League goaltender of the year awards in 2010-11 and 2011-12 … Norfolk’s 13 shots on goal were the fewest in a single game in AHL Admirals history, eclipsing the previous mark of 15 from April 11, 2009, at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton … Also earlier today, the Admirals signed forwards Brandon Marino and Jean-Michel Rizk to Professional Tryout Contracts. Both made their AHL debuts after starting the season with the Admirals’ ECHL affiliate, the Fort Wayne Komets … During the game, the Anaheim Ducks announced that they have signed forward Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond to a one-year, two-way contract. Letourneau-Leblond has appeared in 242 career AHL games between the Albany River Rats, Lowell Devils, Albany Devils and Abbotsford Heat, posting 18 goals and 39 points with 1,013 penalty minutes … Did not play: Ryan Hegarty, Sami Vatanen, Garrett Klotz, Brandon McMillan, Chris Wagner, Dan Sexton, Frederik Andersen, Jay Rosehill. 

The Admirals return to Scope on Friday and Saturday nights for a weekend series against the St. John’s Ice Caps. Saturday night is the sixth annual Pink in the Rink to benefit the Tidewater affiliate of Susan G. Komen For the Cure. Special discounted fundraising tickets are available for a limited time, with $15 Red Level Tickets for sale through komentidewater.org, norfolkadmirals.com/groups and by calling the Komen Tidewater office. For more details, visit norfolkadmirals.com.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 4 at Norfolk Admirals 2 – Status: Final
Tuesday, January 15, 2013 – Norfolk Scope

W-B/Scranton 0 1 3 – 4
Norfolk             1 0 1 – 2

1st Period-1, Norfolk, Schaus 1 (Bodie, Mitchell), 6:56. Penalties-Smith Wbs (fighting), 0:49; Kennedy Nor (fighting), 0:49; MacIntyre Wbs (elbowing), 3:09; Farnham Wbs (fighting), 19:37; Kurtz Nor (fighting), 19:37; Guentzel Nor (double minor – high-sticking), 19:56.

2nd Period-2, W-B/Scranton, Holzapfel 10 (Grant, Dumoulin), 3:07 (PP). Penalties-Bodie Nor (tripping), 2:17; Morrow Wbs (interference), 14:22; served by Payerl Wbs (bench minor – too many men), 16:35.

3rd Period-3, W-B/Scranton, Thompson 12 (Holzapfel, Grant), 4:49. 4, Norfolk, Brittain 2 (Pelley, Fasth), 14:46 (PP). 5, W-B/Scranton, Grant 1 (Dumoulin, Holzapfel), 17:10 (PP). 6, W-B/Scranton, Gibbons 5   19:32 (SH EN). Penalties-Smith Wbs (slashing), 13:19; Pelley Nor (roughing), 15:57; Holzapfel Wbs (delay of game), 18:19.

Shots on Goal-W-B/Scranton 8-10-11-29. Norfolk 7-3-3-13.
Power Play Opportunities-W-B/Scranton 2 / 4; Norfolk 1 / 5.
Goalies-W-B/Scranton, Thiessen 7-7-1 (13 shots-11 saves). Norfolk, Fasth 0-1-0 (28 shots-25 saves).

A-3,136
Referees-Fred Leblanc (30), Steve Patafie (85).
Linesmen-Kyle DeMaggio (97), Mike Sheehan (90).

Admirals On Ice

By Ken Peacock

The new look Norfolk Admirals had another day on the ice over at Chilled Ponds. There were seven yesterday, but today we saw about 12 players total. We were able to identify some of the new faces as Emerson Etem, Kyle Palmieri, Ryan Lasch, Sami Vatanen, Mat Clark, Josh Brittain, Peter Holland, Igor Bobkov, and Matt Kennedy. There were still a few that we could not figure out. Once again this was a loosely organized workout for the guys to keep lose in preparation for camp on the 28th.  These on-ice sessions will continue tomorrow thru Thursday at Chilled Ponds from 10:00 am to 11:30am. Camp will open up at Scope on Friday the 28th.

Admirals Hit The Ice

By Ken Peacock

The Norfolk Admirals open up training camp in less than a week. By then Scope will have a fresh sheet of ice and a new team to skate on it. In the meantime, Norfolk has rented ice time at Chilled Ponds out in Chesapeake for the incoming player to skate and prepare for camp. There were seven players out on the ice this afternoon. Four players were out in the traditional Admirals practice jerseys, one wearing a Plymouth Whalers practice jersey, one with a Framingham State University practice jersey, and a goalie in a goalie school practice jersey. The only problem for me and the wife, was that we had no clue who any of these guys were. We did not recognize any of them.

So what to do? Fortunately we had modern technology in the form of an iphone. A quick look out to some Anaheim Duck sites we were able to find a site that listed all the jersey numbers given out to Duck players. Now with a quick glance at the players helmets we knocked out about half of the players. They were Peter Holland, Matt Kennedy, and Mat Clark. We figured out that the player with the Plymouth Whalers jersey was Josh Brittain. The goalie was Igor Bobkov. That leaves two player that we could not recognize.

Igor Bobkov is a huge goalie. I say you can take Janus and put Tokasrski on his shoulders and you will have Igor Bobkov. OK, I am exaggerating a little bit, but this guy is huge. The same could be said for most of the players with the exception of one of them. They held a loosely organized practice session and seemed to be having a good time going through the drills. They skate hard and shoot hard. One shot apparently was a bit too hard and cracked the glass behind one of the goals.

The Admirals have ice time reserved for the rest of the week at Chilled Ponds and then it’s back to Scope for training camp starting on the 28th. There will be an exhibition match up between the Admirals and the Charlotte Checkers on October 6 at Scope. Regular season opens up at home on October 12 against Worcester Sharks. Get your tickets early and cheer on the Admirals as they open up the season in a quest to win another Calder Cup.