Sports stats

AHL Norfolk Admirals

Norfolk Captures Second South Division Title

April 7, 2003 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Norfolk Admirals News Release


VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – The Blue and Gold concluded the 2002-2003 campaign with 91 points (37-26-12-5) and their second consecutive South Division Championship. On Wednesday, April 2, the Admirals trailed Hershey 4-2 in the opening frame, but scored five unanswered goals, including three in the first period, for a 7-4 comeback victory over the Bears. Norfolk dropped a 2-0 decision to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Friday, April 4, then tied the Pens 1-1 the following night. The team's regular season came to a close with a 2-0 loss at Hershey on Sunday, April 6.

The Admirals will face the San Antonio Rampage (Florida Panthers) in a best-of-five Conference Quarterfinals series beginning with Games One and Two Thursday, April 10 at 7:15 p.m. and Friday, April 11 at 7:30 p.m. at Norfolk Scope. The Rampage will host Game Three on Sunday, April 13 at 3:00 p.m., and Game Four (if necessary) on Tuesday, April 15 at 8:00 p.m. at the SBC Center. If necessary, Game Five will take place at Norfolk Scope on Friday, April 18 at 7:30 p.m. (All times are Eastern).

THE WEEK AHEAD

Thursday, April 10...Norfolk vs. San Antonio Rampage...7:15 p.m.

Friday, April 11... Norfolk vs. San Antonio Rampage...7:30 p.m.

Sunday, April 13... Norfolk @ San Antonio Rampage...3:00 p.m.

San Antonio finished the regular season with 87 points (36-29-11-4), placing them third in the West Division. The Rampage won three of the four regular season match ups between the clubs, including a 4-3 overtime victory at Scope the last time they met (February 12). The Admirals have been outscored 15-10 in the series. Igor Radulov (3+0), Ajay Baines (2+1), Casey Hankinson (2+1) and Kent Huskins (0+3) each have three points against the Rampage this year. Jeff Helperl and Shawn Thornton both have 19 PIM in the four games. San Antonio was out-shot by its opponents 2,636-2,446, though the squad out-scored its foes 235-226. The Rampage's 22 road losses (20 regulation, two overtime losses) are the most of any Western Conference playoff team. The squad's power play unit ranked 19th (15.82) in the AHL, and allowed 18th shorthanded goals during the season, the second most in the League (Rochester - 21). San Antonio's penalty killers ranked 13th (84.39, and scored 19 shorthanded tallies, tying the team for most in the AHL (Chicago, Syracuse). Jeff Toms topped the Rampage in goals (30), points (63, 33 assists), power play tallies (14) and game-winning goals (seven). Jim Campbell finished third in scoring on the team with 16+37=53 points, and his 37 helpers were most on the Panthers' affiliate. Eric Beaudoin's plus-16 rating was the club's highest rating, while Toms' minus-12 was its lowest. Rocky Thompson had 275 PIM to lead San Antonio and place him among the League leaders in penalty minutes. Between the pipes are Chris Mason (50 GPI, 25-18-6, 2.51 GAA, .921 spct.) and Simon Lajeunesse (2 GPI, 0-1-0, 4.60 GAA, .824 spct. - San Antonio; 21 GPI, 7-8-1, 3.04 GAA, .891 spct. - total). Mason finished the season 14th in GAA, fourth in wins and fifth in minutes played (2,914) among all AHL goaltenders.

TEAM NOTEBOOK

* The Blue and Gold's 201 goals on the season marked the third consecutive time they tallied at least 200 goals since joining the AHL in ‘00-'01 ('00-' 01, 241 goals, ‘01'-'02, 222 goals). Though Norfolk scored the fewest goals of its AHL existence, the team also allowed the fewest goals in its three-year history (187).

* G Craig Andersson finished first in the League in goals against average (1.94).

* D Marty Wilford (13+35=48 points) finished tied with Houston's Travis Roche (14+34=48 points) for fifth in scoring among AHL blue liners. Wilford was fourth on the Admirals' scoring list, and first on the team with a plus-15 rating.

* C Brett McLean set a new team record with 61 points (23+38) on the season. The mark was previously held by Tyler Arnason in 2001-02 (56 points). McLean's 61 points were the most in his pro career.

* F Casey Hankinson finished the year with a career-high 55 points (27 goals, 28 assists).

* RW Shawn Thornton posted a career-high 11 goals during the season. He also led the Blue and Gold in penalty minutes for the second straight year (213 PIM).

* Defensemen Johnathan Aitken, Kent Huskins and Marty Wilford were the only Admirals to appear in all 80 games this season.

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.

TICKET INFORMATION

Playoff tickets are now on sale for Games One and Two at the Scope Box Office, all TicketMaster outlets, charge-by-phone at (757) 671-8100 and online at www.ticketmaster.com. Individual playoff ticket prices are $16.75 (Gold level), $12.75 (Blue level) and $9.75 (White level). Playoff Package holders use tickets A and B for Games One and Two, respectively.

2003-2004 Season Tickets are also on sale now through the Admirals' office. For more information, contact the Admirals at (757) 363-1900 or visit the team's website at www.norfolkadmirals.com.

Check out the Norfolk Admirals Statistics



American Hockey League Stories from April 7, 2003


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.

Other Recent Norfolk Admirals Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central