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AHL Norfolk Admirals

Admirals Host Three Games This Week

January 13, 2003 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Norfolk Admirals News Release


VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – The Admirals won two of three matches last week, including their first home win in eight tries and a shutout at Philadelphia to give them five consecutive road victories. On January 8, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins knocked off the Blue and Gold 3-1 in their last meeting until April 4. Norfolk swept their season series against Bridgeport with a 3-1 win on January 10 at Scope, ending a seven-game home winless streak (0-6-1-0). Steve Passmore recorded his first shutout of the year as the Admirals outlasted Philadelphia 1-0 on January 12.

The Syracuse Crunch (Columbus Blue Jackets) come to Scope for a pair of games on Wednesday, January 15 at 7:15 p.m. and again on Friday, January 17 at 7:30 p.m. On Saturday, January 18, the Blue and Gold face off against the Phantoms (Philadelphia Flyers) at 7:30 p.m.

Norfolk remains in first place in the South Division with 53 points (24-13-2-3). Hershey is second (21-12-7-1, 50 points) followed by Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (17-18-2-3, 39 points) and Philadelphia (17-17-1-3, 38 points).

THE WEEK AHEAD

Wednesday, January 15...Norfolk vs. Syracuse Crunch...7:15 p.m.

Friday, January 17...Norfolk vs. Syracuse Crunch...7:30 p.m.

Norfolk swept their first two meetings, winning in Syracuse 6-3 on December 31 and 3-0 on January 3. The Crunch have scored the fewest goals of any AHL club (89) and only Cleveland (154) and Cincinnati (133) have given up more goals in the Western Conference than Syracuse's 132 goals allowed. Columbus ' farm team is ranked 26th in the League on the power play (11.57) and 10th in shorthanded situations (84.80). David Ling sits atop the Crunch's scoring list with 6+26=32 points. His 26 helpers place him among the League leaders in that category. Ling also has the most penalty minutes on his squad (123 PIM) and the lowest plus/minus rating (minus-18). Mathieu Darche leads Syracuse with 15 goals and six power play goals. Radim Bicanek is the highest scoring defenseman on the Crunch with 3+10=13 points. With an even rating, Trevor Ettinger is the only skater on the team who is not on the negative side. The cage duties are split between Pascal Leclaire (5-13-2, 3.65 GAA, .885 spct.) and Karl Goehring (6-10-1, 2.44 GAA, .919 spct.). Goehring is second in the League with four shutouts (Portland's Maxim Ouelett - 5) and 14th in goals against average.

Sunday, January 12...Norfolk @ Philadelphia Phantoms...5:05 p.m.

This marks only the second meeting at Scope between the teams in 2002-03.

The Blue and Gold won their first home game 3-2 in overtime on November 7, and hold a 4-1 edge in the 10-game season series thus far. Philadelphia ranks 24th among AHL clubs in goals for per game (91, 2.39) and ninth in goals against per game (98, 2.58). Averaging 27.3 penalty minutes per game, the Phantoms trail only Utah (29.4) and Hartford (29.4). Mark Grieg (17+21=38) and Peter White (15+23=38) have the most points on the Phantoms' roster, and are both among the League leaders in points and power play tallies (eight each). John Slaney is third on the club with 26 points (three goals, 23 assists). He is second among AHL blueliners in assists, and tied with Manchester's Joe Corvo for sixth in scoring. Peter Vandermeer 's 162 PIM lead the Phantoms and place him third overall in the League in PIM (Utah's John Erskine - 219, Rochester's Sean McMorrow, 186). Between the pipes, Antero Niittymaki is 9-11-0 with a 2.71 GAA and .902 spct. in 21 games while Neil Little is 7-8-1 with a 2.20 GAA and .915 spct. Little ranks fifth among AHL goalies in GAA.

UPCOMING PROMOTIONS

Wednesday, January 15 (Syracuse Crunch)

* Player portrait giveaway featuring D Marty Wilford to the first 3,000 fans, courtesy of the Tobacco Use Control Project (TUCP) (Player portrait #4 of eight).

* Northrop Grumman Newport News Shipbuilding Night - employees of NNS who show proper ID at the Scope Box Office or any TicketMaster outlet receive $2.00 off any ticket purchased.

Friday, January 17 (Syracuse Crunch)

* Rally Towel giveaway to the first 2,000 fans, courtesy of ACS Systems and Engineering. Saturday, January 18 (Philadelphia Phantoms)

* Bahamas Trip Giveaway - one lucky fan will win an all-expense paid trip for two to the Bahamas, courtesy of TradeStaff & Company.

Wednesday, January 22 (Grand Rapids Griffins)

* NASCAR Night - one lucky fan will win a trip to the Richard Petty Driving Experience in Richmond, plus, there will be interactive NASCAR displays on the concourse at Scope.

Friday, January 24 (Philadelphia Phantoms)

* Admirals Fight Illiteracy Night - as the Admirals recognize National Reading Month, fans are asked to bring gently used books to the game for donation in bins by the doors.

* AJ Gator's pre-game party at the 244 Granby Street location in downtown Norfolk. Tickets are available through the Scope Box Office and all TicketMaster outlets.

Friday, January 31 (Chicago Wolves)

* Bobblehead Giveaway - the first 4,000 fans through the gates receive a Tyler Arnason bobblehead, courtesy of TradeStaff & Company.

TEAM NOTEBOOK

* With a 1-0 victory at Philadelphia on January 12, Norfolk extended its road winning streak to five games, tying a franchise-mark set between March 6, and March 24, 2002.

* The Admirals' 3-1 win over Bridgeport at Scope on January 10 ended a team-low seven-game home winless streak (0-6-1-0, December 6 through January 8).

* Norfolk's fourth home loss of the year against Wilkes-Barre on January 8 set a franchise record for most home losses against one opponent in a season. The previous mark was three losses to Kentucky (1-1-0-2) in 2000-01. Norfolk had not lost more than two home games in regulation to an opponent in one season.

* RW Mike Peluso has seven points over his last eight games (four goals, three assists), and had a six-game points streak from December 29 through January 10.

* G Craig Andersson is 2-0 with a 0.50 GAA and a .976 spct. since being reassigned to Norfolk on January 1.

* LW Igor Radulov's 12th tally of the year stood as the only goal of the contest when the Admirals blanked Philadelphia 1-0 on January 12. Radulov is third on the team in goals and first in game-winning goals (four). The first year pro leads all Norfolk rookies with 17 points (five assists).

* G Steve Passmore stopped all 15 shots he faced against Philadelphia on January 12 for a 1-0 shutout win. It was the third shutout for the Admirals this season, and the third Norfolk goaltender to record a shutout (Andersson, Michael Leighton).

ON THE RADIO

All games are broadcast on the Admirals' Flagship Station, WBVA 1450-AM "The Buzz". The games are also cybercast on the World Wide Web at SportsJuice.com. Go to www.SportsJuice.com, or click on the link at www.norfolkadmirals.com. Pre-game broadcasts begin 20 minutes prior to game starting time.

The Admirals Radio Show will air Thursday, January 16 from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m., when Pete Michaud welcomes special guests as he broadcasts live from the Azalea Inn/Time Out Sports Bar & Grill, 2344 E. Little Creek Road in Norfolk.

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets for all remaining contests on the Admirals' home schedule are available at the Scope Box Office, all TicketMaster outlets, charge-by-phone at (757) 671-8100 and online at www.ticketmaster.com. Family Four Packs and AJ Gator's pre-game party packages are available at Scope's Box Office and all TicketMaster outlets. Flex Vouchers and Group Tickets are available through the Admirals' office. For more information, contact the Admirals at (757) 363-1900 or visit the team's website at www.norfolkadmirals.com.

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