Norfolk Admirals

	Norfolk Admirals
City:	Norfolk, Virginia
League:	American Hockey League
Conference:	Eastern Conference
Division:	East Division
Founded:	2000
Home Arena:	Norfolk Scope
Colors:	Blue, red, gold, white
Owner(s):	Ken Young and Tides Baseball, LP
General Manager:	Mike Butters
Head Coach:	Jim Johnson
Media:	The Virginian-Pilot
Affiliates:	Tampa Bay Lightning; (NHL)(2007-present)
Franchise history
2000–present:	Norfolk Admirals
Championships
Division Championships:	2 (2001–02, 2002–03)

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)

Season-by-season results

Regular season

Season	Games	Won	Lost	Tied	OTL	SOL	Points	Goals for	Goals against	Standing
2000–01	80	36	26	13	5	—	90	241	208	3rd, South
2001–02	80	38	26	12	4	—	92	222	205	1st, South
2002–03	80	37	26	12	5	—	91	201	187	1st, South
2003–04	80	35	36	4	5	—	79	172	187	5th, East
2004–05	80	43	30	—	6	1	93	200	188	3rd, East
2005–06	80	43	29	—	4	4	94	259	246	3rd, East
2006–07	80	50	22	—	6	2	108	301	257	3rd, East
2007–08	80	29	44	—	2	5	65	213	267	7th, East
2008–09	80	33	38	—	4	5	75	236	269	6th, East
2009–10	80	39	35	—	3	3	84	208	214	4th, East

Playoffs

Season	Prelim	1st round	2nd round	3rd round	Finals
2000–01	—	W, 3–1, Cincinnati	L, 1–4, Hershey	—	—
2001–02	—	L, 1–3, Hershey	—	—	—
2002–03	—	W, 3–0, San Antonio	L, 2–4, Houston	—	—
2003–04	W, 2–0, Binghamton	L, 2–4, Philadelphia	—	—	—
2004–05	—	L, 2–4, Philadelphia	—	—	—
2005–06	—	L, 0–4, Hershey	—	—	—
2006–07	—	L, 2–4, Wilkes-Barre	—	—	—
2007–08	Out of playoffs.
2008–09	Out of playoffs.
2009–10	Out of playoffs.

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.^[1]

Current roster

As of July 7, 2010.

Goaltenders
#	Player	Catches	Place of birth
30	Jaroslav Janus	L	Prešov, Slovakia
34	Dustin Tokarski	L	Watson, Saskatchewan

Defencemen
#	Player	Shoots	Place of birth
3	Nick St. Pierre	L	Saint-Étienne, Quebec
4	Kevin Quick	L	Buffalo, New York
6	Ty Wishart	L	Comox, British Columbia
16	Zach Tarkir	R	Fresno, California
21	Matt Lashoff	L	East Greenbush, New York
22	Scott Jackson	L	Salmon Arm, British Columbia
44	Vladimir Mihalik	L	Prešov, Slovakia

Forwards
#	Player	Pos.	Shoots	Place of birth
9	Blair Jones	C	R	Craik, Saskatchewan
11	Mark Parrish	RW	R	Bloomington, Minnesota
12	Paul Szczechura	C	R	Brantford, Ontario
13	Mitch Fadden	C	L	Victoria, British Columbia
14	Juraj Simek	LW	L	Prešov, Slovakia
17	Matt Fornataro	C	R	Calgary, Alberta
18	Chris Lawrence	RW	R	Toronto, Ontario
19	Justin Keller	LW	L	Nelson, British Columbia
20	Dana Tyrell	C	L	Airdrie, Alberta
24	Tim Marks	F	L	Brownville, New York
25	Adam Hall	RW	R	Kalamazoo, Michigan
29	Mitch Fritz	LW	L	Osoyoos, British Columbia

Team records

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