Pochiro and Dupont Off To Bakersfield

NORFOLK, VA. – The Norfolk Admirals announced the recall and loan of forwards Zach Pochiro and Brodie Dupont to the Bakersfield Condors of the American Hockey League on Thursday.

Pochiro, 22, is on an NHL contract with the Edmonton Oilers and will have his first chance at the next level this season. The St. Louis, MO native has one game played in the league over the course of his young career, coming last season as a member of the Chicago Wolves.

Through 34 games this season with Norfolk, Pochiro had three goals and 20 assists.

Dupont, 30, will see his first action in the AHL since 2013-14, when he was a member of the Hartford Wolf Pack. Since being drafted by the New York Rangers in 2005, the current Admirals captain has 364 career games in the National Hockey League’s top developmental league.

The veteran joined the Admirals on November 16 and has since recorded 41 points in 40 games. He was named team captain on January 20, 2017.

Dupont and Pochiro now become the sixth and seventh Admirals players this season to be called to the next level, following Alex Ranger, Mikael Tam, Jaedon Descheneau, Steven Summerhays and Eetu Laurikainen.

Today’s roster moves comes following the reassignment of defenseman Ben Betker to Norfolk from Bakersfield. The 2013 Edmonton Oilers draft selection played 49 games as an Admiral in 2015-16.

Dupont and Pochiro are expected to arrive in Bakersfield on Friday, the same day Betker is anticipated to make his Admirals season debut. Friday night the Admirals host the Greenville Swamp Rabbits at Norfolk Scope Arena, starting at 7:30 PM. Tickets are on sale now on Ticketmaster.com and at the Norfolk Scope box office.