In 1989, Patrick Cavanagh began his Professional hockey career as an original Hampton Roads Admiral at the age of 18, which was followed by the Admirals first ECHL Championship in 1991. He went on to play within the New York Rangers, St. Louis and Tampa Bay organizations and was nominated into the Professional Hockey Players Association’s Executive Committee by his peers, which led to the ECHL’s initial Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). Always an advocate for the grassroots of youth hockey development in the United States, Cavanagh founded the Cavanagh’s Developmental Hockey Program (CDHP) in 1990. The program operated in over 30 states and provinces in North America, reaching unprecedented success. That success was due in part to the “break your comfort zone” development model, which changed the way “hockey schools” were operated. Cavanagh followed that up with the purchase of the previously failed Arc Ice Sports twin sheet facility in 2003 and rebranded the building as the Chilled Ponds Ice Sports Complex. The facility received a comprehensive overhaul, which included every aspect of design, operations and functionality. Now a thriving business and global destination, immediate corporate success of Chilled Ponds led to Cavanagh’s recognition by Inside Business as one of the region’s “Top 40/under 40” in 2003. After the successful launch of the Hampton Roads Whalers youth hockey organization in 2006, Cavanagh was a pioneer in the formation of the Whalers Junior Hockey franchise. Overcoming the restrictive, geographic and competitive obstacles, the Whalers became the first Southeastern junior hockey franchise and provided players with athletic and scholastic opportunities within the sport of hockey that was previously offered only in traditional hockey regions of the United States. His expectation for excellence was immediately realized when the Whalers won the league Championships in their first two seasons and set an unprecedented, operational standard by winning eight League and National Championships in 13 seasons. This achievement led to over 250 University commitments and scores of players being promoted to higher levels of play. Credited with the rapid expansion in junior hockey, the Whalers success has ultimately opened the entire Southeastern region of the United States to the world of junior hockey and has been responsible for the development of many up-and-coming, American-born hockey players. With his acquisition of the ECHL’s Norfolk Admirals franchise, Cavanagh continues the Norfolk Admirals legacy of excellence with renewed focus on Championship caliber hockey, fan experience, game day entertainment and community betterment. The Admirals ownership brings Cavanagh’s 30 year objectives together by way of creating and developing Hampton Roads Whalers grassroots youth hockey, Learn to play, Rec and Travel Hockey to Junior Hockey National Championships, local player NCAA commitments to Professional Hockey with the Admirals. The success of the Hampton Roads Whalers and Chilled Ponds complements the success and history of the Norfolk Admirals. The three together give Hampton Roads players full access and opportunities for our the greatest achievements the sport of hockey offers.

Johnson was named Admirals President in November 2020. He is a veteran of professional sports who led the startup of the ECHL’s Las Vegas Wranglers and navigated the organization as President and Chief Operating Officer from 2003 through 2014. Under Johnson, the Wranglers became the most prominent professional resident team-sports organization in Las Vegas’s history. Johnson was nominated five times for the ECHL’s Executive of the Year Award. Johnson is known for out-of-the-box promotions and marketing and was the creative spark for the team’s highly anticipated Midnight Games, The World’s First Indoor Outdoor Game, and Regrettable Tattoo Nights. He sparked several high-concept one-off-themed promotions that often satirized current events, pulling the team from the sports pages and into the news headlines. Johnson cites Chuck Barris—a prolific game show producer and host of The Gong Show—as an entertainment and public engagement influence. Before hockey, Johnson enjoyed a storied minor professional baseball career at all levels. He led the startup Nashua Pride in the independent Atlantic League in 1998. As Vice President and General Manager, he was awarded the league’s 2000 Executive of the Year award for attendance increases and building the 2000 Atlantic League championship team with owner Chris English and field manager Butch Hobson. He’s received two 40-Under-40 awards: The inaugural New Hampshire 40-Under-40 in 2002 and 2005 in Las Vegas. He has a journalism degree from the University of Kentucky and wrote and published a novel, “If I Die Tell Steve Martin I Found His Journal” (2014). He has been a featured columnist and blogger for numerous news organizations, most recently featured in the Las Vegas Sun as “Ice Ice Billy: Mostly Random Nonsense” (2011 to 2015). Since the Las Vegas Wranglers, Johnson has worked in the tourism space as a territory President and overall Sr. Vice President of Marketing for an adventure tour company with operations in the Southwest and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Johnson began his career as the mascot “Billy Bird” for the Louisville Redbirds (AAA, St. Louis) in 1988 and was coached and costumed by The Famous Chicken. He has a 14-year-old puggle named Kimi Raikkonen, named after his favorite Formula 1 racing driver.

Schoenthaler joined the Admirals midway through the 2022-2023 season as an inside sales representative. She now specializes in corporate sales as well as sponsorship and advertising. Schoenthaler brings previous sales experience to the front office from her time with the Indiana Pacers of the NBA.

Robinson enters her first season as the team's Marketing Coordinator. Born and raised in Norfolk, Becca grew up going to Admirals' games with her friends and enjoying everything her hometown has to offer. After earning her degree in Strategic Communications from Flagler College in St. Augustine, FL., Robinson worked in New York City at a Public Relations Agency and in Richmond before returning to the 757. When not working, Becca loves spending time with her friends and frequenting her favorite Norfolk restaurants.