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AHL Norfolk Admirals

Winless Skid Hits Five Games

December 16, 2002 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Norfolk Admirals News Release


VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Norfolk's woes continued last week, as the team's winless streak extended to five games (0-4-1-0 since December 6 vs. Rochester). On Wednesday, December 11, the Admirals and Hershey Bears skated to a 1-1 draw. Two nights later, Hershey scored late in the third period to sink the Blue and Gold 3-2. The Admirals began a four-game road trip on Sunday, December 15, with a 5-1 drubbing at the hands of the San Antonio Rampage.

The trek through Texas continues with another match up against the Rampage (Florida Panthers) on Wednesday, December 18 at 8:00 p.m. The Blue and Gold then travel to Houston for their last two scheduled games against the Aeros (Minnesota Wild) on Thursday, December 19 at 8:00 p.m. and Saturday, December 21 at 8:30 p.m.

Norfolk (16-9-2-3, 37 points) sits tied for first place in the South Division with Hershey (15-6-6-1, 37 points) followed by Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (11-13-2-2, 26 points) and Philadelphia (10-13-1-2, 23 points).

THE WEEK AHEAD

Wednesday, December 18...Norfolk @ San Antonio Rampage...8:00 p.m.

San Antonio extended its home winning streak to seven games (since November 26 vs. Milwaukee) with a win over the Admirals on December 15. Florida's farm club is 7-2-0-1 over its last 10 games. The Rampage rank 24th on the power play (13.47) and their 19 power play goals are the third-fewest in the League. The team's penalty killers are 16th in the League (83.43). Former Admiral Jim Campbell, who had three assists in last night's contest, tops the club's scoring list with 4+17=21 points in 12 games. Juraj Kolnik's 12 lamplighters are most on the Rampage. Filip Novak is the highest scoring defenseman on the team with 3+7=10 points. Mathieu Biron leads San Antonio with a plus-9 rating, while Jeff Toms' minus-5 rating is the lowest among current team members. Rocky Thompson has spent the most time in the penalty box of all Rampage skaters with 81 PIM. Chris Mason has the most games in net, posting a 9-5-2 record, 2.34 goals against average and .921 save percentage in 17 appearances. He is 11th in GAA among all League netminders. Tyrone Gardner started one game for the Rampage, allowing five goals and taking a loss.

Thursday, December 19...Norfolk @ Houston Aeros...8:00 p.m.

Saturday, December 21...Norfolk @ Houston Aeros...8:30 p.m.

The Blue and Gold split their two contests with the Aeros at Scope, winning 5-4 on November 29 and losing 2-1 in overtime on November 30. Like the Admirals, Houston is on a five-game winless streak (0-4-1-0 since December 6 vs. Wilkes-Barre) and has just three wins over its last 10 games (3-6-1-0). The Aeros rank 18th with the man-advantage (15.30) and 15th in shorthanded situations (83.53). They have out-shot their opponents in every period this season, totaling 915 shots for to just 744 shots against. Jean-Guy Trudel leads the club in goals (12) and points (26, 14 assists). Cory Larose is second in points (4+19=22), and his 19 helpers are most on the Aeros.

Curtis Murphy is tied for third on the team with 20 points (11+9). He leads all AHL defensemen in goals scored and is tied for fourth in points among League blueliners. Lawrence Nycholat has 85 PIM to top the club in that category. His plus-10 rating is highest among current Houston skaters, while Sylvain Cloutier's minus-5 is the lowest rating on the team. The cage duties belong to Derek Gustafson (14 GPI, 8-5-0, 2.67 GAA, .894 spct.) and Dieter Kochan (15 GPI, 8-4-2, 2.92 GAA, .901 spct.). Gustafson's 2.67 GAA ranks him in the top 20 among all AHL goaltenders.

UPCOMING PROMOTIONS

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

* The Admirals received just six penalty minutes, and the Hershey Bears just four PIM in the teams' 1-1 tie on December 11. It was the fewest PIM in one game by the Admirals and the fewest PIM by their opponents in one game this season. The team record for fewest PIM in a game by the Admirals, and by both squads, occurred on March 2, 2002 against Manchester (Norfolk - two PIM, Manchester - four PIM).

* After outscoring Wilkes-Barre and Houston 5-4 each on November 27 and 29, Norfolk has been held to one or two goals in six of the team's last seven games, posting an 0-4-1-1 record in those six matches.

* Norfolk is just three of 26 (11.5) on the power play in its last five games. The Admirals have allowed just three power play goals in 33 chances (9.1) over their last seven contests.

* LW Travis Moen made his professional debut with the Admirals on December 11 after missing the first 27 games of the season with an injury. He has no points and no PIM in three games thus far.

* F Casey Hankinson snapped a streak of nine games without a goal (since November 23 at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton) when he lit the lamp against San Antonio on December 15.

* C Mikhail Yakubov is scoreless in his last nine games. His last point was an assist November 23 at Wilkes-Barre.

* The Chicago Blackhawks returned C Brett McLean to Norfolk on December 15. He appeared in his first two NHL games with Chicago, recording no points and no PIM.

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 is on hiatus due to a game on December 19 at Houston, the Christmas holiday on December 26, and a game at Cleveland on January 2. It will next air Thursday, January 9 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 club's website at www.norfolkadmirals.com.

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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.

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