Norfolk Admirals (ECHL)

The Norfolk Admirals are a professional ice hockey team in the ECHL that began play in the 2015–16 season. Based in Norfolk, Virginia, the team plays its home games at the Norfolk Scope. The Admirals replaced the American Hockey League team of the same name, which played from 2000 until 2015, after which they moved to San Diego, California, and became the current incarnation of the San Diego Gulls.

For the American Hockey League team that played from 2000 to 2015, see Norfolk Admirals (AHL). For the first ECHL club called the Admirals in Norfolk, see Hampton Roads Admirals.
Norfolk Admirals
2021–22 ECHL season
CityNorfolk, Virginia
LeagueECHL
ConferenceEastern
DivisionSouth
Founded1995 (in the WCHL)
Home arenaNorfolk Scope
Colors     
Owner(s)Patrick Cavanagh
Head coachRod Taylor
MediaThe Virginian-Pilot; WGNT CW Norfolk
AffiliatesCarolina Hurricanes (NHL)
Chicago Wolves (AHL)
Franchise history
1995–1998Bakersfield Fog
1998–2015Bakersfield Condors
2015–presentNorfolk Admirals

History
Former AHL team logo also used for team's first two seasons in the ECHL.

On January 29, 2015, the Anaheim Ducks announced that they would be moving their AHL affiliate, the Norfolk Admirals, to San Diego as one of five charter members of the AHL's new Pacific Division.[1] The next day, the Edmonton Oilers announced that their outgoing ECHL team, the Bakersfield Condors (who would also be supplanted by a new Bakersfield Condors in the AHL), would move to Norfolk and take on the Admirals name and logo.[2] The Oilers Entertainment Group had originally purchased the ECHL Condors in January 2014, one year prior to the announcement of the relocation.[3]

Admirals hockey in Norfolk actually began in the ECHL, where the Hampton Roads Admirals played from 1989 until 2000, when the ownership group purchased an AHL franchise license, changed the name to the Norfolk Admirals, and began play as an AHL expansion team starting with the 2000–01 season. The original ECHL Admirals' run was very successful, winning three titles – the Riley Cup in 1991 and 1992 and the Kelly Cup in 1998, an ECHL record which has since been tied by the Alaska Aces and the South Carolina Stingrays.

After one season, the Oilers announced they had sold the Admirals franchise to the Mango Media Group.[4] The Admirals continued the Oilers affiliation under the new ownership for the rest of the 2016–17 season. In 2017–18, the Admirals left the Oilers' organization and affiliated with the Nashville Predators. On June 1, 2017, the Admirals revealed their new logo, which is similar to the logo of the original Admirals ECHL team and had similar colors to their new NHL affiliate. However, on November 28, 2017, the team announced that it has ended its affiliation agreement with the Predators after only 19 games during the 2017–18 season.[5] The Admirals finished the season independent of any official affiliations and failed to make the playoffs for the third straight season.

Prior to the 2018–19 season, the Admirals re-signed head coach Robbie Ftorek on a two-year contract[6] and affiliated with the Arizona Coyotes.[7] Following an average attendance of 2,602 in 2017–18, the lowest recorded attendance in any iteration of the Admirals' history, the Admirals saw increased attendance in its fourth ECHL season to an average of 3,590 in 2018–19.[8][9][10]

After the 2018–19 season, former Hampton Roads Admirals' player Patrick Cavanagh led a group that purchased the Admirals from Mango Media Group.[11] Cavanagh then named another Hampton Roads' player Rod Taylor as the head coach, while releasing Ftorek from his contract.[12] The Admirals entered the 2019–20 season as the only ECHL team without an official NHL affiliate and were in last place when the season was curtailed due the COVID-19 pandemic. The team then opted out of participating in the 2020–21 season due to the ongoing restrictions on arena capacity.[13]

On August 27, 2021, the Admirals announced an affiliation agreement with the Carolina Hurricanes for the 2021–22 season.[14]

Season-by-season records
Regular season Playoffs
SeasonGPWLOTLSOLPtsGFGAPIMStandingYear1st round2nd round3rd roundKelly Cup
2015–16723037416520123211935th of 5, East Div.2016Did not qualify
2016–1772264060582142718687th of 7, South Div.2017Did not qualify
2017–1872263961592112698036th of 7, South Div.2018Did not qualify
2018–19722736636321827810036th of 7, South Div.2019Did not qualify
2019–2060143880361492488367th of 7, South Div.2020Season cancelled
2020–21Opted out of participating due to the COVID-19 pandemic2021Did not participate

Players

Current roster

As of December 11, 2021.[15]

No. Nat Player Pos S/G Age Acquired Birthplace Contract
13 Alex Berardinelli LW L 26 2021 Greensburg, Pennsylvania Admirals
28 Greg Betzold LW L 26 2022 West Chester, Ohio Admirals
19 Noah Corson C L 24 2021 Sherbrooke, Quebec Wolves
7 Mackenzie Dwyer D L 25 2021 Winnipeg, Manitoba Admirals
25 Colton Heffley C R 27 2022 Swift Current, Saskatchewan Admirals
23 Cody Milan C R 26 2021 Orchard Lake, Michigan Admirals
9 Blake Murray LW L 20 2021 Uxbridge, Ontario Hurricanes
21 Marly Quince C L 28 2021 Sioux Lookout, Ontario Admirals
2 Carter Robertson D L 22 2021 Holland Landing, Ontario Admirals
5 Nick Schaus D R 35 2021 Buffalo, New York Admirals
8 Samuel Thibault D L 25 2019 Sainte-Martine, Quebec Admirals
24 Alex Tonge LW L 26 2021 Kingston, Ontario Admirals
22 Ryan Valentini C L 24 2022 Mississauga, Ontario Admirals
27 Brett Van Os LW L 26 2022 St. Albert, Alberta Admirals
35 Beck Warm G L 23 2021 Whistler, British Columbia Hurricanes
11 Joe Widmar C R 27 2022 Northbrook, Illinois Admirals
20 Eric Williams D R 26 2021 Newmarket, Ontario Admirals

References
  1. "Ducks Launch American Hockey League Franchise in San Diego". Anaheim Ducks. January 29, 2015. Retrieved January 29, 2015.
  2. "Admirals announce sale to Anaheim, ECHL affiliation with Edmonton". Norfolk Admirals. January 30, 2015. Archived from the original on January 31, 2015. Retrieved January 31, 2015.
  3. Mike Griffith (January 22, 2014). "Condors sale to Oilers approved". The Bakersfield Californian. Archived from the original on February 3, 2014.
  4. "Admirals Purchased by Mango Media Group". OurSports Central. September 29, 2016.
  5. "Admirals and Predators Terminate Affiliation". Norfolk Admirals. November 28, 2017. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
  6. "Ftorek Returns to Norfolk Bench". Norfolk Admirals. June 12, 2018.
  7. "Admirals Join Forces with Arizona, Announce Affiliation". OurSportsCentral.com. June 25, 2018.
  8. "Norfolk Admirals (ECHL) Yearly Attendance Graph". HockeyDB. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
  9. "Hampton Roads Admirals Yearly Attendance Graph". HockeyDB. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
  10. "Norfolk Admirals (AHL) Yearly Attendance Graph". HockeyDB. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
  11. "Norfolk Admirals announce new owner: former player Patrick Cavanagh". The Virginian-Pilot. June 20, 2019.
  12. "Admirals tab former players as coach, owner in bid to improve fan experience and play". PilotOnline.com. June 25, 2019.
  13. "ADMIRALS ENACT COVID VOLUNTARY SUSPENSION OF SEASON". Norfolk Admirals. October 20, 2020.
  14. "ADMIRALS ANNOUNCE NHL AFFILIATION WITH CAROLINA HURRICANES". Norfolk Admirals. August 27, 2021.
  15. "Norfolk Admirals Elite Prospects". EliteProspects. December 11, 2021. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
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