Norfolk Admirals

The Norfolk Admirals are a minor professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League, and affiliate of the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Admirals play in Norfolk, Virginia, at the Norfolk Scope.

History
The Admirals were admitted to the American Hockey League as an expansion franchise for the 2000–01 season. Norfolk is one of two franchises in the AHL named the Admirals, sharing the nickname with the Milwaukee Admirals. The Milwaukee franchise transferred from the defunct International Hockey League, and were allowed to keep their previous moniker.

Norfolk's geographically closest rivals are the AHL's Pennsylvania-based teams: the Hershey Bears and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Although they're not regulars on each other's schedules, the Worcester Sharks can be considered rivals since majority of the meetings have been intense, fight-filled games. The Admirals have two mascots. A dog named Salty and dog/rabbit hybrid named Hat Trick.

On March 19, 2007, the Chicago Blackhawks announced that their affiliation with the Admirals would end after the 2006–2007 season. On March 29, 2007, the Tampa Bay Lightning officially announced the Admirals as their new affiliate.

The market was previously home to:
 * Tidewater Wings (1971–1972 AHL)
 * Virginia Wings (1972–1975 AHL)
 * Hampton Gulls (1974–1977 SHL, 1977–1978 AHL)
 * Hampton Aces (1978–1981 NEHL)
 * Hampton Roads Gulls (1982–1983 ACHL)
 * Hampton Roads Admirals (1989–2000 ECHL)

Notable players
NHL alumni of the Norfolk Admirals include: Craig Anderson, Tyler Arnason, Michal Barinka, Cam Barker, Mark Bell, Brandon Bochenski, Rene Bourque, Wade Brookbank, Troy Brouwer, Adam Burish, Dustin Byfuglien, Kyle Calder, Ryan Craig, Corey Crawford, Aaron Downey, Steve Downie, Vern Fiddler, Colin Fraser, Adam Hall, Duncan Keith, David Koci, Zenon Konopka, Michael Leighton, Reed Low, Mike Lundin, Craig MacDonald, Travis Moen, Mark Parrish, Nathan Perrott, Brent Seabrook, Matt Smaby, Martin St. Pierre, Paul Szczechura, Shawn Thornton, Kris Versteeg, Ty Wishart and James Wisniewski.

2010 Stanley Cup Finals
In the 2010 Stanley Cup Finals, sixteen former Admirals competed for the championship. Bryan Bickell, Dave Bolland, Troy Brouwer, Adam Burish, Dustin Byfuglien, Corey Crawford, Jake Dowell, Colin Fraser, Jordan Hendry, Duncan Keith, Danny Richmond, Brent Seabrook, Jack Skille, and Kris Versteeg were on the Chicago Blackhawks active roster. Michael Leighton and Lukas Krajicek played for the Philadelphia Flyers.

Current roster
As of July 7, 2010.

Single season

 * Goals: 41 🇨🇦 Troy Brouwer (2006–07)
 * Assists: 72 🇨🇦 Martin St. Pierre (2006–07)
 * Points: 99 🇨🇦 Martin St. Pierre (2006–07)
 * Penalty minutes: 286 🇨🇦 Mike Brown (2004–05)
 * Wins: 38 🇨🇦 Corey Crawford (2006–07)
 * GAA: 1.94 🇺🇸 Craig Anderson (2002–03)
 * SV%: .923 🇺🇸 Craig Anderson (2002–03)

Career

 * Career goals: 76 🇺🇸 Casey Hankinson, Brandon Bochenski
 * Career assists: 141 🇨🇦 Marty Wilford
 * Career points: 175 🇨🇦 Ajay Baines
 * Career penalty minutes: 1208 🇨🇦 Shawn Thornton
 * Career goaltending wins: 75 🇨🇦 Michael Leighton
 * Career shutouts: 18 🇨🇦 Michael Leighton
 * Career games: 409 🇨🇦 Ajay Baines