ECHL: Norfolk Admirals Sign Tough As Nails Defenseman Josh Thrower

He’s the former league leader in fighting majors. He once led his team in penalty minutes. He’s tough, and he’s “old school.” Meet Josh Thrower.

The Norfolk Admirals announced today the signing of defenseman Josh Thrower for the upcoming 2023-24 season.

This move comes after the Admirals acquired Thrower from the Atlanta Gladiators in a trade completed on June 20, just ahead of the Future Considerations Deadline.

Hailing from British Columbia, Thrower showcased his prowess in 39 games with Atlanta last season, tallying four points and an impressive 73 penalty minutes. The rugged defenseman stood out in the 2021-22 season, tying for the team lead in penalty minutes and sharing the league-leading title for fighting majors with 11.

Admirals’ Head Coach, Jeff Carr, expressed his enthusiasm about the acquisition, praising Thrower’s willingness to defend his teammates and lead by example on the ice. Carr highlighted Thrower’s reputation as one of the toughest players in the ECHL, emphasizing his physicality and style of play that will undoubtedly create more space for the team.

Carr and Thrower also have a history together, as they worked together during the 2020-21 season with the Knoxville Ice Bears in the SPHL, where they were joined by current Admirals players Mathieu Roy and Stepan Timofeyev.

This makes for some much-needed chemistry that the Admirals have needed as of late.

“I’m very excited to be joining Norfolk this upcoming season,” said Thrower. “I’ve heard nothing but great things about the city, team, and fan base. I’m looking forward to being a part of an organization with so much history and a winning culture behind it.”

That makes 12 players on the roster so far for Norfolk, and this team sure is shaping up to be one to watch this year.