Norfolk Admirals to switch affiliation

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) - The Calder Cup championship celebration outside Scope Wednesday is turning out to be a going away party for the current players on the Norfolk Admirals .

The Admirals’ National Hockey League parent Tampa Bay Lightning will announce this afternoon that it is moving its American Hockey League affiliate to Syracuse, N.Y. next season.

“There will still be AHL hockey at Scope next season,” said Keith Phillips, Director of Media Relations for the Admirals. “We anticipate announcing an affiliation agreement with a National Hockey League partner in the near future.”

Norfolk’s new parent is expected to be the Anaheim Ducks, which had been the Syracuse partner this past season.

Even though the Admirals will have a new parent club and new players next season, the team will still look the same. The Admirals nickname, logo, and jersey colors belong to the local ownership and will remain in Norfolk. Players, coaches, trainers, and equipment staff are all Lightning property and will go to Syracuse, Phillips said.

Tampa Bay Lightning spokesman Bill Wickett said the Lightning decided to move to Syracuse to give players more time to develop. Syracuse is geographically closer to more AHL cities and will allow players more time on the ice and more time for rest.

Talk of an affiliate swap with Syracuse grew louder just as the Admirals were making a run at the Calder Cup, which they won in a four game sweep over the Toronto Marlies last weekend. During the Finals, Admirals Head Coach Jon Cooper tried to soften the news when he told the Sportswrap that AHL fans fall in love with a team, not its players, regardless of affiliation.

Hundreds of fans attended the city celebration at Scope Wednesday to see the Calder Cup in person, as well as cheer on their team one last time. A large group of fans also met the team at the airport on Monday when the team returned from Toronto.

Photos: Norfolk Admirals Celebration

"Norfolk has been a great home for us, but ultimately a lot goes into this decision,” Cooper said last week.

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