Thanks to a two-game weekend sweep of Reading, the Norfolk Admirals can say goodbye to last place in the ECHL.

Kristóf Papp scored twice as the Admirals handled the Royals 5-1 Saturday on Mascot Mania night before 5,781 at Scope, their second victory in as many nights over Reading. Norfolk (9-19-2-0) is 2-0 both in 2026 and since play resumed following a brief players strike.

Admirals goalie Isaac Poulter made 23 saves for his second victory of the weekend and No. 1 star honors. Brandon Osmundson, who grew up in the Hampton Roads Whalers’ youth program, opened the scoring from the slot at 2:08 into the second period. Kevin Conley doubled the lead with a backhand on a breakaway at 4:54.

Reading responded at 6:56 when Hunter Johannes scored from the crease on a power play, trimming the lead to 2-1. But just 34 seconds later, Papp gave Norfolk a 3-1 margin by blasting in a pass from Brady Fleurent.

In the third period, Papp scored his ninth goal of the season at 9:44, off Fleurent’s second assist of the night. Jack O’Leary capped the scoring at 18:26 after Reading had removed goalie Yaniv Perets for an extra attacker.

This is the Admirals’ first winning streak since Nov. 7-8, when they beat the Adirondack Thunder 4-1 and 3-2. The Thunder (16-8-3-1) will be Norfolk’s next opponent, Friday and Saturday in a two-game series in Glens Falls, New York.

https://www.pilotonline.com/2026/01/03/admirals-finish-2-game-weekend-sweep-of-reading/