AHL Milwaukee Admirals

A Beech-y keen week

December 5, 2005 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Milwaukee Admirals News Release


OVERALL...The Admirals (13-6-1-1) enter this week's action in third place in the West Division, three points behind the Peoria Rivermen and eight points behind the first-place Houston Aeros. The Admirals have played the fewest games (21) in the West Division, with one game in hand on the Rivermen and five games in hand with the Aeros. Milwaukee has picked up at least a point in 15 out of their last 18 games and finished the month of November with 10 wins, tying the club record for wins in that month.

LAST WEEK...Milwaukee picked up five out of a possible eight points in four games last week. On Wednesday night the Ads topped the Peoria Rivermen 4-2 at the Bradley Center on the strengths of a hat trick by center Kris Beech. The Admirals traveled to Chicago on Friday night and took a 3-1 win decision over the Wolves at the All-State Arena. Darren Haydar led the way with a pair of goals, while Beech pitched in with two assists. Milwaukee suffered a tough loss on Saturday night when Jiri Hudler scored with just 20 seconds left in OT to vault Grand Rapids past the Admirals. The Ads finished up on Sunday with their third game in three nights, falling 5-1 to Peoria. Beech finished the week with seven points (3g-4a) in four games.

VS. IOWA...Milwaukee and Iowa square off for the fourth time this season on Tuesday night in Iowa. The Ads are 2-0-0-1 versus the Stars thus far this year, falling 3-2 in a shoot-out on Oct. 21 at Iowa before winning the last two games: 6-0 on November 8 in Des Moines and 6-3 at the Bradley Center on November 11. Iowa's Head Coach, Dave Allison, was the Admirals bench boss for two seasons in 2000-01 and 2001-02. Admirals Coach Claude Noel was an assistant for Allison during those seasons.

VS. PEORIA...The Admirals travel to Peoria on Saturday night for their third game of the season with the Rivermen. The two teams split their first two games, with the home team winning each time. Milwaukee and Peoria have quite a history with each other dating back to their days in the International Hockey League before the Rivermen switched to the ECHL back in 1996-97. The Admirals season was ended by Peoria in the Turner Cup Playoffs three times in a ten year span back from 1986-1996. The Rivermen, primary affiliate of the St. Louis Blues, played last season in Worcester as the IceCats before moving to Illinois.

VS. GRAND RAPIDS...On Friday night Grand Rapids visits the Bradley Center for the first time this season. The Ads and Griffins have squared off twice thus far this season with Grand Rapids winning both contests, the first by a 6-3 score on opening night and the second last Saturday's 5-4 OT win. In 68 lifetime meetings between the two clubs, the Admirals have a 24-32-8-4 mark, including a 16-12-5-2 record at the Bradley Center.

UP COMING PROMOTIONS...The Admirals promotional schedule begins to kick into high gear, starting with this Friday's contest versus Grand Rapids. At that game the first 5,000 fans will receive an ice scrapper courtesy of the Milwaukee Brewers. Friday, December 16th is US Cellular Teddy Bear Toss night where any fan who brings in a toy for donation to Toys-for-Tots will receive a discount voucher good for a future game. Also, the 16th is "White Out" night at the BC, where the first 7,500 fans will receive a white Admirals t-shirt, courtesy of Robert W. Baird and ESPN Radio. Sunday, December 18th is US Bank Piggy Bank Day. The first 3,500 fans 14 and under will receive a Piggy Bank from US Bank. The 18th is also a Foley and Lardner Family Day's Game where families can get four $15 tickets, four hot dogs, and four small drinks for just $34 and fans will also have the opportunity to skate on the Bradley Center ice after the conclusion of the game.

FOR THE FIRST TIME... Saturday night's overtime loss for the Admirals was the first time this season that the team has had a game decided in the extra period. While Milwaukee had gone into OT three previous times, all three of those games were decided in a shoot-out, with the Ads posting a 2-1 record in those contests. The last time the Admirals lost a regular season game in overtime was March 23 of last year, also against Grand Rapids.

MAKING THE LEAP... Two Admirals Blueliners received their first promotions to the NHL last weekend. Milwaukee captain Greg Zanon didn't arrive in Nashville until two hours before the game on Thursday night, but showed no signs of jetlag, picking up his first NHL point with an assist on the game-winning goal and registering six penalty minutes in 14:18 of ice time to go along with a +1 rating. Fellow defenseman Kevin Klein got his call-up on Saturday night and played in his inaugural game versus the Philadelphia Flyers, logging 13:56 of ice time in the Preds 4-3 shoot-out win. The visit was short lived, however, as both players were reassigned to Milwaukee on Sunday.

A DAY AT THE BEECH... Admirals center Kris Beech registered the team's first hat trick of the season in Milwaukee's 4-2 win over Peoria on Wednesday night at the Bradley Center. After notching a power-play goal in the first period, Beech lit the lamp twice in the final stanza, including the game winner on a short-handed tally at the 12:18 mark. The Salmon Arm, BC native tops the Ads roster with 18 points (10g-8a) on the year. It was the first hat trick by an Admirals player in the regular season since Simon Gamache had three red-lighters on December 19, 2003 versus the Wolves.

HOME SWEET HOME... The Bradley Center has been a safe haven for the Ads thus far this season. After dropping their first game of the season at home, the Admirals have won seven straight contests at the BC, outscoring their opponents 31-12 during that span. It is the first time the team has won seven in a row in Milwaukee since October 18 to November 29, 1995. The team record for consecutive wins at home is ten.

WESTWARD HO... The Admirals have experienced quite a bit of success this season against opponents from their own division. The team has amassed a 12-3-0-1 mark versus other squads from the West, outscoring those teams 55-29. Milwaukee has been particularly effective at home with a perfect 6-0 mark versus West Division teams and outscoring them 28-11. The Ads have not been as successful versus the North Division, however, registering a 1-3-1 mark versus teams from the North.

OVER THE AIR AND ON THE WEB... The Admirals have a new flagship radio station this season in Milwaukee's ESPN Radio 1510 AM (days)/1290 AM (nights). Aaron Sims will call all of the hard-hitting end-to-end action. Sims comes to the Admirals after calling play-by-play for Wisconsin Badger Hockey on Wisconsin Public Television. In addition, the team has a one-hour hockey magazine dubbed "Milwaukee Admirals Center Ice" that airs every Tuesday from 6-7 pm on ESPN Radio. Fans can watch all Admirals games, home and on the road, live on the internet via B2 Networks. Simply go the Admirals website at www.milwaukeeadmirals.com and click on the B2 logo.

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