AHL Norfolk Admirals

Rochester Sweeps Norfolk at Home

Published on December 9, 2002 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Norfolk Admirals News Release


VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – After defeating the Milwaukee Admirals 4-3 in overtime on Wednesday, December 4, the Blue and Gold dropped a pair of home contests to the Rochester Americans. Norfolk was sunk 4-1 on Friday, December 6, and gave up five unanswered goals in the third period to lose 5-2 on Saturday, December 7.

The Hershey Bears (Colorado Avalanche) return to Scope for the final two games of a seven-game homestand this week. The squads pair up on Wednesday, December 11 at 7:15 p.m. and again on Friday, December 13 at 7:30 p.m. On Sunday, December 15, the Admirals begin a four-game road swing in Texas with a 6:00 p.m. match against the San Antonio Rampage (Florida Panthers).

Norfolk remains in first place in the South Division with 36 points (16-7-1-3). Hershey is second with 32 points (13-5-5-1) with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton third (9-12-2-2, 22 points) and Philadelphia fourth (9-12-1-2, 21 points).

THE WEEK AHEAD

Wednesday, December 11...Norfolk vs. Hershey Bears...7:15 p.m.

Friday, December 13...Norfolk vs. Hershey Bears...7:30 p.m.

The Bears are undefeated in their last six games (3-0-3-0) and have just one loss in their last 10 games (5-1-4-0). Their special teams are ranked tied for sixth with Milwaukee on the power play (18.88) and second in penalty killing (88.97). Hershey has out-shot its opponents 802-681 thus far, and ranks third overall in shots taken per game (33.42). Brian Willsie is the team-leader in goals (11), power play goals (five) and points (22, 11 assists). Charlie Stephens (9+12=21 points) and Mark Freer (8+13=21 points) are tied for second on the Bears' scoring list, with Stephens also appearing in the top five among League rookie scorers. Stephens is tied with Alex Riazantsev for the best rating on Hershey at plus-6 each. Rob Voltera's 78 penalty minutes top the club in PIM. Phil Sauve has played in 19 games between the pipes, posting a 10-4-4 record, 2.27 goals against average and .918 save percentage. He ranks among the top 10 AHL netminders in GAA and shares the League lead in wins with Norfolk's Michael Leighton and three others. Completing the goaltending tandem, Peter Budaj is 3-2-1 with a 2.85 GAA and .898 spct. in seven appearances.

Sunday, December 15...Norfolk @ San Antonio Rampage...6:00 p.m.

San Antonio has a 6-1-2-0 mark on home ice this season, and is 5-0-3-2 in its last 10 games, including a current three-game winning streak since December 2. The Rampage rank 24th with the man-advantage (12.50) and their 14 power play tallies tie them with Cincinnati for the fewest in the AHL. The team's penalty killers are 18th in the League. Their 449 total penalty minutes tie them with Grand Rapids for fewest PIM in the Western Conference. Former Admiral Jim Campbell tops the club's scoring list with 4+14=18 points in 11 games. Juraj Kolnik's nine lamplighters are most on the Rampage. Mathieu Biron leads San Antonio with a plus-9 rating, while Rocky Thompson's minus-5 rating is the lowest among current team members. Thompson has also spent the most time in the penalty box of all Rampage skaters with 79 PIM. The cage duties are split between Chris Mason (12 GPI, 6-3-2, 2.39 GAA, .914 spct.) and Wade Flaherty (10 GPI, 2-5-3, 3.05 GAA, .897 spct.). Mason's 2.39 GAA places him among the League leaders in that category.

UPCOMING PROMOTIONS

Wednesday, December 11 (Hershey Bears)

* The Admirals, in conjunction with The Virginian-Pilot and 106.9 The Fox, will donate $1.00 from all individual walk up sales to The Joy Fund.

* Mouse pad giveaway - the first 2,500 fans through the gates receive an Admirals computer mouse pad, courtesy of BB&T. Friday, December 13 (Hershey Bears)

* Third Annual Toy Toss - fans are encouraged to bring new unwrapped plush toys to the game and toss them onto the ice following the Admirals' first goal. The toys will be donated to the Ronald McDonald House and the Children's Hospital of the Kings Daughters (CHKD). (If the Admirals do not score, the Toy Toss will take place after the game once the players have left the ice.)

* Player Portrait giveaway (#3 of 8) - the first 3,000 fans through the doors receive a player portrait of Igor Radulov, courtesy of the Tobacco Use Control Program (TUCP).

* 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, December 27 (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins)

* Bobblehead giveaway - the first 2,000 fans through the gates receive an Admirals bobblehead of goalie Michael Leighton, courtesy of ACS Systems and Engineering.

Saturday, December 28 (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins)

* ZOOperstars! appearance - the sports heroes-inspired personalities, the ZOOperstars!, will be at Scope for one special appearance. The ZOOperstars! include such animal characters as Whale (Wayne) Gretzky, Mackerel (Michael) Jordan, Rusty Walrus (Wallace), Clammy (Sammy) Sosa and Harry Canary (Caray).

TEAM NOTEBOOK

* After missing three games, RW Mike Peluso tallied a goal in each of his first two games back, December 6 and 7, giving him 29 points (12+17) to remain atop the Admirals' scoring list and tied for third in the League in scoring.

* Rochester's five goals scored in the third period on December 7 are the most goals ever allowed in one period in Norfolk's history.

* Prior to dropping their two contests against Rochester this past weekend (4-1 December 6, 5-2 December 7) the Admirals had not lost back-to-back games at home since February 8 and 9, 2002 versus Syracuse.

* In Norfolk's 4-3 overtime win against Milwaukee on December 4, G Michael Leighton stopped 42 of 45 shots by the Milwaukee Admirals, including 15 saves in each of the first two periods.

* LW Matt Henderson scored his third shorthanded tally of the season against Milwaukee, tying him with Worcester's Blake Evans, Hartford's Ken Gernander and Cincinnati's Brendan Yarema for second-most shorthanded goals in the AHL. (Binghamton's David Hymovitz is first with four).

* C Brett McLean saw a six-game points streak end against Rochester on December 7. Between November 25 and December 6, he posted three goals and eight assists for 11 points.

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, December 12 from the Azalea Inn/Time Out Sports Bar & Grill, 2344 E. Little Creek Road in Norfolk. Mike Peluso and Steve Passmore are tentatively scheduled as Pete Michaud's special guests when he broadcasts live from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m.

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. Flex Vouchers and Group Tickets are available through the Admirals' office. For more information, contact the Admirals at (757) 363-1900 or visit the club's website at www.norfolkadmirals.com.

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American Hockey League Stories from December 9, 2002


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