Virginia-based team will serve as Hurricanes’ ECHL affiliate
RALEIGH, N.C. – Don Waddell, President and General Manager of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the Hurricanes have reached an affiliation agreement with the ECHL’s Norfolk Admirals through the 2021-22 season.
“We’re excited to partner with the Norfolk Admirals and have some of our Hurricanes prospects playing just three hours down the road in Virginia,” said Waddell. “Owned and led by former Admirals player Patrick Cavanagh, the Admirals have a proud history and following in Hampton Roads.”
“The Norfolk Admirals affiliation with the Carolina Hurricanes is a tremendous new chapter in our 32-year history, one in which our fan base and the Hampton Roads community will truly celebrate for our upcoming season,” said Admirals Owner and CEO Patrick Cavanagh. “Many within our Admirals community already follow the Hurricanes, so to be a part of their player developmental journey and to share it with our fans at Scope is an incredible experience. I would like to thank Don Waddell for his world-class leadership and trust in the Norfolk Admirals. The excitement level has reached a new high for our upcoming season and our October 22 home opener.”\
The Admirals have been based in Norfolk, Va., since 1989. Originally named the Hampton Roads Admirals, the team competed in the ECHL from 1989-2000, winning league championships in 1991, 1992 and 1998. The franchise joined the American Hockey League (AHL) as the Norfolk Admirals in 2000 and won the Calder Cup in 2012. Norfolk rejoined the ECHL in 2015.
