NORFOLK, VA – It’s all about numbers. While the world was counting down numbers to the beginning of a New Year the Norfolk Admirals were working on improving a set of their own. Stats. Ratings and Point’s, when it comes down to it hockey is all about the numbers.
Photo by Lisa Murphy-Wood
Four. Four is the number of transactions the Admirals have seen in the last two weeks. Vladimir Mihalik started his new year being called up to Tampa Bay. He was followed a day later by Ty Wishart. Wishart’s one game stint was his first professional appearance; Milhalik had ice time in three games, his first since preseason. Both were returned to Norfolk a few short days later.
Brent Henley was, once again, re-assigned to the Admirals from loan to Mississippi. Mitch Ganzak was signed to a PTO on January 3rd and released on January 4th. Karri Ramo, Jamie Heward, Paul Szczechura and Matt Smaby are currently still in Tampa.
Three. Three is the number of road games the Admirals started the New Year off with. They returned home last week after suffering two losses and a win in Portland and Worcester. They face the Worcester Sharks this coming week in a pair of back to back games on home ice. Saturday
Photo by Lisa Murphy-Wood
One. One is the number of goals they lost by this past Wednesday against the Hershey Bears, as they started an eight game home stand. The win was not an easy victory for the Bears by any means and the Admirals were unwavering in their fight to develop their numbers. Brandon Bochenski and Bracken Kearns scored goals for Norfolk but in the end it came down to the one goal lead for Hershey to claim the victory.
Eight. Eight seconds is the time it took for Capt Zenon Konopka to score in the first period Friday night as the Admirals hosted a pair of games against the Manchester Monarchs. The Admirals rallied together in a victorious game taking the victory, 4-2. Manchester hit the ice Saturday night determined not to allow a replay of Zonopka’s almost instantaneous goal the night before by posting the first goal of the evening themselves less then two minutes into the game. Both teams played hard but the Admirals prevailed taking the win for the second night, 4-3.
Photo by Lisa Murphy-Wood
Six. Six is the number of points the Admirals have gained since the New Year. With their points and stat’s rising they are single mindedly working to over coming a rather lack luster start to the season as a team and as individuals. Steve Downie has points in the last 11 of the last 14 games.
Bracken Kearns and Brandon Bochenski have points in the last three games and Gratton has points in six straight games, points in eight of the ten games since joining the Admrials.
The Admirals are 7-3-0-0 in the last ten games and are currently holding the sixth place slot in the Eastern Division.
A special thanks to Corey Drouin. My favorite sounding board.
Contact the author at lisa.murphywood@prohockeynews.com.
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