AHL Norfolk Admirals

Bears Maul Admirals 7-1

December 27, 2009 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Norfolk Admirals News Release


HERSHEY, Pa. - Veteran forward Mark Parrish extended his point streak to six games, but his Norfolk Admirals (15-17-1-0) fell to the Hershey Bears (23-8-0-2) 7-1 on Sunday evening at the Giant Center. The Admirals will look for revenge on Tuesday night as they host the Bears at Norfolk Scope Arena.

The Bears took a 1-0 lead on a Keith Aucoin penalty shot goal at 10:48 of the first period. Aucoin was hooked on a partial breakaway, resulting in the penalty shot. The right-shot forward deked to the backhand before sliding a forehand shot around the outstretched left leg of Norfolk netminder Dustin Tokarski and into the net.

Hershey seized control of the game with three goals in a five-minute span of the second period. Aucoin doubled the Hershey lead 5:13 into the second stanza. Alexandre Giroux sent a pass from the left circle across the slot to Aucoin at the bottom of the right circle. Aucoin re-directed the pass into the net around the left leg of Tokarski.

The Bears took a 3-0 lead just over three minutes later. Patrick Wellar emerged from the left circle and sent a backhand shot from the slot past the right leg of Tokarski at 8:17. Greg Amadio made it 4-0 Bears at 10:27 when his shot from the right half wall went through a screen and into the net.

Norfolk got on the board late in the second stanza with Mark Parrish's eighth goal of the season. Parrish sped into the attacking zone along the right wing and swooped behind the net. He emerged on the opposite side of the net and sent a wraparound shot through the legs of Hershey goaltender Braden Holtby at 18:55.

However, that would be the only Norfolk goal in the game. Bryan Helmer re-established the four-goal Hershey lead with a power play tally at 3:49 of the third period. Francois Bouchard made it 6-1 Hershey at 13:30 and Boyd Kane closed out scoring at 17:45 for a 7-1 final score.

Dustin Tokarski (35 shots, 28 saves) took the loss. Braden Holtby (29 shots, 28 saves) picked up the win.

Norfolk was 0-4 on the power play. Hershey was 1-3.

The Admirals and Bears will meet once again on Tuesday night at Scope. The puck drops at 7:15 p.m.

Tuesday's game will be another Family Fun Pack Night and Student Rush Night. Family Fun Packs include four discounted Red Level Tickets for just $48 plus four free hot dogs, four free popcorns and four free sodas. Fans get all of that for just $48 - that's a savings of $37!

Student Rush Nights, brought to you by Pit Bull Energy Drink and Baxter's Sports Lounge, provide $8 White Level Tickets (normally $12) for high school and college students with a valid current high school or college ID. In addition, when you buy a Student Rush Night Ticket, you get a buy-one, get-one free offer for the next Student Rush Night. On top of that, you get discounted food at Baxter's Sports Lounge (located right across the street from Scope) on the day of the game.

Admirals Family Fun Packs are available at the Scope Box Office, all Ticketmaster Outlets, charge-by-phone at 1-800-745-3000 or online at Ticketmaster.com. Student Rush Night Tickets are available ONLY at the Scope Box Office after 2:00 p.m. on the day of the game.

For a complete schedule and details of the promotions, please visit norfolkadmirals.com or call (757) 640-1212.

Three Stars:

1. Keith Aucoin - HER

2. Patrick Wellar - HER

3. Greg Amadio - HER

*NOTES*... Mark Parrish has points in six straight games (5G, 4A) and goals in four of his last six games... Brandon Bochenski's point and assist streak ended at six games (3G, 7A)... Bochenski remains one goal shy of tying Casey Hankinson's AHL Admirals record of 76 career goals... Defenseman Lukas Krajicek registered his first point as an Admiral on Parrish's second period goal. It was his first American Hockey League point since an assist on April 16, 2005 with the San Antonio Rampage at Grand Rapids... Keith Aucoin's first period penalty shot goal was just the fourth penalty shot goal allowed on 14 attempts in the ten-season history of the AHL Admirals... Goaltender Shane Connelly served as tonight's backup goaltender after being signed to a Professional Tryout Contract. Goaltender Riku Helenius was recalled by the Tampa Bay Lightning yesterday... Defenseman Mike Lundin was also recalled to Tampa Bay yesterday and scored his first career NHL goal in the Lightning's 4-3 victory over the Atlanta Thrashers last night... Scratches: D Kevin Quick, F Dana Tyrell... Attendance: 10,601.

Check out the Norfolk Admirals Statistics



American Hockey League Stories from December 27, 2009


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