Norfolk Admirals Report
by: Brad Johnson
04/13/2002
In the past week the Norfolk Admirals have made produced several headlines
worthy of mention. This past Wednesday night the Admirals halted the Bears
franchise winning streak at ten-games while recording a 3-1 victory for the home
Crowd. On Friday night the Bears were still in town for the Admirals final
home game of the regular season, the home team won once again by the count of
3-1 as the Admirals skated away with their first-ever division title in their
brief 2-year history. The Admirals closed out their second campaign in the
American Hockey League with a 4-2 road loss at Philadelphia. In other news
this past Tuesday, rookie center Tyler Arnason was rewarded with the AHL’s
Outstanding Rookie of the Year honors for his excellent performance this season.
Admirals fall in Philadelphia
by: Frank Porcelli – BlackhawkZone
04/06/2002
Greg Koehler scored twice to lead the Philadelphia Phantoms
past the Norfolk Admirals 4-2 Saturday Night in Philadelphia. Norfolk finished
the regular season with only three losses in their last 17 games (12-3-2).
Philadelphia doubled its lead three minutes into the second period while on the powerplay. David Harlock sent a centering pass from along the boards to Greg Koehler. Koehler fired the puck past Andersson to give Philadelphia a 2-0 lead.
Norfolk cut the lead in half three minutes later while on a four on four situation. JY Leroux backhanded a pass to Nolan Baumgartner who snuck in from the post. Baumgartner backhanded the puck past Philadelphia goalie Neil Little to cut the Philadelphia lead to 2-1.
The Phantoms went back in front by two goals with just under five minutes to go in the second period. Guillaume Lefebvre picked up a loose puck in the Admirals zone. Using former Blackhawk Jarrod Skalde as a scree, Lefebvre fired the puck past Andersson to give Philadelphia a 3-1 lead.
Philadelphia went ahead by three goals 43 seconds into the third period. Mark Freer passed the puck to Greg Koehler just outside the goal crease. Koehler tapped the puck past Andersson to score his second goal of the game and give Philadelphia a 4-1 lead.
Norfolk’s Shawn Thornton scored with eight minutes left in the third period, but that would be as close as the Admirals would come, as Philadelphia records a 4-2 victory.
Game NotesThe Admirals finish the regular season with a 38-26-12-4 record good for 92 points. They win the AHL South Division Championship and have the third seed in the Western Conference.
The Admirals have a bye in the first round of the AHL Calder Cup playoffs and will start in the second round with home ice advantage. Dates and times of the playoff games will be on BlackhawkZone when they are announced.
Norfolk went 5-4-1 against Philadelphia this season.
Baby Hawks win South Division Championship
by: Frank Porcelli – BlackhawkZone
04/05/2002
The Norfolk Admirals captured the AHL South Division regular
season crown by defeating the Hershey Bears 3-1 Friday Night in Norfolk.
The Admirals increased their lead three minutes into the second period. Steve McCarthy let a long shot go from the left point that eluded Sauve to give the Admirals a 2-0 lead.
The Bears cut the lead down to a goal four minutes into the third period when Yevgeny Lazarev rifled a high shot past Michael Leighton to cut the Norfolk lead to 2-1.
The Bears pulled Sauve for the extra attacker but Mike Peluso scored into the empty net, giving the Admirals a 3-1 victory.
The Admirals win the AHL Southern Division crown for the first time in their
second year history, so congratulations to Trent Yawney and the entire Admirals
squad.
By winning the division crown, the Admirals will have a bye in the first round of the AHL playoffs and will enter the playoffs with home ice in the second round.
Ex Blackhawk defensive prospect Jeff Paul suffered an unspecified injury
after taking a hard hit from ex-teammate Dmitri Tolkunov in the first period. He
did not return to action. Paul missed 13 games earlier this season with a
concussion.
1 Michael Leighton – Norfolk
2 Kent Huskins – Norfolk
3 Shawn Thornton – Norfolk
Admirals end Bears 10-game winning Streak
by: Frank Porcelli – BlackhawkZone
Mike Peluso scored twice as the Norfolk Admirals downed the Hershey Bears 3-1 Wednesday Night in Norfolk. The victory ended the Bears franchise best 10-game winning streak. Hershey struck first five minutes into the first period. Yuri Babenko put a backhand shot over Michael Leighton to give the Bears a 1-0 lead.
The Admirals tie the score 23 seconds into the second period. Shawn Thornton let a shot go that was gloved by Hershey goalie Philip Sauve, but he dropped the puck on the ice. Ajay Baines crashed the net and put the rebound past Sauve and into the net, tying the score at one goal apiece.
The Admirals went out in front six minutes into the second period while on the power play. Matt Henderson’s shot from the slot was redirected by Mike Peluso past Sauve to give the Admirals a 2-1 lead.
The Admirals increased their lead to two goals halfway through the third period. Kent Huskins let a shot go from the left point. Mike Peluso once again redirected it past Sauve to give the Admirals a 3-1 lead.
That would be all the scoring in the game, as the Admirals record a 3-1 victory over the Hershey Bears.
Game NotesThe Admirals franchise record eight game losing streak ends with the loss tonight.
Norfolk’s record improves to 37-25-12-4. The Admirals now have a five point lead in the AHL’s South Division over Hershey and a eight point lead over Philadelphia.
If Norfolk can defeat Hershey on Friday Night, they will win the South Division title for the first time in their short history.
Three Stars of the Game:1 Mike Peluso – Norfolk
2 Michael Leighton – Norfolk
3 Ajay Baines – Norfolk
Arnason Named AHL Rookie of the Year
by: Frank Porcelli – BlackhawkZone
04/09/2002
Tyler Arnason got another honor on Tuesday as he was named the
AHL Rookie of the year by the AHL Media in all 27 cities. The reward is
remarkable considering that Arnason has been up with the Blackhawks since
February 26th,
Blackhawks rookie Tyler Arnason contined to add to his trophy
case on Friday, being named the winner of the Dudley “Red” Garrett Memorial
Award as the AHL’s outstanding rookie for the 2001-2002 season.
The award was voted on by the AHL Media in all 27 AHL cities.
Arnason didn’t play in the final 20 Admirals games, as he was called up by the Blackhawks on February 26th. Arnason scored 56 points (26 goals, 30 assists) in 60 games with the Admirals.
Arnason finished as the Admirals scoring leader and set a franchise record for points in a season with the second year franchise.
Arnason’s 56 points was third in the AHL among rookies. His 26 goals and 30 assists tied for third in the AHL among rookies. Arnason’s 11 power play goals was tops among AHL rookies.
Arnason has four points (three goals one assist) in 17 games with the Blackhawks.
This is the fourth time this season that Arnason has been honored by the AHL. Arnason was named to the AHL All rookie team, was named the AHL rookie of the month in December and was selected to play in the AHL All Star Game.
Arnason is listed on the Norfolk playoff roster and with his ice time being cut with the Blackhawks, the folks in Norfolk may get to see Arnason before this season is over.
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Arnason joins former Blackhawk forward Darryl Sutter and current Blackhawk Steve Thomas as winners of the award.
Related Link
Micahel Leighton Named Goaltender of the Month
by: AHL Press Release
04/02/2002
Leighton, 20, won six consecutive starts from Mar. 9-29, including
consecutive shutouts of the Philadelphia Phantoms on Mar. 23-24, helping Norfolk
to a franchise-record eight-game winning streak. He also turned aside a
season-high 50 shots in a 3-1 loss to Saint John on Mar. 1, and allowed two
goals or fewer in eight of his 10 appearances. On Mar. 28, Leighton was named to
the 2002 AHL All-Rookie Team.
A native of Petrolia, Ont., Leighton was drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks
in 1999. He has dressed as a back-up for one NHL game with the Blackhawks this
season, and was the winning goaltender for the Canadian squad in the 2002 AHL
All-Star Game. In 50 games on the season, Leighton (25-16-8) ranks third in the
AHL with 25 victories, fourth with a 2.18 GAA and tied for second with six
shutouts.
In recognition of his accomplishment, Leighton will be presented with an etched
crystal trophy by the AHL prior to an upcoming game.