The Norfolk Admirals have extended their affiliation with the Winnipeg Jets and Manitoba Moose for the upcoming season, the clubs announced Wednesday.
The Admirals, members of the ECHL, will serve as an affiliate of Winnipeg (NHL) and Manitoba (AHL) for a third consecutive season.
NHL and ECHL affiliations generally do not have a fixed duration, and many are renewed annually.
“We are excited to continue our partnership with the Norfolk Admirals,” Craig Heisinger, Senior Vice President and Director of Hockey Operations/Assistant General Manager of the Winnipeg Jets said in a statement. “This affiliation provides our prospects with important opportunities to develop as professional players. The Admirals’ success on the ice the past two seasons contributes to the winning environment we strive to foster within our organization.”
Norfolk welcomed six players last season under Jets or Moose contracts: Domenic DiVincentiis (Winnipeg), Thomas Milic (Winnipeg), Ryan Chyzowski (Manitoba), Carson Golder (Manitoba), Graham Sward (Manitoba) and Ben Zloty (Manitoba).
DiVincentiis and Milic combined to start 39 games and won 26 of those starts. In the Kelly Cup Playoffs, Milic made nine starts and posted a 1.61 goals-against-average and .945 save percentage. Zloty is currently in the second year of his two-year, two-way contract with the Moose.
Norfolk has made back-to-back playoff appearances, falling last season in six games against Trois-Rivières in the North Division Finals.
“Craig Heisinger took a chance on us three years ago when we were searching for a true affiliation, and we feel that we have struck gold with that,” Admirals GM and head coach Jeff Carr said. “Winnipeg and Manitoba’s philosophy of people first, winning, and developing players aligns with us hand-in-hand. A special thank you goes to the work and time that Drew MacIntyre has put into the goalie development, which has fostered elite goaltending development for us.”
Norfolk opens the season Oct. 17 at Savannah, followed by the team’s home opener Oct. 24 at Scope against Worcester.

