Norfolk Admirals
The Norfolk Admirals are in the East Division of the Eastern Conference of the American Hockey League. On June 9, 2012, the Admirals captured their first ever Calder Cup with a 6-1 win over the Toronto Marlies. After their victory their 5 year agreement to be the AHL affiliate of the NHL's Tampa Bay Lightning and the ECHL's Florida Everblades expired.
The team has played at the at the Norfolk Scope Arena in Norfolk, Virginia since 1989. The Arena was opened in 1971 and has a capacity of 8,725 for hockey.
The Norfolk Admirals began in the East Coast Hockey League in 1989. The team transfered to the American Hockey League as an expansion franchise for the 2000-01 season. Norfolk is one of two franchises in the AHL named the Admirals, sharing the nickname with the Milwaukee Admirals. The Milwaukee franchise transferred from the defunct International Hockey League, and were allowed to keep their previous moniker.
Norfolk's geographically closest rivals are the Charlotte Checkers, Hershey Bears and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. The Admirals have two mascots, a dog named Salty and dog/rabbit hybrid named Hat Trick.
On March 19, 2007, the Chicago Blackhawks announced that their affiliation with the Admirals would end after the 2006-2007 season. On March 29, 2007, the Tampa Bay Lightning officially announced the Admirals as their new affiliate. In June 2012, the Admirals became the affiliate of the NHL's Anaheim Ducks.
AHL Results
| Season | Games | Won | Lost | Tied | OTL | SOL | Points | Goals for |
Goals against |
Standing | Playoffs | |
| 2000-01 | 80 | 36 | 26 | 13 | 5 | - | 90 | 241 | 208 | 3rd, South | 2nd round, 1-4, Hershey | |
| 2001-02 | 80 | 38 | 26 | 12 | 4 | - | 92 | 222 | 205 | 1st, South | 1st round, 1-3, Hershey | |
| 2002-03 | 80 | 37 | 26 | 12 | 5 | - | 91 | 201 | 187 | 1st, South | 2nd round, 2-4, Houston | |
| 2003-04 | 80 | 35 | 36 | 4 | 5 | - | 79 | 172 | 187 | 5th, East | 1st round, 2-4, Philadelphia | |
| 2004-05 | 80 | 43 | 30 | - | 6 | 1 | 93 | 200 | 188 | 3rd, East | 1st round, 2-4, Philadelphia | |
| 2005-06 | 80 | 43 | 29 | - | 4 | 4 | 94 | 259 | 246 | 3rd, East | 1st round, 0-4, Hershey | |
| 2006-07 | 80 | 50 | 22 | - | 6 | 2 | 108 | 301 | 257 | 3rd, East | 1st round, 2-4, Wilkes-Barre | |
| 2007-08 | 80 | 29 | 44 | - | 2 | 5 | 65 | 213 | 267 | 7th, East | Out of playoffs | |
| 2008-09 | 80 | 33 | 38 | - | 4 | 5 | 75 | 236 | 269 | 6th, East | Out of playoffs | |
| 2009-10 | 80 | 39 | 35 | - | 3 | 3 | 84 | 208 | 214 | 4th, East | Out of playoffs | |
| 2010-11 | 80 | 39 | 26 | - | 9 | 6 | 93 | 265 | 230 | 4th, East | 1st round, 2-4, Wilkes-Barre | |
| 2011-12 | 76 | 55 | 18 | - | 1 | 2 | 113 | 273 | 180 | 1st, East | Finals, 4-0, Toronto |
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Steven Stamkos
Victor Hedman
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Steve Yzerman
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Brett Connolly
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Florida Everblades