The Best Of The Best

There isn't a lot more than can be said of the Norfolk Admirals this season. They literally are the best team in the AHL, and they proved that with a resounding statement game in Game Four of the Calder Cup Final. Yesterday afternoon, they capped off a marvelous season with a 6-1 win over the Toronto Marlies to sweep the Calder Cup Final and put the finishing touches on a season for the ages in winning its first Calder Cup in the team's twelve-year history in the AHL.

This is a team that won 28-straight games to close the season.
This is a team that lost only three times in its last 46 games.
This is a team that recorded 70 wins in 94 games this season.
This is a team that swept the final two series of the playoffs.
This is a team that hasn't trailed in a game in the last two series.
This is a team that went 15-3 in the playoffs.
This is a team that closed the playoffs on a ten-game winning streak.
This is a team that won the AHL's regular season title.
This is a team that won the AHL's Calder Cup.

In short, the Norfolk Admirals were undoubtedly the best team in the AHL from February forward. After a 4-3 loss to Springfield on Super Bowl Sunday, the Admirals found themselves sitting in third in their division and looked like they would fight for a playoff spot as the home stretch of the season began. However, from February 10th until April 20, the team put together 28 wins in a row, and the once-struggling Admirals were suddenly juggernauts from that point forward.

Sure, they dropped a game to the Manchester Monarchs in the playoffs. Sure, they dropped two games to the Connecticut Whale in the playoffs. But they never once trailed in the series against the St. John's IceCaps nor did they trail in the series against the Toronto Marlies. Both of those series, as you can probably deduce, were sweeps for Norfolk.

So what does any dominant team do after beating the heck out of the rest of the league en route to winning the Calder Cup? If you guessed "shave their beards off", HBIC has something like that!

Those guys seriously need a shave. I heard the band ZZ Top is jealous of a couple of the Admirals for their beards! In all seriousness, though, it's good to see the guys trying to get donations for shaving their beards in order to help the St. Baldrick's Foundation. The St. Baldrick's Foundation is a volunteer-driven charity committed to funding the most promising research to find cures for childhood cancers and give survivors long and healthy lives. Anything that goes towards helping kids beat cancer gets a big thumbs-up from me. Well done, Admirals!

Congratulations to the 2012 AHL Calder Cup Champion NORFOLK ADMIRALS!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!