NORFOLK, VA – The Norfolk Admirals will conclude a nine-game homestand this week with contests against the Albany River Rats on Thursday and Friday at Scope before traveling to Hershey on Saturday.
The puck drops at 7:15 p.m. on Thursday and Friday nights at Scope as the Admirals face off against the Albany River Rats. On Saturday night, Norfolk travels to Hershey to square off against the Bears at 7:00 p.m.
EAST DIVISION STANDINGS At 16-21-2-5 (39 points), the Admirals are in seventh place in the East Division. The division is led by the Hershey Bears (32-12-0-3, 67 points). They are followed by the Bridgeport Sound Tigers (26-14-2-2, 56 points), Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (27-16-1-2, 57 points), Philadelphia Phantoms (26-19-1-1, 54 points), Binghamton Senators (23-15-3-3, 52 points) and Albany River Rats (19-21-3-2, 43 points). Click here for the complete, up-to-the-minute AHL standings.
THE ADMIRALS’ WEEK AHEAD Thu,., Jan. 29 … vs. Albany River Rats (Carolina Hurricanes) … 7:15 p.m. | GET TICKETS Fri., Jan. 30 … vs. Albany River Rats (Carolina Hurricanes) … 7:15 p.m. | GET TICKETS Sat., Jan. 31 … at Hershey Bears (Washington Capitals) … 7:00 p.m.
ADMIRALS LOG
The Admirals have had their two highest crowds of the season over the past three games, with a season-high 7,595 on January 17 versus Worcester and 5,913 last Friday versus Lake Erie.
Bracken Kearns’ five-game point streak (4G, 3A) and four-game goal streak (4G) ended on Wednesday night. Both were AHL career highs for the fourth-year pro.
Grant Potulny has points and assists in three straight games (1G, 3A).
Jay Rosehill netted an AHL career-high two points on a pair of assists on Wednesday night versus Hershey.
All six of Justin Keller’s goals this season have been scored at Norfolk Scope Arena.
The Admirals have not scored on the power play in their last 18 chances since a Steve Downie power play goal on January 10 versus Manchester.
Downie has points and assists in his last three games for the Admirals (2G, 3A) since January 9 versus Manchester and has points in 12 of his last 15 games (8G, 13A) with Norfolk.
Hershey’s Alexandre Giroux failed to score a goal on Wednesday night at Scope, snapping his AHL record goal-scoring streak at fifteen games. Giroux passed the previous record of 14 consecutive games (Brett Hull, 1986-87) with a goal on January 14 versus Worcester.
Admirals goaltender Karri Ramo, who is currently on NHL call-up to the Tampa Bay Lightning, has been suspended six games by the American Hockey League as a result of his actions in Norfolk’s game versus Lake Erie on January 23.
– Family Fun Packs are available for every Wednesday and Thursday Admirals home game throughout the regular season. They offer four Red Level tickets, four hot dogs, four popcorns and four sodas for just $48 – that’s a savings of $37! Family Fun Packs are available at the Scope Box Office and online at ticketmaster.com. Click here to purchase a Family Fun Pack for January 29.
Student Rush Night – High school and college students with a valid school ID can get $8 White Level tickets only at the Scope Box Office after 2:00 p.m. on the day of the game. This offer is available on all Wednesday and Thursday home games throughout the regular season.
Friday, January 30 (vs. Albany River Rats)
Educator’s Night – The first 2,500 fans through the gates will receive a free Admirals bucket hat courtesy of Bank of the Commonwealth and Fox43.
THIS WEEK ON THE ADMIRALS HOUR Tune in to the Admirals Hour on Thursday evening at 6:00 p.m. on ESPN Radio 1310 WGH-AM. “The Voice of the Admirals” Pete Michaud will host the Show live from Scope. Admirals Corporate Sales Manager Dennis “The Original Admiral” McEwen will announce the participants for next month’s Admirals Alumni Game during the show. Due to technical difficulties, we will be unable to take questions vs phone call. However, you may email your questions to pete@norfolkadmirals.com.
PARKING AVAILABLE AT RADISSON HOTEL A significant amount of parking spaces (based on availability) are available for Admirals games this season at the Norfolk Radisson Hotel. Parking spots will be opened to Admirals fans for $5 per game. The Norfolk Radisson Hotel is located immediately across Brambleton Avenue from Norfolk Scope Arena. Fans who would like to take advantage of this opportunity are asked to enter the Brambleton Avenue parking entrance. A sign will be posted at that entrance.
Please note that there are events at Chrysler Hall on Thursday and Friday evenings this week occurring simultaneously as the Admirals’ games against Albany. This will likely lead to increased parking congestion.
ADMIRALS CELEBRITY SERVE TO BENEFIT THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION The Admirals and California Pizza Kitchen will team up to support the fight against heart disease in women with the Admirals Celebrity Serve on Tuesday, February 10. Come out to California Pizza Kitchen at MacArthur Center in Downtown Norfolk from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. Admirals players – including captain Zenon Konopka and All-Star Brandon Segal – will be celebrity servers. Twenty percent of each table’s check will benefit the American Heart Association. Plus, Admirals Five Star Kids Club members eat for free with their membership card and a paying adult. Admirals fans are also encouraged to wear red to the game against Bridgeport on Friday, February 6, for National Wear Red Day to support the fight against heart disease in women.
ADMIRALS STREAKS AND TRENDS
Grant Potulny, Points/Assists in three straight games (1G, 3A since 01/16 vs. WOR)
Grant Potulny, Points/Assists in 4 of last 5 games (2G, 4A since01/16 vs. WOR)
Bracken Kearns, Points in 5 of last 7 games (4G, 3A since01/07 vs. HER)
Brandon Bochenski, Points in 5 of last 7 games (2G, 4A since 01/07 vs. HER)
Chris Gratton, Points in 7 of last 10 games (3G, 4A since 12/31 at POR)
Bracken Kearns, Goals in 4 of last 6 games (4G since 01/09 vs. MCH)
Justin Keller, Points in 2 of last 3 games (1G, 2A since 01/17 vs. WOR)
Vladimir Mihalik, Points/Assists in 2 of last 3 games (0G, 2A since 01/17 vs. WOR)
Chris Gratton, Points in 9 of last 14 games (3G, 7A since 12/17 vs. ALB)
Blair Jones, Points in 3 of last 5 games (3G, 2A since 01/10 vs. MCH)
TRANSACTIONS OF THE PAST WEEK January 20, 2009 ADD D Kevin Quick – Returned on loan by Tampa Bay (NHL)
DELETE D Ty Wishart – Recalled from loan by Tampa Bay (NHL)
January 22, 2009 ADD D Ty Wishart – Returned on loan by Tampa Bay (NHL)
ADD RW Steve Downie – Returned on loan by Tampa Bay (NHL)
DELETE G Riku Helenius – Reassigned by Tampa Bay (NHL) to Mississippi (ECHL)
January 26, 2009 DELETE RW Steve Downie – Recalled from loan by Tampa Bay (NHL)
DELETE G Karri Ramo – Recalled from loan by Tampa Bay (NHL)
January 27, 2009 ADD G Riku Helenius – Reassigned by Tampa Bay (NHL) from Mississippi (ECHL)
TICKETS To purchase tickets to any Admirals game, you may visit the Scope Box Office weekdays from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., visit any Ticketmaster outlet, call Ticketmaster at (757) 671-8100 or visit Ticketmaster online at www.ticketmaster.com. Don’t miss a minute of the action by purchasing your 2008-09 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!
ON THE RADIO/INTERNET All games are broadcast on ESPN Radio 1310 WGH-AM. The games are also cybercast at SportsJuice.com. Go to SportsJuice.com, or click on the link at norfolkadmirals.com. Broadcasts begin 15 minutes prior to game time.
Games are also viewable through the Internet on a pay-per-view basis through AHL Live. Visit norfolkadmirals.com and click the AHL Live banner on the left side of the site to view all Admirals’ home and away games.
