It was a rematch of the North Division Finals to open the season, as the Adirondack Thunder and Norfolk Admirals opened the 2024-25 season on Friday Night at Norfolk Scope. Coming into the game, the Thunder would be down to key pieces as Darian Skeoch and Shaw Boomhower both got suspended for their actions during the pre-season series vs Reading Royals, which would force the Adirondack Thunder to play one skater short in the season opener.
The opening frame was scoreless as both teams were getting their legs under them under some tricky ice conditions at Norfolk Scope. However, the Thunder got the only PP opportunity of the opening frame but couldn’t take advantage. We were scoreless after 20, with Norfolk leading in the shots on goal category 10-9. It would be the Admirals who would get on the board first courtesy of a Carson Musser rebound attempt that beat Jeremy Brodeur’s glove side for the period’s only goal.
Heading into the third, Adirondack was looking to accomplish something they hadn’t done in awhile which is win on opening night. The third period was easily the chippiest of the period as the physicality and extracurricular activities began to ramp up as it was a relatively peaceful game between the Thunder and Admirals. Adirondack would pull Brodeur with a little over two minutes left, and Tag Bertuzzi fed Ryan Smith, who tied the game at one with 1:42 left in the third. Darick Louis-Jean took a holding penalty with 1:21 to go, and Adirondack would take advantage as Kevin O’Neil scored with 1:08 left in the third, while the Thunder and Jeremy Brodeur would take home a 2-1 win. Brodeur made 25 saves in the win, and Kristian Snead made 26 saves in the loss for the Admirals.
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