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.