12/31/10 Pair of Top 10 Nominee

From the week of 12/24, comes a shot from the lone game of the week of the Milwaukee Admirals visiting the Chicago Wolves at the All-State Arena on December 18th. An uneventful and unsuccessful game for the Admirals, but an impressive shot thanks to Spencer Machacek's diving effort to stop Admirals Andreas Thuresson.



This week's Top 10 Nominee comes from last night (December 30th) in Rockford, where Houston's latest addition, Pascal Morency managed to get under the skin of Rockford's Kyle Hagel following an uneventful fight.

12/30/10 Nicholas Drazenovic

Closing out the final regular picture of the year, is Peoria's Nicholas Drazenovic making some pretty snow as he brings the puck into the offensive zone. 2010's final Top 10 Nominee comes tomorrow (along with a make-up one from Christmas Eve).

Houston Aeros at Peoria Rivermen, November 5, 2010.

12/29/10 Kyle Hagel/Kelsey Wilson

With Rockford's Kyle Hagel and Milwaukee's Kelsey Wilson squaring off last night, here's a shot from Round 1 in Rockford on December 10th.

12/28/10 Jeremy Smith

Admirals goalie Jeremy Smith deflects a shot into the corner against the Chicago Wolves; Milwaukee Admirals at Chicago Wolves, December 18, 2010.

12/23/10 Aaron Johnson

Admirals defenseman Aaron Johnson separates a Lake Erie Monster from the puck; Lake Erie Monsters vs. Milwaukee Admirals, December 17, 2010.

12/22/10 Julien Brouillette

Julien Brouillette takes a shot from the blue line; Lake Erie Monsters vs. Milwaukee Admirals, December 17, 2010.

12/21/10 Roman Josi (Top 10 Nominee)

Belated Top 10 Nominee from the 12/17 week, Roman Josi slides the puck past Rockford Icehogs goalie Hannu Toivonen to win the shootout for the Milwaukee Admirals; December 10, 2010.

Wolves rout Admirals 5-1 (12/18/10)

Last week's Top 10 Nominee to come tomorrow.

Admirals defeated Barons (12/12/10)

The Milwaukee Admirals defeated the Oklahoma City Barons 2-1 last Saturday in the Barons first game in Milwaukee. Mark Santorelli and Chris Mueller scored for Milwaukee with Liam Reddox netting the lone Barons goal.

Photos from Stars controvercial win against Milwaukee (12/11/10)

Travis Morin netted the game-winner for the Texas Stars after teammate Greg Rallo and Admiral defenseman Teemu Laakso barreled over Ads goalie Chet Pickard in an eventful 3-2 Stars win.

Photos from Admirals win in Rockford (12/10/12)

The Admirals came back from a 2-0 deficit to tie up the game in the late stages of the 3rd period, while Roman Josi gave the Ads the win in the shootout.

12/10/10 Al Montoya (Top 10 Nominee)

Rampage goalie Al Montoya receives this weeks Top 10 nomination with this glove save against the Chicago Wolves; December 8, 2010.

12/9/10 Rampage crush Wolves 5-2

The San Antonio Rampage made their first appearance to the All-State Arena last night, outworking the Chicago Wolves for their 3rd win against the Wolves this season. Al Montoya started for San Antonio but was replaced in the 2nd Period by Matt Climie following his collision with Nigel Dawes.

Snap Shots 12/8/10

Thanks to reading The Third Intermission and Ms.Conduct on a regular basis, I'm taking a couple of their segments and implementing it for this blog on a random basis.

-----------------------------------



No photo recap for the GR/Milwaukee game last Friday? Well, frankly, like most of the home games of late, the Admirals haven't been showing much effort so I didn't feel that it warranted me spending the effort to sort and caption a bunch of photos of a game filled with Milwaukee suck. (See what I did there?)

-----------------------------------

Speaking of the Admirals, Gabriel Bourque is about the only player that I've had any interest in watching this year. Reminiscent of Antti Pihlstrom a couple years ago without the scoring touch... yet. Only 19, he should be in Milwaukee for a couple years to add that part of the game like he did in the Q.

(Note: Still have love for the Dexshow, who is currently with the Preds, and to which 90% of the Ads wins can be directly attributed.)

-----------------------------------



For as much as I'm not feeling it for the Admirals so far, I am really enjoying this year's Houston Aeros team. With the exception of the loss of Barry Brust, the team didn't lose any critical players and in turn upgraded with younger talent with higher ceilings. Still not the scoring power that was the 08/09 team but miles ahead of last year's team.

-----------------------------------



Finally, who expected the massive breakout of Matthieu Beaudoin down in San Antonio this year? So far, 27 pts in 25 games after bouncing between various AHL teams the past couple of years. (An ex-Aero and Admiral to boot)

-----------------------------------

Off to the San Antonio Rampage vs. Chicago Wolves game tonight at the All-State Arena to see the #1 team in the AHL Western Conference. Look for a photo recap of that on Thursday!

12/7/10 Ryan Thang

Milwaukee Admiral Ryan Thang prepares for a wrap-around attempt. Grand Rapids Griffins at Milwaukee Admirals; December 3, 2010.

12/6/10 Joey MacDonald

Griffins goalie Joey MacDonald makes a pad save in warmups before their game against the Milwaukee Admirals; Grand Rapids Griffins vs. Milwaukee Admirals, December 3, 2010

12/4/10 (Top 10 Nominee)

Been away from hockey for personal reasons (along with the fact the Admirals had been out of town for the past month), but still needed to get one up for Black Friday.

From the November 20th game is Spencer Machacek's goal in the 2nd period for the Chicago Wolves against the Houston Aeros as he taps a fluttering puck into the net.

11/22/10 Peter Mannino

Peter Mannino prepares to stop the shot of Houston's Petr Kalus; Houston Aeros at Chicago Wolves, November 20, 2010

11/19/10 The Post (Top 10 Nominee)

Unfortunately, only shooting last Saturday's Aeros/Rivermen game gave limited choices for a Top 10 Nominee. In this shot, the Houston Aeros came close in the first period of taking the lead, unfortunately, hitting the corner post as defenseman Maxim Noreau was in front of Peoria goaltender Jake Allen. The Aeros would end up being shutout 3-0 by the Rivermen.

11/17/10 Nicholas Drazenovic

Peoria Rivermen forward Nicholas Drazenovic; Peoria Rivermen at Milwaukee Admirals, March 7, 2010.

11/16/10 Brock McBride

Continuing the Aeros theme since its the only game I've been to in the past week is Aeros center Brock McBride. Houston Aeros at Peoria Rivermen, November 13, 2010.

11/15/10 Matt McIlvane

Peoria Rivermen's Matt McIlvane put the team up 1-0 with this 2nd Period score on Houston Aeros's goalie Anton Khudobin. Houston Aeros at Peoria Rivermen, November 13, 2010.

11/12/10 Mark Dekanich (Top 10 Nominee)

Milwaukee Admirals goalie Mark Dekanich played strong in the team's 4-1 win over rival Chicago on Sunday November 7th, including this pad save on the Wolves' #2 Paul Postma for this weeks Top 10 Nominee.

11/11/10 Ben Smith

Rockford's Ben Smith takes a shot. Rockford Icehogs at Milwaukee Admirals, November 3, 2010.

11/10/10 Mark Dekanich

Milwaukee Admirals goalie Mark Dekanich sporting some new paint on his mask for the 2010/11 season. November 3, 2010

11/7/10 Admirals defeat Wolves

After losing the first 3 games of the season series, the Milwaukee Admirals finally got the upper hand on the Chicago Wolves. Mark Santorelli had 2 goals in the game, while Mark Dekanich stopped 26 of 27 shots on goal for the Ads.

11/5/10 Admirals win in shootout thanks to posts

After tying the game up thanks to a cleared puck bouncing off the posts supporting the side boards, the Milwaukee Admirals defeated the Peoria Rivermen 3-2 in the shootout as Peoria's Phil McRae hit the post on his shootout attempt.

11/5/10 Ivan Vishnevskiy

This weeks Top 10 nominee comes from Rockford Icehogs's Ivan Vishnevskiy's shootout goal against Mark Dekanich of the Milwaukee Admirals on November 3rd. The Hogs would win the shootout, thanks in part to this goal.

11/3/10 Icehogs come back as Ads choke in 3rd

The Milwaukee Admirals are still winless in their division after blowing a 2-0 lead going into the 3rd period after goals by Jamie Lundmark and Aaron Johnson. Kyle Beach netted the first Hogs goal, while Jeff Taffe tied it up with a minute remaining.

The game would go to a shootout, where Jeff Taffe would net the winning shootout goal.

10/30/10 Wolves comeback to down Hogs

After 2 first period scores by Brandon Pirri and Nick Leddy for Rockford, the Chicago Wolves came back with Nigel Dawes and Jamie Sifers goals to tie the game leading to the third period.

Mike Siklenka would net his second goal of the year for the game winner. Rockford's Rob Kinkhammer knocked in a would-be tying goal with his hand with under 15 seconds remaining, only to be waived off.

10/29/10 Andre Deveaux (again)

From the 10/24/10 set, Andre Deveaux's diving shot put the Wolves up 4-0 against the Admirals.

Also, you may notice a new tag, as each Friday, I plan to post 1 photo from the week that I consider "Top 10" material, which will I will run down at the conclusion of the AHL season. Unfortunately for Ads fans, so far the only 2 nominees are Andre Deveaux!

10/26/10 Pascal Pelletier

Pascal Pelletier wearing Rockford's specialty "Dark Hammy" jersey; Milwaukee Admirals at Rockford Icehogs, April 4, 2009.

10/24/10 Admirals rally falls short to Wolves

Admirals are still winless in their division, despite a 3rd Period rally to bring the team to 4-3 after being down 4-0. Gabriel Bourque scored his first professional goal, and Wolves Andre Deveaux scored a nice goal himself.

10/23/10 Admirals sweep Heat

After coming back down 2-0 to the Abbotsford Heat in the home opener, the Milwaukee Admirals got the first goal and never looked back against the Heat.

10/22/10 Grant Lewis

#25 Grant Lewis, Milwaukee Admirals Defenseman; Chicago Wolves at Milwaukee Admirals, October 15, 2010.

10/21/10 Riley Holzapfel

Riley Holzapfel; Chicago Wolves at Milwaukee Admirals, October 15, 2010.

10/20/10 Linus Klasen

Linus Klasen (#86) shares a laugh with the rest of the team after his penalty shot goal; Chicago Wolves at Milwaukee Admirals, October 15, 2010.

10/19/10 Jeremy Smith

With Mark Dekanich recalled to Nashville, Jeremy Smith took over the back-up goaltender duties this past weekend. Chicago Wolves at Milwaukee Admirals, October 15, 2010.

Game #4: Same ol' situation, Wolves over Ads 3-2

Yet again, the Admirals couldn't hold a lead into the 3rd period after going in ahead 2-1. Mike Siklenka netted the GTG in the 3rd period, with Spencer Machacek getting the winning shootout goal.



Paul Postma skates out during introductions.



Blake Geoffrion (#5) tips the shot into Wolves goaltender Edward Pasquale.



As seen before, Andre Deveaux (#7) lands the first punch on Admirals Scott Ford.



Wolves Jared Ross taps the puck past Admirals goalie Chet Pickard (#37)



Linus Klasen (#86) was the only Admiral to beat Edward Pasquale in the shootout.





Spencer Machacek (#8) beats Pickard glove side to give the Wolves the win.

Game #3 Ads flat in 3rd, flattened in OT.

The Milwaukee Admirals had the lead going into the 2nd Intermission after 2 Linus Klasen goals and some hustle, and typical for the Lane Lambert led crew, came out flat and blew the lead to the Chicago Wolves. Jamie Sifers would net the GWG in OT for Chicago.



Wolf Riley Holzapfel (#9) checks Ads Scott Ford (#4)



Admirals leading goal scorer, Linus Klasen (#86), nets his penalty shot goal.



A bit of a cocky "Can you hear me now?" celebration by Klasen after the goal.



Linus Klasen (#86) scores his second goal of the game.



Andre Deveaux (#7) gets the Wolves on the board, making it a 1 goal game.





Some great examples of Aaron Johnson's clean defensive play... Johnson would later get slashed in retaliation yet could not figure out why. Gee..



Ads goalie Chet Pickard (#37) stops Spencer Machacek's (#8) diving shot.



More of Ads defenseman Aaron Johnson's fine work, this time driving a Wolves player into goaltender Chet Pickard.






A blurry Jamie Sifers (#4) pots the game winner in overtime for the Chicago Wolves.

10/17/10 Andre Deveaux

Photo recaps from last night and Friday night's Ads/Wolves games to come tomorrow.

Instead, for today, I'll throw up some pictures from Andre Deveaux/Scott Ford fight.



Wolves forward Deveaux lays a nice check on Ads Scott Ford.



Ford takes exception to the hit.



Deveaux gets his gloves off first and then rips off Ford's helmet. And... enjoy.