by Madisen Krapf
As the Admirals near the start of the postseason, two players bring an invaluable edge. A pair of players on the team have won a Calder Cup in their career: Kyle Marino and captain Kevin Gravel. Both have lifted the trophy at very different points in their journeys, but each carries firsthand knowledge of what it takes to navigate the intensity and demands of playoff hockey. That experience will be crucial as the Ads chase a championship of their own.
Fresh out of college and kicking off his professional career, Gravel set a firm foundation for the rest of his playing years by winning the cup in 2015 with the Manchester Monarchs, known presently as the Ontario Reign.
“I was probably a little bit naive to the whole thing,” Gravel said. “I was a young guy, you don’t really understand what goes into it, and you’re kind of blind to it in a good way. It’s just a really fun experience and one that you can really grow from as a player.”
Another player who stepped in and fully embraced his leadership role was Kyle Marino. Also having gone all the way in the postseason, success is fresh in Marino’s mind as he won the Calder Cup with the Chicago Wolves in 2022.
“When you win a championship, you make friends and bonds with guys that you’ll have for the rest of your life,” Marino said. “It was an awesome experience and something I’m looking to bring over to the group this year for sure.”
With round one of the playoffs kicking off May 1, the team has developed a chemistry and winning mentality, just in time to make it count. Gravel noticed the click when the team acted as one cohesive unit.
“When everyone’s bought in and guys are blocking shots and no one really cares who’s scoring goals” Gravel said. “That’s when teams win.”
Marino took into account the value of consistency as well as slowing down and playing in the present as he looked toward the postseason.
“Playoffs are very momentum-filled and you gotta manage the highs and lows of the whole playoff series” Marino said. “It obviously seems like a long road to get to the finals, but you just have to look at it one round at a time, one game at a time and you just keep moving forward step by step.”
One factor that threatened to deter the team was the frequency of players of roster turnover this year. There could have undoubtedly been voids of certain personalities in the locker room once key figures started getting called up. It is a necessity to have those voices for any team to be successful; someone to rally the troops, encourage and keep everyone’s head in the game. Despite this being his first season with the Admirals, Marino found himself being called to the charge.
“Some of the younger guys look to you” Marino said. “You just try to set an example and regardless if you’re new to the team or not, you just try to take on that role as it comes.”
Gravel and Marino have found themselves as the foundation of what became a successful regular season. Their respective Calder Cup wins give them that similar accolade, but have each allowed them to spread their wings and find their unique leadership style.
Gravel is calculated, meticulous and leads by example. He isn’t quick to command the attention of the room, but in hindsight is always present and will show up for his team without fail. Marino boasts his heart and passion for the game: he plays physical, is a fighter (both metaphorically and literally) and is not afraid to take a hit. Those factors served as a testament to who he is and have instilled a little bit of himself into each player on the roster.
Nonetheless, these two players are essential to the team’s success and are undoubtedly key contributors to the Admirals’ strong regular-season performance. With each excelling in their respective roles, the postseason promises to be a memorable one.
