The Norfolk Admirals have added a third member to their roster as they announced they have re-signed forward Brady Fleurent. Josh McDougall, newcomer Pavel Padakin, and bench boss Jeff Carr have all been signed for this upcoming season. This will be the Biddeford, ME native’s seventh season as a pro.
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Last season, Fleurent saw time between three teams: 23 games with the Knoxville Ice Bears in the SPHL, five with the Atlanta Gladiators, and 44 with the Admirals between the regular season and playoffs. Fleurent was an incredible addition to the Admirals not only for his point production, notching 13 goals and 17 assists in the regular season between Norfolk and Atlanta and four goals and four assists in the post season, he was also reliable in the defensive zone. Between the 2024 Kelly Cup Playoffs and the regular season with the Admirals, Fleurent was a +21 goal differential player.
Before turning pro, Fleurent played junior hockey with the Portland Jr. Pirates in the Metropolitan Junior Hockey League, Eastern Junior Hockey League, and United States Premier Hockey League at the premier and elite levels. In the metJHL, Fleurent tallied just under a point per game, scoring 39 goals and collecting 45 assists in 48 games played. Moving to the EJHL, he notched 15 points (6g-9a) in 28 games. Fleurent tallied 29 points (16g-13a) in 18 games at the elite level and 72 points (28g-44a) in 71 games at the premier level. Fleurent committed to the University of New England, an NCAA DIII school, to play his college hockey. In four years, Fleurent had an incredible career as he would captain the team in his junior and senior seasons. He played 110 games, tallying an insane 181 points (60g-121a). In the 2016-17 season, Fleurent had the most assists (35) and points (53) in all of the NCAA DIII. He was named to the NCAA III Commonwealth Costal Conference First Team All-Conference team as well as NCAA III CCC Player of the Year. Fleurent would again collect the most assists (51) in the 2017-18 season and again be named to the NCAA III CCC First Team All-Conference team. Things would not stop there. For the 2018-19 season, Fleurent led UNE to a CCC Championship, was named to the NCAA III AHCA First Team All-American (East) Team, NCAA III All-USCHO First Team, CCC First Team All-Conference Team, and again CCC Player of the Year.
With all his accomplishments, Fleurent landed an opportunity in the ECHL with the Gladiators to end the 2018-19 season. Fleurent would play six games, collecting one goal and two assists. Fleurent would find a home in the SPHL with the Ice Bears, but his talent was seen by ECHL teams and would be called up consistently. In the SPHL, Fleurent played 121 games, notching 55 goals and 58 assists with an incredible +47 goal differential rating. In the ECHL, with time spent between the Gladiators, South Carolina Stingrays, Wheeling Nailers, Admirals, Wichita Thunder, Rapid City Rush, and Adirondack Thunder, Fleurent has played 154 games between regular seasons and playoffs, scoring 30 goals and tallying 45 assists with a +14 goal differential. With a full season with the Admirals, fans can expect even more contribution from Fleurent in the point column as well as being a leader.
