AHL Norfolk Admirals

Admirals Announce Multi-Year Affiliation Agreement with Tampa Bay Lightning

Published on March 29, 2007 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Norfolk Admirals News Release


NORFOLK, VA - Today, Norfolk Admirals President Ken Young announced that the Admirals have entered into a multi-year affiliation agreement with the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League. The Admirals will serve as the Lightning's primary minor league affiliate starting with the 2007-08 season. Young, Admirals Vice President Mark Bernard, Lightning Executive Vice President & General Manager Jay Feaster and Lightning Assistant General Manager Claude Loiselle made the announcement at a 2 p.m. news conference today at the Norfolk Scope Arena.

The Lightning organization will provide the Admirals with the full roster of players, and current Springfield Falcons head coach Steve Stirling and assistant coach Darren Rumble remain under contract to the Lightning organization and will take over the coaching duties in Norfolk next season.

"I could not be happier to have the Admirals affiliated with the Tampa Bay Lightning," said Young. "We are thrilled to be able to partner with such a successful and first-class organization for the next several years. Personally, I have watched the Lightning from their inception and through winning the Stanley Cup. I am confident that our fans in Hampton Roads will continue to see winning hockey at the highest level."

"We are very excited by the opportunity to partner with such an outstanding organization as Norfolk and such a committed owner in Ken Young," Feaster said. "Throughout our discussions and negotiations Ken's passion for and commitment to his team, the organization and the wonderful fans of the Admirals has been abundantly evident and we look forward to working with him for a very long time."

The 2004 Stanley Cup Champion Tampa Bay Lightning have been affiliated with several other organizations during the past 15 seasons, including Atlanta of the IHL (1992-96), Adirondack of the AHL (1996-98), Cleveland of the IHL (1998-99), Detroit of the IHL (1999-2001), Springfield of the AHL (2001-03, 2004-07), Hershey of the AHL (2003-04) and Hamilton of the AHL (2003-04). Tampa Bay has also had secondary affiliations with Pensacola, Johnstown, Toledo, Chesapeake, Nashville and Knoxville of the ECHL.

Hampton Roads has been home to Admirals hockey since 1989. Prior to joining the AHL, the Admirals were the East Coast Hockey League's Hampton Roads Admirals from 1989 to 2000, winning three championships. The team entered the AHL in 2000-01 and has been the top development team of the Chicago Blackhawks for seven seasons, winning two division titles. This season, the Admirals are making a run at the East Division title and have already clinched a spot in the 2007 Calder Cup Playoffs. This season marks the 18th consecutive campaign that the Admirals have made the playoffs, as they have never missed the post-season.

Check out the Norfolk Admirals Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



American Hockey League Stories from March 29, 2007


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central