truebluefan

After defeating the Columbus Blue Jackets to improve to 4-0 on the preseason Saturday, the Chicago Blackhawks assigned seven players to the Norfolk Admirals' Training Camp.

Chicago assigned forwards Adam Berti, Bryan Bickell, Carl Corazzini and Martin St. Pierre, plus defensemen Jordan Hendry, David Koci and Steve Munn to Norfolk following a 4-2 victory over the Blue Jackets. They join defenseman Mitch Maunu as the eight players assigned to Admirals Training Camp from Chicago this week. Another round of assignments is expected following tonight's Blackhawks game versus the Minnesota Wild.

Admirals Training Camp opens Monday with physicals and equipment issue at Scope. Beginning Tuesday, the team will have on-ice practices at the Chilled Ponds Ice Sports Complex in Chesapeake. All practices are open to the public. A full schedule of practices - including Friday's Red and White Scrimmage game - may be found at norfolkadmirals.com or by clicking here.

The Blackhawks also signed goaltender Brian Boucher to a one-year contract on Saturday. He is expected to back up Nikolai Khabibulin, as off-season signing Patrick Lalime is out 2-3 months with a back injury.

Boucher and the Blackhawks kicked off the preseason by shutting out the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday 2-0. Bryan Smolinski scored twice - including the overtime game winner - as Chicago defeated the Florida Panthers 3-2 on Thursday night. Corey Crawford, who led the Admirals in wins last season, picked up a 33-save victory, and former Admiral Jim Vandermeer scored twice, as the Hawks beat the Blue Jackets 5-2 on Friday night. Last night, Martin Havlat, the Blackhawks' biggest off-season acquisition, tallied twice and chipped in an assist as Chicago picked up their fourth victory in four games by beating Columbus 4-2.

The Blackhawks have four more preseason games on the slate, starting with a home tilt against the Wild tonight. On Wednesday, they visit the Blues before traveling to meet the Panthers on Thursday night. The Hawks round out the preseason schedule with a Saturday game against the Wild.

For the second straight year, the Admirals will face the defending Calder Cup Champions in their first preseason exhibition game. On Saturday, September 30, the Admirals will travel to Hershey to face the Bears at Giant Center at 7:00 p.m. The next day, Sunday, October 1, Norfolk will face the Philadelphia Phantoms at the Polonia Bank Flyers Skate Zone in Northeast Philadelphia at 2:00 p.m.

The Admirals open their seventh season of AHL hockey in Philadelphia on October 6 before heading to Scope for their home opener on Friday, October 13 versus the Springfield Falcons at 7:15 p.m. Season tickets, 20-game plans, ten-packs and group tickets are on sale now through the Admirals' office and through the Admirals' website. For more information, contact the Admirals at (757) 640-1212 or visit them online at norfolkadmirals.com.