These things we still wait to see: A colony on the moon. Soup slurped from a fork, not a spoon. Professional ice hockey played in June - around here, that is. This odd bucket list can be trimmed by one, however. Soon.

TORONTO

Simon Gysbers’ goal with 11:22 to play in the third period Friday night broke a 1-1 tie and propelled the Toronto Marlies to a 3-1 victory over the Oklahoma City Barons and a 4-1 series win in the AHL’s Western Conference finals.

NORFOLK The Norfolk Admirals have put individual tickets for the first two games of the AHL’s Calder Cup Finals on sale.

Special to The Virginian- Pilot ST. JOHN'S, NEWFOUNDLAND It was a great night all around, as the Norfolk Admirals advanced to play for a league championship and Alex Killorn doesn't have to mess with last-minute travel plans.

By Robin Short

For the Virginian-Pilot ST. JOHN'S, NEWFOUNDLAND The Norfolk Admirals can fill the net, win the close ones and, given Monday night's squeaker, grind it out with the best of them.

By Jim Hodges NORFOLK Jon Cooper reminisced with friends recently about coaching junior hockey at Green Bay and winning the United States Hockey League championship. Fast forward two years. "My world has completely changed," said Cooper, who will coach the Admirals at St. John's tonight in Game 3 of the AHL Eastern Conference finals.

NORFOLK Fans at Harbor Park will have the chance to watch both the Tides and the Admirals on Monday night. The Tides, who beat Pawtucket 6-3 today, face the PawSox again at 7:15 p.m. Monday. At 6 p.m., the Admirals begin Game 3 of their Eastern Conference Finals series against St. John’s. Norfolk leads that best-of-seven series two games to none.

By Jim Hodges NORFOLK Right place, right time. It's been the story for Alexandre Picard during the playoffs.

He scored for the seventh time in 11 games, hammering home a rebound at 15:38 of the second period to give the Admirals a lead, then added an empty net goal for a 3-1 win Saturday at Scope.

By Jim Hodges

NORFOLK They are rookies for perhaps half of their first professional seasons, learning what seems a different game that experience reveals to be the same one they've played since they were tots. It's just hockey. And then the season ends, the playoffs begin and they're rookies again until they learn the playoffs are just hockey, too.

By Jim Hodges

NORFOLK Mike Kostka and Michel Ouellet turned power back on Thursday night at Scope Arena, and in doing so, lit up St. John's goalie Eddie Pasquale. Kostka and Ouellet scored the first two goals on power plays and three second-period goals put St. John's on the run in a 6-1 Admirals victory to open the AHL's Eastern Conference finals. Game 2 is Saturday at Scope.