IceCaps season comes to an end

ST. JOHN’S, Newfoundland and Labrador – With just over three minutes

remaining in the third period of Tuesday’s game between the St. John’s IceCaps and Norfolk Admirals, the fans of Mile One Centre rose from their seats and began cheering the home team for one last time this season.
The IceCaps trailed the Admirals 4-0 on the scoreboard and 3-0 in the best-of-seven AHL Eastern Conference final and were mere moments away from having their season come to an end. Rather than shower the team with boos or catcalls after a disappointing showing against the Admirals, the IceCaps’ fans decided to send the team off in style with a standing ovation that lasted until after the teams had shaken hands and were headed back to their locker rooms.  
“With regards to the fans, the cheers, the staying behind without a person leaving, them giving the players a standing ovation, that was something special,” said St. John’s head coach Keith McCambridge.
The IceCaps fell 4-0 in game four of the Eastern Conference final, as they were swept by a more talented and deeper Admirals team. Norfolk outscored St. John’s 14-2 in the series and routinely displayed the ability to completely shut the IceCaps down offensively.
Perhaps it should have come as no surprise, given the fact the Admirals led the AHL with 55 wins this season while setting a league record with 28 consecutive regular season victories. However, despite all of the Admirals’ credentials, the IceCaps still couldn’t help but feel disappointed with the way their season ended.
“Obviously, we’re pretty upset. We had higher expectations,” said IceCaps forward John Albert. “Our goal this season was to win the Calder Cup, and we thought we had the team to do it.”
The mood in the IceCaps locker room was somber after game four, with a number of players showing the emotion of a playoff loss in the way they spoke and interacted with each other. Given the nature of professional hockey, especially in a feeder league such as the AHL, the players know they won’t all be back in St. John’s next season.
A couple of players have a chance to crack the Winnipeg Jets roster in the fall, while some veterans may choose to take their game to Europe for a bigger paycheck and reduced schedule. Others will be traded, waived or reassigned to a lower league once the 2012-13 season starts in October.
According to IceCaps defenseman Paul Postma, these realities of pro hockey make a tough playoff loss even harder to accept.
“Once you say goodbye at the end of the year, you know you’re not going to play with the same guys again,” said Postma, who is in contention for a spot on the Jets’ blue line next year. “You might play with some of them, but not all of them. So it’s going to be hard to say goodbye and wish them all the best.”
Although the IceCaps were unable to reach their goal of a Calder Cup championship, the coaching staff and several players maintain they are proud of the season the team put together in 2011-12. They finished first in their division in the regular season, had 47 consecutive sellout crowds at home (regular season and playoffs combined) and had a number of players perform well during call-ups to the parent team in Winnipeg.
“I’m proud of all the guys in that room. I’m proud of everything they pushed through this season,” said McCambridge. “They laid everything on the line through call-ups and injuries. I wish them all the best wherever they’re going to end up next season. This is not the ending we wanted, but I really thought the guys put everything they had onto the ice.”
McCambridge added that the Admirals deserve full credit for winning the series in four games. He said Norfolk has a talented team that is well coached and plays a very well designed system game in and game out.
“Anytime you can only score two goals in a four-game series, you’re obviously playing against a very good opponent,” said McCambridge. “They put together a record winning streak for a reason. They are a very tough team to play against.”
Evan Oberg, Tyler Johnson, Trevor Smith and Brandon Segal scored for the Admirals in their 4-0 win on Tuesday night. Johnson and Segal registered power play goals in the game.
Dustin Tokarksi stopped all 29 shots he faced to record his second consecutive shutout. Eddie Pasquale made 38 saves for the IceCaps, including 16 in a Norfolk-dominated first period.
The game’s three stars were Tokarski, Smith and Pasquale respectively.
The Admirals will face the winner of the AHL Western Conference final between Oklahoma City and Toronto in the Calder Cup final.
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