Norfolk, VA – Six Western Hockey League graduates helped the Norfolk Admirals capture the 2012 Calder Cup as American Hockey League champions.

The Admirals defeated the Toronto Marlies 6-1 in Game 4 of the series on Saturday night in Toronto, ON, to complete the four-game sweep in the Calder Cup final to earn its first Calder Cup championship after claiming first overall in the AHL during the regular season.

The Admirals’ remarkable season, including a 28-game winning streak to finish the regular-season campaign, was aided by key contributions from six former Western Hockey League players including a pair of former Spokane Chiefs, goaltender Dustin Tokarski and forward Tyler Johnson.

Tokarski, 22, and Johnson, 21, who both helped the Chiefs win the 2008 WHL championship and MasterCard Memorial Cup, played big roles in Norfolk’s success this season. 

Tokarski, a product of Humboldt, SK, posted a 12-2 record throughout the 2012 Calder Cup playoffs, and boasted a 1.46 goals-against average and a .913 save percentage along with three shutouts to backstop the team to the Cup.  The MVP of the 2008 Memorial Cup tournament, Tokarski can add a Calder Cup ring to his Memorial Cup, WHL Championship, World Junior Championship and Telus Cup titles.

"I've been blessed and fortunate to be on some special teams," Tokarski told the Virginian-Pilot following the Admirals’ series-clinching win on Saturday.

Johnson, who was named an AHL All-Rookie this season after scoring 31 goals and 68 points in 75 games this season, scored twice and set up two more in the Game 4 victory.  The Spokane, WA, native finished the playoffs with six goals and 14 points in 14 post-season contests, placing fourth on the team in playoff scoring.  Johnson finished his WHL career last season, netting 53 goals and 115 points for the Chiefs while being named the WHL’s Most Sportsmanlike Player.

The Admirals also got contributions from former WHL players like Brandon Segal, Keith Aulie, Radko Gudas and Scott Jackson in their march to the Calder Cup.

Segal, 29, netted five goals and nine points in 18 playoff games for the Admirals to claim his second Calder Cup ring.  The Richmond, B.C., product spent five seasons with the Calgary Hitmen from 1999 to 2004.

Aulie, a product of Rouleau, SK, put up a goal and six points with a +7 rating while appearing in 18 post-season contests for Norfolk.  The 23-year-old defenceman, who was originally drafted by the Calgary Flames, spent four years with the Brandon Wheat Kings from 2005-09, and was a member of Canada’s Gold medal-winning World Junior team alongside Tokarski.

Gudas, a native of Prague, CZE, appeared in 16 playoff games on the blue line for the Admirals, notching three assists while boasting a +9 rating.  Gudas spent one season with the Everett Silvertips, leading the team with a +45 rating in 2009-10.  He also played for the Czech Republic in the 2010 World Junior Championship.

Jackson, 25, appeared in 14 games for the Admirals during their post-season run, picking up one assist and a +1 rating to claim his first Calder Cup ring in his fourth AHL season.  Jackson, a salmon Arm, B.C., product, played five seasons in the WHL with the Seattle Thunderbirds from 2003-08.

For more on the 2012 AHL Calder Cup playoffs, visit www.theahl.com