12/31/05 - American Hockey League (AHL) Norfolk Admirals

The Admirals closed out 2005 in Wilkes-Barre with another close game
against their division foes, as the Penguins defeated Norfolk 2-1.

The Penguins scored the lone goal of the opening period while the
teams skated four-on-four. Guillaume Lefebvre put the puck past
Admirals goaltender Corey Crawford just 1:58 into the game.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton took a 1-0 lead into the first intermission.

After a scoreless second stanza, the Penguins stretched their lead to
2-0 midway through the final frame. Matt Hussey fed the puck from
behind the net to Konstantin Koltsov in the slot, who beat Crawford
for a five-on-three power play goal at 12:26. Shawn Thornton drew the
Admirals to within one goal of tying the game less than three minutes
later. Thornton corralled a loose puck near the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
blue line and blasted a slap shot that beat Dany Sabourin with 4:53
remaining in the third. However, the Admirals would not find the
equalizer as Wilkes-Barre/Scranton held on to win 2-1.

Corey Crawford stopped 22 of 24 shots in the loss. Dany Sabourin made
28 saves on 29 shots and earned the victory.

Norfolk was 0-5 on the power play while Wilkes-Barre/Scranton was1-12

• Became first Admiral to surpass 1,000 Norfolk career PIM (1,006)
with 9 PIM at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton April 16, 2005
• Surpassed 2,200 AHL career PIM (2,210) with 17 PIM vs. Philadelphia
on April 6, 2005
• Played in his 250th game with Norfolk on April 2, 2005 vs. Philadelphia
• Skated in his 500th AHL game on February 2, 2005 vs. Binghamton
• Surpassed 900 Admirals career PIM (903) with 7 PIM at Philadelphia
on January 16, 2005
• Surpassed 2,100 AHL career PIM with 16 PIM (2,106) vs. Philadelphia
on January 14, 2005
• Played in his 200th game as an Admiral December 4, 2004 at Philadelphia
• Surpassed 2,000 AHL career PIM with 5 PIM (2,002) at Philadelphia
November 14, 2004
• Moved to fourth place on the AHL's all-time PIM leaders list with
1,980 career PIM with 10 PIM at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on November 6, 2004
• Scored his first-ever Norfolk playoff goal at Philadelphia on April
21, 2004
• Finished the 2003-04 campaign with 1,968 career-PIM, two shy of the
fifth place slot on the AHL's all-time PIM list.
• Led the Admirals with 259 penalty minutes in the 2003-04 regular season
• Skated in his 450th career AHL game on March 10, 2004 versus
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
• Registered his 100th AHL point with his first goal of the night in a
4-1 win versus Lowell on February 13, 2004
• Named the Admirals' assistant captain on November 26, 2003 upon
Johnathan Aitken's recall to Chicago
• Played in his 400th career AHL contest at Springfield on October 29,
2003
• Led Norfolk with 213 PIM in 2002-03
• Posted pro career-highs in goals scored (11) in just 50 games with
Norfolk during '02-03
• Picked up 19 PIM vs. Hershey on April 2, 2003, to surpass 1,700 PIM
in his AHL career (1,702) and place him 13th on the AHL all-time PIM
leaders list
• Scored his first NHL goal in Carolina on October 26, 2002
• Registered his first NHL point, an assist, on October 13, 2002
versus Buffalo
• Made his NHL debut with the Blackhawks at Columbus on October 10, 2002
• Led the Maple Leafs with 320 PIM and was fourth among all in the AHL
in '00-01
• Topped the St. John's roster with 316 penalty minutes in '99-00 and
was fourth among all AHL players
• Set a St. John's franchise record with 354 penalty minutes and was
second in the League in PIM in 1998-99
• Scored his first professional goal on October 17, 1998 vs. Fredericton
• Originally selected by Toronto in the seventh round (190th overall)
of the 1997 NHL Entry Draft

THORNTON'S GOAL NOT ENOUGH
http://www.norfolkadmirals.com/release_story1.php?id=152

NORFOLK ADMIRALS (1) @ WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON PENGUINS (2)


The Admirals closed out 2005 in Wilkes-Barre with another close game
against their division foes, as the Penguins defeated Norfolk 2-1.

The Penguins scored the lone goal of the opening period while the
teams skated four-on-four. Guillaume Lefebvre put the puck past
Admirals goaltender Corey Crawford just 1:58 into the game.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton took a 1-0 lead into the first intermission.

After a scoreless second stanza, the Penguins stretched their lead to
2-0 midway through the final frame. Matt Hussey fed the puck from
behind the net to Konstantin Koltsov in the slot, who beat Crawford
for a five-on-three power play goal at 12:26. Shawn Thornton drew the
Admirals to within one goal of tying the game less than three minutes
later. Thornton corralled a loose puck near the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
blue line and blasted a slap shot that beat Dany Sabourin with 4:53
remaining in the third. However, the Admirals would not find the
equalizer as Wilkes-Barre/Scranton held on to win 2-1.

Corey Crawford stopped 22 of 24 shots in the loss. Dany Sabourin made
28 saves on 29 shots and earned the victory.

Norfolk was 0-5 on the power play while Wilkes-Barre/Scranton was1-12

Three Stars:
1. Dany Sabourin – WBS
2. Guillaume Lefebvre – WBS
3. Matt Hussey – WBS

THORNTON ASSIGNED TO NORFOLK
http://www.norfolkadmirals.com/release_story1.php?id=151

NORFOLK, VA – Today, the Norfolk Admirals announced that right wing
Shawn Thornton has been assigned to the team by their parent club, the
Chicago Blackhawks.

Thornton, 29, has appeared in 10 games with Chicago this season,
recording no points, 16 penalty minutes and a minus-5 rating.

The native of Oshawa, ON, has played in 14 games for Norfolk this
year, posting two goals and five assists for seven points, 43 PIM and
a plus-2 rating.

Well, I am sorry to say that on Saturday Shawn was sent back to
Norfolk. I thought that maybe he would get to stay up with Chicago for
a while. Oh well. :(

Alright, so I finally have my own computer and can update at home! I
just added some photos. Here's how he's been doing with the
Blackhawks lately, he's getting to play in most games. I saw a clip
of his fight on hockeyfights.com and it was a good one!

Stats:
Dec 15 at Nashville Predators
5-3 loss
played almost 5 minutes, 2 shots on goal and a roughing penalty

Dec 16 vs St. Louis Blues
5-1 win
healthy scratch

Dec 18 vs Dallas Stars
5-3 loss
healthy scratch

Dec 21 vs Nashville Predators
6-1 loss
played almost 10 minutes, 2 shots on goal and a charging penalty

Dec 23 vs Detroit Red Wings
3-2 loss
healthy scratch

Dec 26 at Columbus Blue Jackets
4-3 loss
played almost 6 minutes, 6 shots on goal!

Dec 28 vs St. Louis
2-1 loss
played almost 10 minutes, 1 shot on goal and a fight with Barrett
Jackman

Dec 30 at Columbus Blue Jackets
3-2 Loss
played around 7 minutes, 1 shot on goal

Here's how Shawn has fared in the last few games:

Dec 3 at Florida
-played almost 7 minutes, no penalties.

Dec 7 vs NY Rangers
-didn't play

Dec 11 at Atlanta
-played almost 6 minutes. He also fought Boulton and from what I heard,
got the better of him :) Unfortunately I didn't get to see a highlight
of it.

Dec 13 at Carolina
-didn't play :(

Their next game is tomorrow in Nashville.

Hi to new members!

How's our boy doing up there in Chitown? ~Ashley

Dec 3 at Florida
  Dec 7 vs NY Rangers
  Dec 11 at Atlanta
  Dec 13 at Carolina
  Dec 15 at Nashville
  Dec 16 vs St. Louis
  Dec 18 vs Dallas
  Dec 21 vs Nashville
  Dec 23 vs Detroit
  Dec 26 at Columbus
  Dec 28 vs St. Louis
  Dec 30 vs Columbus
  Jan 2 at Calgary
  Jan 3 at Edmonton
  Jan 5 vs Vancouver
  Jan 8 vs Nashville
  Jan 10 at Washington
  Jan 11 vs Philadelphia
  Jan 13 vs Pittsburgh
  Jan 15 vs New Jersey
  Jan 17 vs NY Islanders
  Jan 19 vs Colorado
  Jan 20 at Minnesota
  Jan 22 vs Minnesota
  Jan 26 vs Calgary
  Jan 29 vs Calgary
  Feb 2 at St. Louis
  Feb 4 at Nashville
  Feb 7 at Phoenix
  Feb 8 at San Jose
  Feb 11 at Los Angeles
  Feb 12 at Anaheim
  Mar 1 vs Nashville
  Mar 3 vs Vancouver
  Mar 5 vs Dallas
  Mar 7 at Columbus
  Mar 9 vs Colorado
  Mar 11 at Detroit
  Mar 12 vs Detroit
  Mar 15 vs Columbus
  Mar 17 vs Anaheim
  Mar 19 vs Phoenix
  Mar 23 at Phoenix
  Mar 24 at Dallas
  Mar 26 vs San Jose
  Mar 29 vs St. Louis
  Mar 31 at Detroit
  Apr 1 at Columbus
  Apr 3 at Colorado
  Apr 5 vs Nashville
  Apr 7 vs Edmonton
  Apr 8 at Nashville
  Apr 11 at Minnesota
  Apr 13 vs Detroit
  Apr 15 at Columbus
  Apr 16 vs Columbus
  Apr 18 vs St. Louis

Shawn did get to play last night. He got about 6 minutes of ice time
and  got an interference penalty in the first period.

Shawn did get to play last weekend on Hockey Night in Canada against
Edmonton. He got a fair bit of screen time considering he only played
about 6 minutes. No fights though :(

http://chicagoblackhawks.com/gamecenter/GameCenter.asp?game_id=24

He also got to play against Vancouver on the 22nd, playing about 10
minutes:

http://chicagoblackhawks.com/gamecenter/GameCenter.asp?game_id=25


Tonight the Hawks face the Kings. Hopefully he will get to play again.

xx Sugar

Shawn didn't get to play last night, I hope he gets to play tonight
because the game is on Hockey Night in Canada at 11PM.

xx Sugar

Corazzini goal opens door for Admirals

By TRIS WYKES, The Virginian-Pilot
© November 13, 2005

NORFOLK — Moments before the puck is dropped to start each Norfolk
Admirals game, veteran Shawn Thornton is handed a packet of smelling
salts from the bench. The wing runs it under his nostrils, shakes
his head, widens his eyes and, sufficiently jolted, is ready to play.

Perhaps Thornton's wake-up call spread down the bench Saturday, for
after winning just two of their previous eight home games, the
Admirals sprang to life in a 4-1 defeat of the Providence Bruins.

Down 1-0, the Admirals got under way offensively when former P-Bruin
Carl Corazzini showed off speed and hands to tie the score midway
through the first period.

Jason Morgan pounced on a Providence turnover at center ice and fed
Corazzini, who beat two defenders down the left side and buried the
puck in the net's upper right corner. The tally was Corazzini's
second since being signed by Norfolk in mid-October and tasted extra
sweet to the Boston University product, who has seven points in his
last seven games.



See the complete Pilot, exactly as in print
- View stories, photos and ads
- E-mail clippings
- Print copies
Log in or learn more

-Email this Page
-Print this Page
-Get Email Newsletters
"I'm not going to lie; it was nice scoring against them,'' said
Corazzini, who had had 23 goals and 25 assists in 103 Providence
games over three seasons. "I was just coming off the bench and
wanted to give Morgie a passing option. I was going to deke on my
backhand, but I saw the goalie leaning, so I shot it.''

Norfolk coach Mike Haviland, who coached Corazzini in the ECHL, said
the diminutive skater is rounding into form.

"I knew what he could do and I was glad we got him,'' Haviland
said . "He might not have been in the best shape when he got here,
but he is now and he's seeing the points come.''

The Admirals' James Wisniewski had the second period's only goal,
eight minutes before the second intermission and with Norfolk on a
power play. The Admirals hadn't scored in 17 straight man advantages.

Thornton's pass along the blue line found Wisniewski at the left
point, and the stocky defenseman blasted a one-timer through a
screen and under the crossbar. The play succeeded in part because
defender Jeremy Reich, fronting Wisniewski, was playing without a
stick and couldn't effectively pressure his man.

"Our power play was much better tonight at moving the puck and
keeping things simple,'' said Haviland, whose club hosts league-
leading Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Friday. "Getting that goal really
gave us confidence.''

Norfolk closed the scoring with nine minutes remaining after Nathan
Barrett used his body along the left sideboards to keep a P-Bruins
clearing attempt in the zone. The puck slid down to Morgan near the
bottom of the left circle, and he zipped a pass to the inner edge of
the opposite circle, from where Martin St. Pierre dropped to a knee
and fired a one-timer under the crossbar.

Notes: The Virginian-Pilot's three stars: Norfolk's Morgan (1),
Corazzini (2) and Thornton (3). ... Admirals captain Ajay Baines
missed his fifth consecutive game with a knee injury and defenseman
Dustin Byfuglien was sidelined with a hip injury suffered Friday.
Brian Lee took his place, playing for the third time this
season. ... Newcomer Andy Hilbert sat out his second consecutive
game and has yet to play for Norfolk. Haviland said Hilbert, who
hasn't played this season after a contract impasse and a trade from
Boston to Chicago, made the decision, saying he's not yet in game
shape.

General Manager Dale Tallon announced today that the Blackhawks have
recalled forward Shawn Thornton from the Norfolk Admirals in the
American Hockey League.

Thornton has appeared in 14 games for the Admirals scoring 2 goals
while adding 5 assists for 7 points with 43 penalty minutes. Thornton
had appeared in five pre-season games for the Blackhawks and did not
score while amassing 26 penalty minutes.

Thornton has appeared in 21 career NHL games, all with the Blackhawks,
and has scored 2 goals and 3 points while picking up 54 penalty minutes.

Shawn scored his first goal of the season last night,
an empty netter in the third period.




__________________________________
Yahoo! Mail - PC Magazine Editors' Choice 2005
http://mail.yahoo.com

Admirals still can’t get the puzzle pieces to fit

By TRIS WYKES, The Virginian-Pilot
© October 28, 2005

The game is known throughout pro hockey as “Juice
Boy’’ and involves individual players shooting against
a goalie after practice until the worst performer is
determined.

Juice Boy, as that poor soul is known, must then fill
cups of Gatorade for his teammates in the locker room,
a crushing display of subservience.

Wednesday at Scope, the game came down to Norfolk
Admirals coach Mike Haviland and goaltending
consultant Stephane Waite. The netminding coach scored
and Haviland was denied, making the boss Juice Boy.

Players cheered. Haviland threw his stick and roared
in mock anger. He ladled out juice but refused to
deliver the cups to each recipient.



See the complete Pilot, exactly as in print
- View stories, photos and ads
- E-mail clippings
- Print copies
Log in or learn more

-Email this Page
-Print this Page
-Get Email Newsletters
The Admirals (1-4-0-1) are off to the worst start in
their six-year AHL history, but you’d never know it
from their behavior. Tirades and torturous workouts
might work at times, but Haviland has decided against
them so far.

“We’re getting our points across in stern ways, but we
also have to get some positives out of this
situation,’’ said the coach, whose team is
next-to-last in the 13-team Eastern Conference . “If
we can learn and stick together now, it’s going to
help us in the long run.’’

No Admirals ECHL or AHL team has missed the playoffs
since the return of pro hockey to Hampton Roads in
1989. It’s too early to project whether the current
squad will make the postseason, but fans are wondering
what’s going on.

Why can’t the Admirals score more? Is Haviland, who
won two ECHL titles in the last three years, all he’s
cracked up to be?

“It really surprises me, especially since the coach
came here with a good record,’’ said Norfolk resident
and longtime fan Bruce Ebert. “I thought they’d get
off to a fast start.’’

That was the plan, with the Admirals playing seven of
their eight October games at home. But events with the
parent Chicago Blackhawks have had an effect in
Norfolk.

“The roster I had in mind on Sept. 15 certainly isn’t
the one we have now,’’ Norfolk general manager Al
MacIsaac said. “We’ve got a young team and a bunch of
tryout guys fighting to keep jobs.’’

The Blackhawks’ trade of Steve McCarthy and the return
to juniors of touted prospect Cam Barker, both
defensemen, meant NHL jobs for former Admirals Duncan
Keith and Brent Seabrook. One or both might have been
here otherwise.

At forward, Chicago has lost Eric Daze and Tuomo Ruutu
to injuries, and Adrian Aucoin and Kyle Calder also
have spent time on the sidelines. That meant
youngsters like Matt Ellison and Rene Bourque wouldn’t
have their tickets punched back to Virginia.

It’s not that such players don’t deserve to be in the
NHL, but past Octobers have seen the Admirals with two
or three squeezed out of the big leagues by the
numbers game.

Throw in the loss of Admirals power forward Matt Keith
to a broken toe and Chicago’s recall of AHL veterans
Jason Morgan and Milan Bartovic and there’s been just
enough turmoil to come up a goal short most nights.
Norfolk has converted once in its last 23 power-play
opportunities.

“Some of our players have earned jobs because other
guys are not here,’’ MacIsaac said. “When they got the
opportunity to come to our training camp, there were
one or two jobs to be had. Then it turned into three
or four.’’

Tryout players Steve Crampton, Jim Henkel, Carl
Corazzini and Steve Munn, who might not have made the
team, are playing regular minutes. Established
Admirals are playing more than they might have, on
regular shifts and special teams, but haven’t been
scoring.

“The new guys have been our best players,’’ said
Norfolk wing Shawn Thornton, pointing out that he and
fellow veterans Quintin Laing and Ajay Baines have a
combined five points. “The pressure should be on us
older guys.’’

Offensive specialists Martin St. Pierre, Nathan
Barrett and Mark Cullen, who all played elsewhere in
the AHL last season, tend to draw opponents’ top
lines. Were Matt Keith and Bourque or Ellison
available, the Admirals would have a more diverse
attack.

If Seabrook were in Norfolk, Admirals rookie defense-

man Dustin Byfuglien might be able to develop in a
slower, less hectic manner. And if Haviland were a
magician, he could make such conjecture disappear with
a wave of his whistle.

“We dug this hole and no one’s going to dig us out of
it,’’ said the coach, whose team plays four road games
after this weekend’s two games against visiting
Albany. “How do we handle this funk? I guess we’ll see.’’



__________________________________
Start your day with Yahoo! - Make it your home page!
http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs

2005-06 Norfolk Admirals AHL Schedule
OCTOBER
7 Friday vs. BRIDGEPORT SOUND TIGERS 7:15 p.m.
8 Saturday vs. BRIDGEPORT SOUND TIGERS 7:15 p.m.
14 Friday vs. W-B/SCRANTON PENGUINS 7:15 p.m.
15 Saturday @ Hershey Bears 7:00 p.m.
21 Friday vs. PHILADELPHIA PHANTOMS 7:15 p.m.
22 Saturday vs. PHILADELPHIA PHANTOMS 7:15 p.m.
28 Friday vs. ALBANY RIVER RATS 7:15 p.m.
29 Saturday vs. ALBANY RIVER RATS 7:15 p.m.
NOVEMBER
2 Wednesday @ Bridgeport Sound Tigers 7:05 p.m.
4 Friday @ Providence Bruins 7:05 p.m.
5 Saturday @ Manchester Monarchs 7:35 p.m.
6 Sunday @ Lowell Lock Monsters 4:05 p.m.
11 Friday vs. PROVIDENCE BRUINS 7:15 p.m.
12 Saturday vs. PROVIDENCE BRUINS 7:15 p.m.
18 Friday vs. W-B/SCRANTON PENGUINS 7:15 p.m.
19 Saturday @ Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 7:05 p.m.
20 Sunday @ Philadelphia Phantoms 5:05 p.m.
23 Wednesday vs. PHILADELPHIA PHANTOMS 7:15 p.m.
25 Friday vs. HERSHEY BEARS 7:15 p.m.
26 Saturday @ Hershey Bears 7:00 p.m.
30 Wednesday vs. BINGHAMTON SENATORS 11:15 a.m.
DECEMBER
2 Friday vs. W-B/SCRANTON PENGUINS 7:15 p.m.
3 Saturday vs. W-B/SCRANTON PENGUINS 7:15 p.m.
7 Wednesday vs. ALBANY RIVER RATS 7:15 p.m.
9 Friday vs. BRIDGEPORT SOUND TIGERS 7:15 p.m.
16 Friday @ Binghamton Senators 7:05 p.m.
17 Saturday @ Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 7:05 p.m.
18 Sunday @ Bridgeport Sound Tigers 4:05 p.m.
21 Wednesday @ Binghamton Senators 7:05 p.m.
28 Wednesday vs. PHILADELPHIA PHANTOMS 7:15 p.m.
30 Friday vs. HERSHEY BEARS 7:15 p.m.
31 Saturday @ Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 6:05 p.m.
JANUARY
6 Friday vs. LOWELL LOCK MONSTERS 7:15 p.m.
7 Saturday vs. LOWELL LOCK MONSTERS 7:15 p.m.
13 Friday vs. W-B/SCRANTON PENGUINS 7:15 p.m.
15 Sunday @ Hershey Bears 5:00 p.m.
16 Monday @ Bridgeport Sound Tigers 1:05 p.m.
18 Wednesday @ Albany River Rats 7:00 p.m.
20 Friday @ Springfield Falcons 7:35 p.m.
21 Saturday @ Binghamton Senators 7:05 p.m.
22 Sunday @ Philadelphia Phantoms 5:05 p.m.
25 Wednesday vs. HERSHEY BEARS 7:15 p.m.
27 Friday vs. HERSHEY BEARS 7:15 p.m.
28 Saturday @ Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 7:05 p.m.
29 Sunday @ Hershey Bears 5:00 p.m.
FEBRUARY
3 Friday vs. BINGHAMTON SENATORS 7:15 p.m.
4 Saturday vs. BINGHAMTON SENATORS 7:15 p.m.
8 Wednesday @ Hershey Bears 7:00 p.m.
10 Friday vs. SPRINGFIELD FALCONS 7:15 p.m.
11 Saturday vs. SPRINGFIELD FALCONS 7:15 p.m.
15 Wednesday vs. MANCHESTER MONARCHS 7:15 p.m.
17 Friday vs. MANCHESTER MONARCHS 7:15 p.m.
19 Sunday @ Bridgeport Sound Tigers 1:05 p.m.
22 Wednesday @ Albany River Rats 7:00 p.m.
24 Friday @ Providence Bruins 7:05 p.m.
25 Saturday @ Springfield Falcons 7:05 p.m.
26 Sunday @ Portland Pirates 4:05 p.m.
28 Tuesday @ Manchester Monarchs 7:05 p.m.
MARCH
1 Wednesday @ Hartford Wolf Pack 7:00 p.m.
3 Friday @ Portland Pirates 7:05 p.m.
4 Saturday @ Lowell Lock Monsters 2:05 p.m.
5 Sunday @ Bridgeport Sound Tigers 1:05 p.m.
8 Wednesday @ Binghamton Senators 7:05 p.m.
10 Friday vs. BRIDGEPORT SOUND TIGERS 7:15 p.m.
11 Saturday vs. BRIDGEPORT SOUND TIGERS 7:15 p.m.
17 Friday vs. HARTFORD WOLF PACK 7:15 p.m.
18 Saturday vs. HARTFORD WOLF PACK 7:15 p.m.
19 Sunday @ Philadelphia Phantoms 5:05 p.m.
24 Friday vs. PORTLAND PIRATES 7:15 p.m.
25 Saturday vs. PORTLAND PIRATES 7:15 p.m.
29 Wednesday @ Philadelphia Phantoms 7:05 p.m.
31 Friday @ Albany River Rats 7:00 p.m.
APRIL
1 Saturday @ Binghamton Senators 7:05 p.m.
2 Sunday @ Hartford Wolf Pack 4:00 p.m.
5 Wednesday vs. PHILADELPHIA PHANTOMS 7:15 p.m.
7 Friday @ Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 7:05 p.m.
8 Saturday vs. HERSHEY BEARS 7:15 p.m.
9 Sunday @ Philadelphia Phantoms 5:05 p.m.
12 Wednesday vs. BINGHAMTON SENATORS 7:15 p.m.
14 Friday vs. BINGHAMTON SENATORS 7:15 p.m.
Home games in CAPS. All times Eastern. Games and times subject to
change.

ON THE RADIO/INTERNET
All games are broadcast on 670-AM WPMH and 1270-AM WTJZ. The games are
also cybercast at SportsJuice.com. Go to www.SportsJuice.com, or click
on the link at www.norfolkadmirals.com. Pre-game broadcasts begin 15
minutes prior to game starting time.

Games are also viewable through the Internet on a pay-per-view basis
through B2 Networks for anyone with a high-speed cable modem, T1 or
DSL broadband connection and Windows Media Player 9 or higher. Visit
www.norfolkadmirals.com and click the B2 Networks banner to view all
Admirals' home and away games.

Play it Again Sports First Annual Hockey Day: Sunday, October 23rd.
Admirals Martin St. Pierre and Shawn Thornton will appear at the Play
it Again Sports Lynnhaven location in Virginia Beach demonstrating
hockey skills and signing autographs from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.

NORFOLK — It only seemed like a penalty was called every shift
Friday during the Norfolk Admirals' season opener at Scope. And
their 7-4 loss to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers only looked vaguely
like pro hockey as you've known it.

Special Offer! Under ironclad orders to call everything that even
resembled a hook, hold or interference, referee Jeff Smith whistled
30 minor penalties in a game with less hard contact than a sorority
pillow fight.

The first penalty came after 35 seconds. The second period's first
foul was called after 32 seconds, and the first one of the final
stanza after 67 ticks of the clock. Ever vigilant, Smith also
awarded a penalty with 19 seconds left in the game.

Norfolk finished 2 of 13 on the power play and Bridgeport 3 of 12,
numbers that would have been bizarre aberrations last season, before
the NHL and AHL instituted zero tolerance on obstruction.

"You just saw a soccer game,'' said frustrated Norfolk defenseman
James Wisniewski, whose team hosts Bridgeport again tonight. "We're
going to have to learn that you can't play with your stick on
someone parallel to the ice and you can't take a hand off your stick
to grab a guy.''

Five of Friday's first six goals came on power plays, three of those
with a team enjoying a two-man advantage.

"They want more goals, and that's going to happen when you're giving
out seven 5-on-3's a game,'' Wisniewski said. "You used to see one
of those a month.''

Although Bridgeport pulled out of a 3-3 tie midway through the game
with four even-strength goals, some Admirals felt their struggles to
adapt to the new rules were still a factor.

Shawn Thornton wondered how a player could fight for the puck in the
corners without moving opponents aside, and Wisniewski said Norfolk
landed on the meek side of the fine line between legal and breaking
the law.

"You feel like you can't touch anyone, so you start letting them
move around your net,'' he said. "But we have to be more disciplined
and come out and play smarter tomorrow.''

Rookie defenseman Dustin Byfuglien and newly arrived forward Mark
Cullen each had two goals for Norfolk, which held a 32-21 shot
advantage. But Bridgeport, routed 8-1 Wednesday in its season
opener, scored its fourth, fifth and sixth goals from within about
20 feet.

"You can't battle in front of the net anymore because if you push
someone there, it's a penalty,'' Thornton said. "The poor goalies
are facing five and six rebounds off one scoring chance because all
we can do to help them is lift a guy's stick.

"But if you lift it too hard, that's a penalty, too. So you're not
really sure what to do.''

Notes: The Virginian-Pilot's three stars: Bridgeport's Rob Collins
(1) and Kevin Colley (2), each with a goal and two assists, and
Norfolk's Byfuglien (3). ... Norfolk's scratches were Mike Brown,
Matt Keith (broken toe) and Anton Babchuk, who served the final game
of a five-game suspension dating back to when he hit a child with a
thrown water bottle in last season's playoffs. ... The second
intermission was taken with about four minutes left in the second
period after a power outage in the region around Scope killed the
lights for a couple of minutes. ... Box-seat holders at Admirals
games this season can order food such as burgers, chicken tenders
and taco salads from wait staff. Cost is about $9 per item.

Admirals announce captains


10/06/05 -AHL-NORFOLK, VA - Today, the Norfolk Admirals announced
that Ajay Baines will once again serve as team captain for the 2005-
06 season. Additionally, Quintin Laing and Shawn Thornton have been
named assistant captains for 2005-06.


Baines, 27, is in his sixth season with Norfolk, and has been named
captain for the fourth consecutive year. He became the third captain
in franchise history at the start of the 2002-03 season. The
Kamloops, BC, native is the Admirals' all-time regular season games
played leader with 377 games in a Norfolk uniform. Baines is second
in Admirals career goals (61), assists (103) and points (167).

Laing, 26, is also in his sixth season as an Admiral. He has served
as an assistant captain briefly over the past two years. A native of
Harris, SK, the winger has appeared in 284 Admirals career games,
posting 33 goals and 51 assists for 84 points. Laing made his NHL
debut in a three-game stint with the Blackhawks in 2004.

Thornton, 28, begins his fifth season with the Admirals. He was
first named assistant captain during the 2002-03 campaign, and has
since worn an ?A' on his uniform each season. Last year, the Oshawa,
ON, native appeared in his 500th AHL career game and became the
first Admiral to surpass 1,000 Norfolk career penalty minutes. He
begins the 2005-06 season in fourth place on the AHL's all-time PIM
leaders list with 2,231 PIM.

The Admirals begin their sixth AHL campaign with a pair of home
matches against East Division rival Bridgeport (NY Islanders) this
Friday, October 7th and Saturday, October 8th at 7:15 p.m. each
night.

Norfolk Admirals
Release

Sorry for not updating but I will be adding some Shawn stuff to the
group now, and hopefully updating it once a week.

I just added a ton more photos to the On The Ice album. Enjoy!

xx Sugar

Added some photos to the albums, also Shawn played last night in the
game against the Flames. There is a photo in the album from that game.
He seems to be doing well in training camp so keep your fingers
crossed that he stays with the hawks.

Shawn is interviewed on the 9/16/05 Blackhawks Podcast!

http://www.chicagoblackhawks.com/hawkcast/

xx Sugar