I try, but there are far better photographers that capture the countless moments around a Milwaukee Admirals hockey season. This post is for them. (Photo Credit: Daniel Lavender)
I am always a massive fan of the photography that comes during the course of a hockey season. The 2016-17 season provided plenty of great moments worth capturing including the Milwaukee Admirals return to the MECCA – now known as the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena. Whether it be the goals being scored, hits being dished out, celebrations, fights, or even just the artistic elements of showcasing a player and the scale of the fans surrounding them at rinkside – this was a great year.
Before directly hopping into this year in Admirals photography it wouldn’t be right to share a boat load of photos without providing immidiate credit to those who did such a phenomenal job.
The Admirals this season had: Scott Paulus, Jeff Hanisch, Stephanie Moebius, Sara Stathas, and Darren Hauck. Plus, on the fan side of things, we were always fortunate enough to get photos from Jamie Wahl.
On the road there were other great photographers such as: Mark Newman (Grand Rapids), Todd Reicher (Rockford), Greg Hamil (Rockford), Shane Abbitt (Iowa), Ted Sandeen (Iowa), John Saraya (Cleveland), Ross Dettman (Chicago), Darren Abate (San Antonio), Andy Nietupski (Texas), Jacob Kupferman (Charlotte), Jonathan Kozub (Manitoba), and Randy Cleves (Grand Rapids).
Welcome to the month of May, everyone. It is sad knowing that the Milwaukee Admirals season is at an end but, that being said, we still need to round out that final month of the season with Admiral of the Month for April.
The way the results panned out in April weren’t pretty. Between the end of the regular season and playoffs the Admirals finished with a run of 3-5-3-0 in April with two of those overtime defeats coming at the hands of the Grand Rapids Griffins in their opening round match up in the 2017 AHL Calder Cup Playoffs. The Admirals were trying to round out their game and integrate new pieces to the team before the playoffs started. There were simply inconsistencies in form from a team and individual perspective from the start of April to the end of the Admirals 2016-17 season.
(Photo Credit: Scott Paulus)
That’s not to say there weren’t some solid efforts and performances by those on the team to finish on a positive note on an individual basis. Marek Mazanec perhaps doesn’t get enough credit for what he meant for this year’s team and did shoulder the load for the Admirals in net through to the finish line. Mike Ribeiro ended his time with the Admirals by recording 8 assists in the Admirals final 9 games which includes scoring an assist in all 3 games against the Griffins in the playoffs. Frédérick Gaudreau may have only scored a single point, which was a power-play goal, in the final 8 games of the regular season but ended as the Admirals leading scorer in the playoffs with 4 points (3 goals, 1 assist).
(Photo Credit: Jeff Hanisch)
Plus, there are other individuals I feel well worth giving a mention without even thinking about what’s being done offensively. Trevor Smith, Justin Florek, and Adam Payerl all did such great and gritty work down the stretch for the Admirals. Florek especially stood out to me purely in how active he was defensively to generate lots of pressure and get sticks to puck to negate passes and shots on net. I also feel that Jack Dougherty and Justin Kirkland both started to really hit a stride at the end of the season and look very comfortable across the board. Dougherty was a lot more mobile and was showing signs that he could be kicking up another gear for his sophomore season.
Ultimately though I was most impressed by a single player this time around. Someone that didn’t really have a lull along the way in April through all the ups-and-downs that the team was still running through. My Admiral of the Month for April is Vladislav Kamenev.
(Photo Credit: Scott Paulus)
Kamenev has had some bumps along the way in his sophomore season but you certainly get a good sense for a player when they end a season strong. Gaudreau did it in 2014-15. Pontus Åberg did it in 2015-16. And Kamenev did that to end the 2016-17 season. He played the game at a higher pace and looked more aggressive than I feel I’ve seen him play since joining the Admirals last season. He was physical with checking when he needed to be, hounding down puck carriers, and looking to make plays up ice while also crashing towards the net to get the dirty goal – not the highlight reel goal. Kamenev tallied 7 points (5 goals, 2 assist) in 8 games to finish the regular season off. He also scored a goal in Game 2 against the Griffins at the Van Andel Arena. He appeared to thrive at the highest pressure points for the Admirals at season’s end. And he was doing that operating in all facets of the game at center.
~Admiral of the Month Award~
October: Juuse Saros November: Alex Carrier December: Harry Zolnierczyk January: Marek Mazanec February: Frédérick Gaudreau March: Pontus Åberg
April: Vladislav Kamenev
That ends the monthly awards here on Admirals Roundtable for the 2016-17 season. I’m big on giving the award to the one I really feel stamped the best month out be it offensively, defensively, or in net. And, for a second successive season, I’ve just completed a season in which a different player won each and every month. There is something about that which I find great and also highly promising.
Next on tap here at Admirals Roundtable we will be doing more 2016-17 season recap material. I’m effectively going to be doing this all on the fly this go-around. No set plans of what or when but I plan on lumping end season awards into the final report card column. That would be the last of the recap write-ups before calling it a job well done for the season. Keep the eyes out for all that -and- with the Nashville Predators who really have something special going for them at the moment.
Who do you feel was the top performer for the Milwaukee Admirals during the month of April? Was it Kamenev, Gaudreau, Mazanec, Dougherty, or someone else? Tell me who your Admiral of the Month was in the comment section below.
The Nashville Predators have officially recalled Frédérick Gaudreau from the Milwaukee Admirals. This news follows that of Marek Mazanec being recalled Thursday – the day after the Admirals were eliminated from the 2017 AHL Calder Cup Playoffs.
Gaudreau’s work since the 2015-16 season with the Admirals has been among the top of the top. His skill level as well as defensive and skating abilities were easy to spot when he arrived from the QMJHL as an undrafted AHL signing prior to the 2014-15 season but his offense jumped up in his sophomore campaign and increased even further this past season.
During the 2016-17 season, Gaudreau produced 48 points (25 goals, 23 assists) in 66 games with the Admirals in the AHL. He also logged his first career games in the NHL as a member of the Predators where he tallied an assist from 9 games. The soon to be 24-year old forward finished the Admirals recent playoff run as their leading scorer with 4 points (3 goals, 1 assist) in 3 games.
Prior to traveling from Milwaukee to Nashville we had the chance to speak with Gaudreau during the Admirals’ Exit Day. These were his comments on the Admirals season and more.
The sad times keep on rolling as today is Exit Day for the Milwaukee Admirals. This is the last time that the 2016-17 team will be together and everyone is getting exit interviews with the coaching staff and much more to reflect on the past season before dispatching. Some are due for Nashville. Some are heading home but still back next season. And most could be on the way to new phases of their careers.
There is a very good case in most interviews conducted by myself today that I make mention that this is the saddest day of the season and that what made this season so great were the people associated with it. It all comes to light on a day like today when everyone is saying their goodbyes with uncertainty in the air. I feel like if this group had the option to stay together and win together next season they would all want to be back. I’m not sure I have ever seen a more tightly knitted Admirals group.
I put word out yesterday on Twitter to try and get fan feedback on who everyone would like to hear from on Exit Day. I tried to get as many as I possibly could with the 2016-17 group and finished off with a solid sixteen interviews. It is a massive listen but you can scan one-by-one the names of everyone I had the chance to speak with today. I tried to get them all. And that included Vladislav Kamenev – who obliged.
The Nashville Predators have recalled Marek Mazanec from the Milwaukee Admirals following their elimination from the 2017 AHL Calder Cup Playoffs last night. More names of the “Black Aces” are expected to come in the near future.
This season could just as easily been one to forget for Mazanec after having won the back-up role to Pekka Rinne in pre-season camp only to lose out to Juuse Saros by December. It wasn’t a forgettable campaign for the 25-year old Czech native. He came to Milwaukee with a great attitude was very much the backbone of the Admirals.
Mazanec went 27-17-3-1 this season from 47 appearances with a 2.65 goals against average, 0.912 save percentage, and 3 shutouts. In his AHL career with the Admirals he has 82 wins from 165 appearances with 11 shutouts and -offensively- has 11 assists to his name. He very much should be considered in the discussion for one of the best all-time Milwaukee Admirals goaltenders. This recall comes after the Admirals season ends and, with the completion of the 2016-17 season, Mazanec’s contract will also end.
Last night’s result was one that I have been dreading for awhile now. The 2016-17 season for the Milwaukee Admirals is over. It was my fifth around the team and fourth as Editor-in-Chief of Admirals Roundtable. It feels like the more I’m around the Admirals the more playoff exits such as last night sting. And this season it especially hurt to watch it finish so fast.
I said as much in today’s Chatterbox: this year’s team was a special one. While many get to view the on-ice product and talent associated on that level I’m fortunate to get to see that perspective as well as the behind the scenes views to get to know the team that little bit more. I always try to share that perspective as much as I can through interviews but lost in it can be some of the banter or other sights and sounds that come with being around a hockey team for a full-season up close.
This year’s Admirals team was a favorite of mine. The people associated with the team were all such good people and being around a group so upbeat like that is infectious. What you would hope for in an AHL affiliate is to create a positive environment for all the clashing of age, talent levels, personalities, and nationalities to come together and find a level of success through it. They came together immediately. It’s something that hasn’t always been true but you could see it quickly. And it’s why there were so few bad stretches over the course of this past season.
(Photo Credit: Scott Paulus)
I think part of what was as crushing as being eliminated from the playoffs last night for the Admirals was realizing that group of people likely isn’t coming back next season. At first glance, there are 14 players that are at the end of their contracts with the completion of the 2016-17 season: Derek Army, Justin Florek, Frédérick Gaudreau, Jonas Gunnarsson, Mike Liambas, Marek Mazanec, Andrew O’Brien, Adam Pardy, Adam Payerl, Stephen Perfetto, Rick Pinkston, Mike Ribeiro, Mark Visentin, and Matt White. As great as it would be for those names to return the chances of so much as half of those names coming back are slim. The off-season coming up for the Nashville Predators and their AHL affiliate could very well be a busy one. Whether it be positive or negative isn’t known yet. What is known is that this year’s group was positive and deserved more than to be swept out of the playoffs. It’s sad that it ended early but those who were part of this year’s team all became better for having been part of it.
For all the players who took the time out after practices and games to provide interviews here on Admirals Roundtable: thank you for doing so. For the coaching staff and more associated around the team rinkside – Dean Evason, Stan Drulia, Scott Ford, David Rook, Scott Nichol, Ryan Costello, Doug Agnew, Jason Nordby, and the Equipment Crew of Kris, Adam, and Q – thank you for your time, the banter, and the insight.
(Photo Credit: Scott Paulus)
Of course, thank you mentions wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the entire Milwaukee Admirals front office. This season was an adventure for the entire staff of the Admirals behind the scenes as they all embarked on this new adventure with the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena. It was always going to start as an adventure with Year-One featuring growing pains and learning experiences that all can be improved over time. I greatly enjoyed the return to the MECCA this season. I know it will be even better over time through fan feedback and the years of improvements still to come to renovating the classic venue which immediately felt like -home- for the Admirals this season.
(Photo Credit: Jeremy K. Gover)
And now to end on the personal note. I’ve had moments this season where I slipped away from the byline. There was a reason for doing that. This past season was quite possibly my last. It has been an immensely draining season for myself behind the scenes and one that has had me mentally burned out. I’ve been chasing a dream since I was 14-years old. I turn 29-years old this July and have spent the last five seasons with the Admirals living out my dream. Yet, reality has kicked the crap out of me all season long and the need of full-time work has taken over the hope for full-time work. I’ve lost the hope for full-time work. I really have. And while I’ve treated Admirals Roundtable as a full-time job for these past four seasons – it was never meant to be treated as such. If there was a happy medium? That would be great -but- I still need to detach and find it. If this season really was the last for me? It was the last season for me. I’m proud of what I’ve been able to accomplish. I can’t think of anything more I could have done or things I would do differently. I am forever grateful to everyone who I’ve come across on this journey. I have met such great people and it is those relationships that have made my pursuit of this dream of mine even more of a dream worth chasing.
I suppose the end message here is that I don’t know what the future holds. Not for exactly what the Milwaukee Admirals will look like for the 2017-18 season or if myself will be there to cover it. I do know that the ride that was the 2016-17 season was a great one. I want to thank everyone for being part of it. This has been a hugely memorable one for me. And that’s courtesy of all of you.
Cheers,
Daniel Lavender
Editor-in-Chief
Admirals Roundtable
The Milwaukee Admirals 3-2 defeat in overtime last night on home ice against the Grand Rapids Griffins is a difficult one to take on many levels. It ends the 2016-17 season on an all to familiar note here with the Admirals but also one that stinks of last season when the Griffins got the better of an Admirals group that could have displayed that little bit more that they know they can show.
Above all, and what sticks with me, is that this year’s Admirals team was a special one from the beginning. It gelled immediately. There was this wonderful blending of veteran leadership, high level skill, size and grit, players on the cusp of being NHL talent, and prospects that came more and more into their own. Beyond all of that: this was a Milwaukee Admirals team filled with tremendous people.
I want to say, in my four seasons here on Admirals Roundtable, going into the locker room after that loss and seeing the team is the most difficult thing I’ve had to see. They were heartbroken. They knew this year’s team deserved better than what it had just been dealt. All the individual stories. All the ups-and-downs as individuals. The team coming together and battling for seven months. Gone. It all stopped in its place after a best of five series in three games.
A lot can be said of the Admirals playoff track record. Their last victory in the playoffs came four-years ago today when the Admirals defeated the Texas Stars 2-0 at the BMO Harris Bradley Center with Magnus Hellberg earning a 23-save shutout. The Admirals would lose the next two games of that series to be eliminated from the 2013 AHL Calder Cup Playoffs. Ever since? The Admirals were swept by the Toronto Marlies in 2014. They failed to make the playoffs in 2015. They were swept by the Griffins in 2016. And have been swept -again- by the Griffins in 2017. The Admirals have lost eleven consecutive playoff games – and that will carry into their next playoff series in the future with a chance to become even uglier.
(Photo Credit: Shane Abbitt)
What I very much hope that fans realize is the big picture that comes with AHL hockey and the Milwaukee Admirals. Would it be nice for the players, the coaching staff, and the fans to celebrate a Calder Cup? Absolutely. Is that the grandest prize of them all to win? No, but the AHL being a league of constant learning and development affords the opportunity to gear players and coaches alike towards an eventual end goal of being Stanley Cup caliber talent. Every season is different. Every series is different. And every game played is different. With these playoff losses and early exits come disappointment but also opportunity to learn and to grow. The Admirals may not have much to show for the immense amount of work that they’ve put in these last few seasons but all you need to do is look at the Nashville Predators to know that the Admirals are very much not failing in their mission of preparing players for the NHL futures they aspire for.
(Photo Credit: Scott Paulus)
This third straight playoff exit by way of being swept? It sucks. It hurts. And it’s a shame when asking the “what if” of it all. But the platform for future success is there. The Predators and Admirals are joined at the hip for a further five-seasons. What the organization is doing is striving for the future. It’s built for the future and starving for top to bottom success in the years to come. The Predators haven’t won a Stanley Cup in their history as a franchise yet. The Admirals haven’t won a Calder Cup since 2004. The reason for optimism that both can change that in the coming years far outweighs the thought that both will continue to be stuck in place. The Admirals being eliminated in the 2017 AHL Calder Cup Playoffs could be a factor in helping both accomplish just that. There are lessons to be learned from many because of it. And the experience is important.
After last night’s game I spoke with Milwaukee Admirals head coach Dean Evason. I then caught up with Adam Pardy, Justin Kirkland, and Trevor Smith. These were last night’s post-game comments.
Comments on the comments? What does the future hold for this Milwaukee Admirals team? Should the organization look to bring back as many of the puzzle pieces as possible for the 2017-18 season?
The Milwaukee Admirals lost 3-2 in overtime against the Grand Rapids Griffins at the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena on Wednesday night. The Admirals have been eliminated from the 2017 AHL Calder Cup Playoffs. The Griffins will play against the Chicago Wolves in the Western Conference Semi-Finals.
In the second game of the series to reach overtime the same result played out. The Griffins were able to sneak a puck past Marek Mazanec but this time it was Kyle Criscuolo playing the overtime hero as he scored the game-winner and series clincher from a net front redirect.
“We were extremely proud and happy of how we played all year,” said Milwaukee Admirals head coach Dean Evason after the game. “And that includes these last three hockey games. We lost in overtime in Game 1. We lost a 3-2 game in Game 2. We lost in overtime in Game 3. You can’t be disappointed in your group if you believe that they played their asses off. They were committed. They played for each other. And they just didn’t get the job done.”
This game wouldn’t get an opening goal until the second period. The Griffins were awarded power-play for tripping moments after they got away with a trip defending Mike Ribeiro. Yet, a strong penalty kill from the Admirals ended with a goal just as Justin Florek was stepping out of the box. Justin Kirkland left a puck back on the left point for Trevor Murphy who stepped up, measured a wrister, and shot high stick side on Jared Coreau to get the Admirals ahead 1-0.
With 2:06 remaining in the second period the Griffins had a near chance on a jam play to the net that required video review. It was confirmed as “no goal” but Derek Army did receive a delay of game call on the play which helped setup a Griffins power-play goal moments later. Alex Carrier attempted to get a zone clearance was held and Evgeny Svechnikov’s follow up shot was blocked down en route to the net. Tomas Nosek was first man to react on the loose puck and zipped it past Marek Mazanec to level things up at 1-1.
In the closing minutes of the third period Murphy smashed home from the left wing again. Anthony Richard emptied his gas tank to win a loose puck down the right wing and threw into the empty left wing corner. Ribeiro would arrive and leave a touch pass behind for Murphy to unleash a howitzer through Coreau for his second of the night and put the Admirals back on top 2-1.
The Griffins would equalize with 3:38 remaining in regulation. The Griffins won a face-off back to the right point where Robbie Russo tagged a shot pass into the high slot for Matt Lorito that alluded Mazanec in net to make it a 2-2 game.
Stress would heighten further as a Richard clearance attempt fluttered over the glass for delay of game with 1:43 remaining in regulation. The Griffins would burn their timeout to draw up a play but time would expire and their power-play would be cut short by the ending of the third period. The Admirals would finish the rest off to begin overtime.
As overtime hauled on the Admirals woes from the long change period seemed to tickle over. The Griffins sustained countless waves of attacks and finally were rewarded for their relentless pressure. Dan Renouf’s shot from the left point was harshly redirected right on the doorstep of goal in front of Mazanec to get the game-winner in overtime and complete the Griffins second successive opening round playoff sweep of the Admirals.
With the loss tonight the Admirals have been swept out of the opening round of the AHL Calder Cup Playoffs for a third successive appearance. They have lost eleven consecutive playoff games and see the end of their 2016-17 season in the same crushing circumstances as last season with the Griffins advancing at their expense. In the coming days here on Admirals Roundtable we will be fulfilling our end-season recap material while supporting the Nashville Predators continued run through the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Ramblings: Since the Milwaukee Admirals last played on Sunday there were no changes made for the Admirals roster but they did tinker with the line combinations for tonight’s game: Richard-Ribeiro-Gaudreau, Perfetto-Smith-Payerl, White-Kamenev-Kirkland, Florek-Army-Liambas, Pardy-Carrier, O’Brien-Granberg, Murphy-Dougherty. Tonight’s scratches were: Bass (lower-body injury), Girard (healthy), Kelleher (undisclosed injury), Moy (healthy), Pinkston (healthy), Trenin (healthy), and Visentin (healthy). Andrew O’Brien returned to the Admirals lineup after having missed the last six Admirals games with an undisclosed injury.
What were your thoughts on tonight’s game? Where could the Milwaukee Admirals have won this series or were they just a few bad breaks against the Grand Rapids Griffins away from being in a similar position in the series?
The Milwaukee Admirals returned to practice and the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena this morning ahead of Game 3 tomorrow night against the Grand Rapids Griffins. The Admirals are up against the sword right now trailing 2-0 in the best-of-five opening round series and are hoping to fight back on home ice.
There were quite a few changes in the lines this morning. Tyler Moy appears to be out with Stephen Perfetto checking in. Moy skated the full practice and an additional skate-around long after practice completed alongside Tyler Kelleher who only skated in that session. Kelleher was the lone odd-man out in today’s main session as Andrew O’Brien did a full skate with the team alongside Rick Pinkston.
Above all, what I was hoping to see today I did catch. This Admirals group does not look deflated or downtrodden. They looked loose, revved up, and ready to go. There have been times in the past when I’ve seen an Admirals team look like the life was sucked out of them when going down 2-0. That is not the case right now and their focus is firmly set on a step-by-step basis. That first period tomorrow night should say a lot for how the rest of the game will go. The Admirals are looking to come out hard to set a tone.
After practice was completed I had the opportunity to speak with Milwaukee Admirals head coach Dean Evason to get his insight into the series and what to expect out of the group tomorrow night. I also chatted with Trevor Smith, Jack Dougherty, Mike Liambas, and Cody Bass to get their thoughts on the games in Grand Rapids and tomorrow’s crucial Game 3.
Comments on the comments? Is this Milwaukee Admirals team capable of coming all the way back from 2-0 down against the Grand Rapids Griffins?
Tyler Bertuzzi is a lightning rod of attention on the ice for all the wrong reasons when he faces the Milwaukee Admirals. And that is how he finds success for the Grand Rapids Griffins time and time again. (Photo Credit: Mark Newman)
Do the Milwaukee Admirals miss the services of Pontus Åberg? No. Do the referees in charge of the series matter? No. Do the calls being made in this series go firmly against the Admirals? No. Do the Admirals trail the Grand Rapids Griffins after the first leg of the best of five series? Yes, and they are one more defeat from a third successive playoff exit by way of sweep and eleven consecutive playoff defeats.
Anyone who has followed this year’s Admirals closely can say that the team is a special one. There is a great balance of quality leadership and great young talent all meshed together. When all pieces to the puzzle come together the Admirals can be a devastating team to play against through their high speed and skill level as well as being physical on defense with great goaltending to support it.
The Admirals are not down 2-0 to the Griffins in this opening round best of five series because of any one specific loss of those great attributes. There have been times when Marek Mazanec has really shouldered the weight in net. There have been smart defensive reads that have been very disruptive against Griffins attacks. And the Admirals offense has shown moments where they can be relentless.
Why the Admirals aren’t making a dent on the Griffins comes down to momentary lapses in all of those great attributes not coming good as well as the Admirals doing the number one thing that they couldn’t allow the Griffins to do in this series in order for them to have success. The Griffins are under the Admirals skin.
With any divisional match-up there are great rivalries founded on the constant battles held throughout a season. While there is great turn-over in the AHL many divisional rivalries can really last out down to how strong the affiliate clubs are for so long. That’s what the Admirals and Griffins has been with the Nashville Predators and Detroit Red Wings both scouting, drafting, and developing so well for so long. In part, this rivalry comes mainly down to sheer dominance and having the say of who is superior. The other part comes from something the Griffins excel in: talking, talking, and more talking.
Whether it be Tyler Bertuzzi, Mitch Callahan, Colin Campbell, Joe Hicketts, or Dylan McIlrath – the Griffins talk a ton after a whistle, in scrums, at face-offs, and around the bench. That nature of their team has been blatant since the 2015-16 season. It worked then. It works now. And the Admirals play up to it by disregarding what it is they do well to play into the Griffins antics.
As all of the talking gets played up what the Griffins get to do is allow their skill players and veterans to dictate and pace the game. The Admirals are fighting a different battle on the ice and losing the most important one. The style in which the Griffins play, to me, is never one that will win a Calder Cup because a far more heads-up and mature team will come in, ignore the talking, and play their own game much like the Lake Erie Monsters did a season ago. The Admirals need to be that team. But they aren’t right now. They are letting the Griffins pull their strings time and time again.
The great news that shouldn’t be lost one bit by how the first two games of the series played out is this: the Admirals host Game 3 on Wednesday night at 7:00 PM CDT. This series isn’t over. The Admirals are still as special of a team as everyone knows that they are and can be. They just need to smooth out a few areas of their game and -most importantly- kill the talking with deafening silence. The Admirals chirp back at the Griffins banter needs to be voiced by the scoreboard and the fans at the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena.
For the Admirals to put everything together and take Game 3 provides them the exact same atmosphere, ability, and opportunity in Game 4 on home ice. That is when this series sees pressure sway but that can only truly happen if the Admirals let go of the talking, let go of the post-whistle run ins, and stick to their strengths. The Admirals are still alive in this series. It is on them to keep it that way on Wednesday night.
Admirals Roundtable 