The ECHL announced today that the Norfolk Admirals have elected a Voluntary Suspension for the 2020-21 ECHL Season under the League's policy for COVID-19. The team will return to play in the 2021-22 ECHL Season.“This has been a grueling decision,” said Admirals CEO Patrick Cavanagh. “We have been seeking every opportunity to play since the Spring, but ultimately, working with our community is the Admirals primary objective. With 31 years of Admirals hockey, we look forward to continuing where we left off last season with sellout crowds in 2021.”
Under the terms of the ECHL/PHPA Collective Bargaining Agreement, all Norfolk Admirals Players are free agents for the 2020-21 Season immediately.
About the ECHL
Began in 1988-89 with five teams in four states, the ECHL has grown into a coast-to-coast league with 26 teams in 19 states and two Canadian provinces for its 33rd season in 2020-21. There have been 678 players who have gone on to play in the National Hockey League after starting their careers in the ECHL, including 16 who made their NHL debuts in the 2019-20 season. The ECHL had affiliations with 25 of the 31 NHL teams in 2019-20, marking the 23rd consecutive season that the league had affiliations with at least 20 teams in the NHL. Further information on the ECHL is available on its website at ECHL.com as well as on Twitter and Facebook.