AHL Milwaukee Admirals

Admirals continue hot play

Published on December 13, 2004 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Milwaukee Admirals News Release


OVERALL... The Admirals (16-4-2-1) enter this week's action tied with the Grand Rapids Griffins (17-7-1-0) for first place in the AHL's West Division. The Chicago Wolves (15-8-2-1) are just two points back in third place.

AFTER 23...With 35 points after 23 games the Ads are off to the second best start in franchise history. During the 1988-89 season, Rick Ley's Admirals were 18-4-1 for 37 points (.804) after 23 contests. The Admirals are currently 16-4-2-1 (.761) compared to a 12-6-3-2 (.630) mark after 23 games last season. The Ads were 4-3-1 after eight home games in 2003-04 compared to 6-2 this season. After 15 road games, last year's Admirals had a 8-3-2-2 record for 20 points (.667), while this season's Admirals have a 10-2-2-1 mark for 23 points (.766).

THIS WEEK'S ACTION... VS. SAN ANTONIO...The Ads are 2-0-0-1 vs. the Rampage in 2004-05, including 1-0 at the BC. Milwaukee is 7-1-0-1 in the last nine versus San Antonio, 11-2-1-1 in the last 15 games overall, including 4-1 in the last five at the Bradley Center.

VS. CHICAGO...Milwaukee has picked up seven of eight points (3-0-1-0) vs. the Wolves this season and all four points in Milwaukee. The Admirals are 4-0-1 in the last five, 9-4-1 in the last 14 overall and 7-2 in the last nine Bradley Center meetings.

@UTAH..The Admirals are 4-0 against the Grizzles, including 3-0 at the E Center outscoring the Grizzlies, 14-6 overall. The Ads have won nine of the last 10 overall and five straight in Utah.

LAST WEEKEND'S ACTION...Philadelphia ended the Admirals four-game road winning streak with a 5-1 victory on Sunday afternoon, scoring the first four goals of the game. Wyatt Smith scored the lone tally for the Admirals. Dan Hamhuis scored three points (1g-2a) and Darren Haydar added a pair of assists leading the Admirals past the Crunch, 3-2, in Syracuse on Saturday night. Seamus Kotyk making his first start since November 24th stopped 24 of 26 Crunch shots en route to his fifth victory of the season. On Friday night, the Admirals posted a 4-1 victory in Rochester to sweep the season series vs. the Amerks. Hamhuis had two points (1g-1a), including the game-winner. Libor Pivko, Darren Haydar and Vernon Fiddler all scored for the Ads. Brian Finley stopped 30 of 31 shots.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN...The finished a stretch of 10 road games since November 19th with an impressive 7-2-1 mark. The Admirals under Claude Noel have amassed an impressive 75 of a possible 110 points (.681) in 55 games on foreign ice, including a 10-2-2-1 (.766) mark this season. The Ads finished the 2003-04 season with a better road winning percentage at .650 (23-11-3-3) than on home ice at .625 (23-13-4-0).

WHEN YOU'RE HOT, YOU'RE HOT...Defenseman Dan Hamhuis has scored in three of the last four games picking up 6 points (2g-4a), including a game-winning goal and a game winning assist. His recent scoring surge has jettisoned him to 11th among AHL defensemen with 16 points (4g-12a).

STILL WARM...Simon Gamache has posted 18 (5g-13a) points in his last 13 contests, giving him 29 on the year and ranking him seventh in the AHL. Andrew Hutchinson has 11 points (2g-9a) over the past 12 games and ranks seventh among AHL defensemen in scoring. Vern Fiddler has 14 points (6g-8a) and Wyatt Smith 12 points (7g-5a) over their last 12 outings.

LEADERS AT A GLANCE...Gamache tops the Ads roster in goals (11), assists (18), points (29), and power play goals (8). Wyatt Smith ranks second with 19 points and nine goals. Hutchinson leads Milwaukee blueliners with 14 assists. Hamhuis and Fiddler lead the Ads with a +10 plus/minus rating.

BON VOYAGE...Defenseman Ryan Suter will join the U.S. National Junior Team that will play in the 2005 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championships. The tournament features the top under-20 talent from 10 nations and will run from December 25, 2004 to January 4, 2005. Suter will be skating in his third World Junior competition. He was a featured member of the blue-line corps for last year's team, which captured the gold medal. The Madison, WI native has four assists in his last four games and ranks among AHL rookie leaders in plus/minus.

SPECIAL TEAMS...The Admirals now rank fourth in the AHL completing 20.1% (29 of 144) of their power play chances. Gamache is tied for second in the AHL with eight power play goals, while Hamhuis is third among AHL blueliners with four. The Ads penalty killers have successfully disposed of 90.6% (125 of 138) of their opponents' chances, including a league leading 73 of 78 (90.1%) on the road. The Ads are tied for second among AHL teams with six shorthanded goals, including a pair by Libor Pivko.

THE WEEK AHEAD

HOME

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 15TH SAN ANTONIO RAMPAGE 7:00 P.M.

FRIDAY DECEMBER 17TH CHICAGO WOLVES 7:00 P.M.

ROAD

SATURDAY DECEMBER 18TH UTAH GRIZZLIES 8:05 P.M.

MONDAY DECEMBER 20TH UTAH GRIZZLIES 8:05 P.M.

****Hear all of the Admirals' games on Joy1340 (1340 am) and on the Internet at www.sportsjuice.com****

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American Hockey League Stories from December 13, 2004


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