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ECHL Norfolk Admirals

Norfolk Admirals Weekly

February 16, 2016 - ECHL (ECHL)
Norfolk Admirals News Release


NORFOLK, Va. - The Norfolk Admirals suffered back-to-back losses this past weekend against two Eastern Conference opponents.

On Friday, the Admirals hosted the Reading Royals and lost a two-goal lead, ending regulation in a 4-2 loss. Norfolk scored first at 15:32 of the opening period. Alexis Loiseau gathered up a broken pass from Gabriel Verpaelst behind the Reading net. Attempting to feed it back into the crease, the puck ricocheted off a defenseman's skate and deflected in behind Reading's netminder, Connor Knapp.

Whitney, who assisted on both of Friday's goals, sent a pass from the right circle to Dean Ouellet, who out-waited Connor Knapp and wristed a shot between the goalie's pads for a 2-0 lead. Admirals scoring would end there.

At 10:26 of the second period, the Royals attack began. Nikita Kashirsky's shot from the right boards was deflected by Norfolk goalie, Ty Rimmer. Jesper Peterson was there to clean up, sending a laser from the left circle that hit the top shelf and cut Norfolk's lead in half. Later, Reading converted on the man advantage at 17:28 of the second period knotting the game at 2 goals apiece. Robbie Czarnik sent a pass over the blue line to Justin Crandall, whose one-timer from the top of the left ring sailed past Rimmer.

Tied going into the third, the Royals took the lead when Brandon Alderson scored just three seconds after the Admirals killed Cole Martin's slashing penalty. Reading sealed Norfolk's fate at 11:23 of the third when Kashirsky's point-blank shot lifted past Rimmer's glove side.

Immediately following Friday's game, the Admirals loaded the bus and traveled to Greenville, SC for a Saturday night matchup against the Swamp Rabbits at Bon Secours Wellness Center. On their way to the game, the Admirals dropped off Norfolk center, Michael Pelech, for a one-game loan to the San Diego Gulls of the AHL who played the Charlotte Checkers that day. Pelech, took three shots on goal and went scoreless in a 5-4 Gulls victory in Charlotte, NC.

In Greenville, Admirals forward, Steven Whitney, continued hot streak, netting his 12th and 13th goals of the season. Whitney's first goal came after he received a rocketed pass from Jannick Asselin who was along the left boards. He tipped in the puck at 8:56 of the first period, putting the Admirals up, 1-0. Between Whitney's goals, Braden Christoffer sent a backhander in past Greenville goalie, Mackenzie Skapski. Christoffer's power-play goal edged the Admirals up by two at 16:29 in the opening frame. However, with just 44 seconds remaining in the first, Vinny Saponari scored for Greenville from the high slot, cutting the Admirals lead in half at the conclusion of the first period.

Before Whitney scored his second goal, the Swamp Rabbits tied things up at 4:09 in the second period. Jordan Knackstedt's wrister from the top of the right circle evaded Rimmer's glove side and evened the score. At 5:35 of the middle frame, Wes Cunningham cut through Greenville's zone and passed the puck to Whitney, whose wrister scorched past Skapski giving Norfolk the 3-2 lead.

Into the third, Saponari's pass in the Norfolk's zone found wide-open Kodie Curran in the right circle during a Greenville power play. Curran's one-timer knotted the score, 3-3, at 6:19 in the final period. Regulation would end with this score, taking the game to overtime.

In the extra skate, Scott Fleming shot and collected his own rebound subsequently scoring at 3:04 to tilt the Swamp Rabbits to a 4-3 win over Norfolk.

The Admirals are back at Scope Arena this Wednesday night for the first of three home matchups against the Florida Everblades at 7:15 p.m.

ON THE RADIO/INTERNET

All regular-season games will air live on 1650 AM WHKT "The Answer" and online at 1650theanswer.com. ECHL.TV will also carry online video of every Admirals game on a pay-per-view or season-pass basis. Fans can log in to watch, listen or get more information about ECHL.TV's online audio and video features at ECHL.TV. Also, Buffalo Wild Wings on Monticello Avenue in Norfolk and Laskin Road in Virginia Beach will show Norfolk Admirals away games during the 2015-16 season.

STANDINGS UPDATE

At 20-27-2-1 (43 points), the Admirals are 5th in the East Division and are 13th place in the Eastern Conference. Below are the current ECHL Eastern Conference standings.

Rank   Team GP W L OTL SL PTS PCT

1 * Florida Everblades 48 33 14 0 1 67 0.698

2 * Manchester Monarchs 49 30 14 1 4 65 0.663

3 * Toledo Walleye 47 29 13 2 3 63 0.67

4   Adirondack Thunder 47 28 15 2 2 60 0.638

5   South Carolina Stingrays 49 27 46 4 2 60 0.612

6   Atlanta Gladiators 49 26 18 3 2 57 0.582

7   Reading Royals 50 24 19 4 3 55 0.55

8   Elmira Jackals 50 25 22 2 1 53 0.53

9   Greenville Swamp Rabbits 48 23 19 6 0 52 0.542

10   Orlando Solar Bears 47 22 19 2 4 50 0.532

11   Wheeling Nailers 47 21 21 2 3 47 0.5

12   Kalamazoo Wings 48 20 23 4 1 45 0.469

13   Norfolk Admirals 50 20 27 2 1 43 0.43

14   Brampton Beast 48 15 23 6 4 40 0.417

    *Division Leader              

Eight teams in each conference shall qualify for the 2016 Kelly Cup Playoffs. Following the conclusion of each team's 72-game regular season, the three division winners in each conference will be seeded 1-3 (in order of regular-season points), and the next five best teams (in order of regular-season points) will be seeded 4-8.

THE ADMIRALS' WEEK AHEAD

Wed., Feb. 17...vs Florida Everblades (Carolina Hurricanes)...7:15 p.m.

Fri., Feb 19 ... vs. Florida Everblades (Carolina Hurricanes) ... 7:30 p.m.

Sat., Feb. 20 ... vs. Florida Everblades (Carolina Hurricanes) ... 7:15 p.m.

ADMIRALS SPOTLIGHT

-   Michael Pelech received his first callup to the AHL this season on a one-game loan to the San Diego Gulls.

-   Steven Whitney has scored 4 points (2g, 2a) in his last two games.

ADMIRALS LOG

A flurry of transactions since the beginning of February has seen the recall of Alexandre Ranger to the St. John's Ice Caps, the trade of Mike Ratchuk to the Utah Grizzlies, and the acquisition and subsequent trade of Corey Fienhage to the Atlanta Gladiators. Additionally, the Norfolk Admirals welcomed Wes Cunningham and Cole Martin , both defensemen, and Braden Christoffer, a rookie forward, to the Admirals lineup.

Defenseman Gabriel Verpaelst continues to be an offensive threat along the blueline. The 6-foot, 191-pounder potted has 5 points (1g, 4a) in 4 games this February and has only gone without a point in 2 of his last 13 games, accruing 18 points (4g, 14a) in that span. He is currently enjoying a 4-game point streak and scored two game-winners in overtime during the month of January.

Alexis Loiseau (10-16&pts) and Scott Allen (12-15'pts) lead Admirals rookies in scoring and are in the top 20 rookies in the league. They combine for 5 points (2g, 3a) in the month of February and Scott Allen is 2nd in power-play goals among all rookies with six.

NORFOLK LEADERS

Goals:   Steven Whitney (13)

Assists:   Steven Whitney, Gabriel Verpaelst (24)

Points:   Steven Whitney (37)

Games: Jordan Hill, Gabriel Verpaelst (50)

PP Goals: Scott Allen (6)

SH Goals: Alexis Loiseau, Michael Pelech (1)

+/- Rating: Steven Whitney (10)

PIM: Samuel Noreau (139)

GAA: Nic Riopel (2.73)

Spct: Nic Riopel, Ty Rimmer (.913)

Wins: Ty Rimmer (13)

Losses:   Ty Rimmer (13)

GPl: Ty Rimmer (30)

Minutes:   Ty Rimmer (1609)

ABOUT THIS WEEKEND'S MATCHUPS

The Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday games against the Florida Everblades mark the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and final times these two teams meet. The season series will see only a single game played in Florida with the remaining three games played at home in Norfolk. Florida has enjoyed relative roster stability with 6 players having more than 45 games played, 12 players with more than 35 games, and just 29 players listed on the roster with at least one game played. Norfolk, however, has seen 47 players wear an Admirals uniform with at least 1 game played this season. In their first and only matchup this season, Norfolk fell to Florida, 6-1, on the road. Playing 6 of 9 games at home through February, these three games against the Eastern Conference and South Division leader are must-wins for Norfolk.

FLORIDA LEADERS

Goals:   Brant Harris, Matt Willows (16)

Assists:   Matt Willows (28)

Points:   Matt Willows (44)

Games: Matt Marquardt, Mark Nemec, Gabriel Desjardins (48)

PP Goals: Justin Agosta, Brant Harris, Corey Syvret, Matt Willows (3)

SH Goals: Brant Harris (2)

+/- Rating: Mark Nemec (23)

PIM: Corey Cowick (93)

GAA: Daniel Altshuller (1.58)

Spct: Daniel Altshuller (.941)

Wins: Anthony Peters (20)

Losses:   Anthony Peters (10)

GPl: Anthony Peters (33)

Minutes:   Anthony Peters (1921)

**UPCOMING EVENTS AND PROMOTIONS**

February 17 - Family 4-Pack | Student Rush Night

Family 4-pack nights allow you to bring the whole family for a fun night of hockey at Scope. For $54.00, you get 4 red-level tickets, 4 drinks, 4 hot dogs, and 4 popcorns. Student Rush Night gives current students an affordable opportunity to take a break from their studies with a $10 white-level ticket. Family 4-Packs and Student Rush tickets may be purchased at the Scope Box Office. Student Rush tickets must be purchased after 2:00 p.m. on the day of the game.

February 20 - Khedive Shrine Night | Post-game Skate

It's Shriners' Night at Scope as the children's advocacy organization takes the ice during intermission in their famous mini cars. Donations to the Shriners are welcome and be sure to take the time to learn more about Khedive Shriners and how to join them by talking to the many representatives in attendance. Plus, take the kids on the ice for autographs at our Post-Game Skate with the Admirals!

Our post-game skate is your chance to meet the Admirals, get autographs, and skate alongside the players you cheer on all season!

TICKETS

Individual tickets are on sale now at the Scope Box Office, all Ticketmaster Outlets, charge-by-phone at 1-800-745-3000, and online at ticketmaster.com. Don't miss a minute of Admirals action by purchasing your season tickets today. Stop by the Admirals' Administrative Offices at Scope, call (757) 640-1212 weekdays from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. or visit norfolkadmirals.com anytime.

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