Author: Zachary Alvarado

Inside The Rink journalist covering the Wheeling Nailers and Norfolk Admirals of the ECHL. I am a Duquesne University Sports Information and Media major graduating in December. I have been passionate about hockey since I was 4 years old.

ECHL: Norfolk Admirals Re-Sign Connor Fedorek for 2024-25 Season

The Norfolk Admirals announced earlier today they have re-signed Connor Fedorek for the 2024-25 ECHL regular season. The Bethel Park, PA native spent his first full season bouncing around four teams between the ECHL and Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL). Prior to turning pro, Fedorek spent his junior hockey career with the Kenai River Brown […]

ECHL: Norfolk Admirals Re-Sign Denis Smirnov for Third Season

The Norfolk Admirals announced today they have re-signed Denis Smirnov for the 2024-25 ECHL season. Smirnov, a Moskva, RUS native, played 62 games for the Admirals last season between the regular season and the 2024 Kelly Cup Playoffs. The 27-year-old first broke into the ECHL during the 2021-22 season when he signed with the Kalamazoo […]

USPHL: Potomac Patriots vs. Hampton Roads Whalers Weekend Recap | 09/21-09/22

For the second straight weekend, the Potomac Patriots and Hampton Roads Whalers met in United States Premier Hockey League action at the Elite and Premier levels. This time, the Whalers went to Woodbridge, VA, for the Patriots’ home opener. Elite Game One After a weekend sweep that ended with a 3-0 shutout win to kick […]

USPHL Premier: Hampton Roads Whalers vs. Potomac Patriots Game Recap | 09/15/2024

The Potomac Patriots went into Chilled Ponds Ice Sports Complex Sunday afternoon to take the weekend sweep over the Hampton Roads Whalers in USPHL Premier action with a 5-4 victory, despite the Whalers winning the special teams all game long. The Whalers were 2-for-6 on the man advantage while keeping the Patriots off the scoresheet […]

USPHL Elite: Hampton Roads Whalers vs Potomac Patriots Game Recap | 09/15/24

On Sunday morning, the Hampton Roads Whalers Elite team finished off the weekend sweep of the Potomac Patriots by a 3-0 final at Chilled Ponds Ice Sports Complex. Nick Kremnister stole the show in net for the Whalers with a 29-save shutout performance for his first win this season, and third of his junior career. […]

USPHL Premier: Hampton Roads Whalers vs. Potomac Patriots Game Recap | 09/14/2024

The Potomac Patriots Premier went into Chilled Ponds Ice Sports Complex and spoiled the Hampton Roads Whalers home opener with a 5-3 victory over the home team Saturday night. Despite giving up three goals, Potomac’s goalie Kirill Guryev stole the show with a 46-save performance in the winning effort. Whalers’ Timo Johner will skate away […]

USPHL: Hampton Roads Whalers vs. Potomac Patriots Elite Game Recap | 09/14/2024

The Hampton Roads Whalers Elite team defeated the Potomac Patriots in their USPHL season and home opener by a 4-3 final Saturday afternoon at Chilled Ponds Ice Sports Complex. They say two goal leads are the worst lead in hockey, and this was almost the case as Potomac came back from a 3-1 deficit to […]

USPHL: Hampton Roads Whalers Premier, Elite Season Schedule Updates

The Hampton Roads Whalers Elite and Premier teams kick off their United States Premier Hockey League campaign this weekend. Originally, they were scheduled to face the Columbia Infantry in their home and season opener, but the Infantry unexpectedly folded their Elite and Premier teams. Now, the Whalers will host the Potomac Patriots in the first […]

ECHL: Norfolk Admirals Re-Sign Sean Montgomery for 2024-25 Season

The Norfolk Admirals announced today they have re-signed Sean Montgomery for the 2024-25 ECHL season. He spent the first part of last season with the Liege Bulldogs in the BeNeLiga, which is the top-tier professional league in Belgium and the Netherlands. While with the Bulldogs, he played 21 games, posting 14 goals and 16 assists […]

USPHL: Hampton Roads Jr. Whalers Southeast Showcase Preview

With the USPHL beginning play this weekend in the Premier division, we are just over three weeks away from the annual USPHL Southeast Showcase. This year, the Hampton Roads Whalers will be hosting at Chilled Ponds Ice Sports Complex in Chesapeake, VA, from Sept. 27 to Sept. 30. The showcase will feature the Southeast Division’s […]