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Augusta Lynx Weekly

April 7, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Augusta Lynx News Release


Final 2007-08 Regular Season Record: 32-35-1-4, 69 pts. (7th place in the South Division)

Augusta, GA - The Augusta Lynx dropped a pair of games this past week to the South Carolina Stingrays as they wrapped up the 2007-08 regular season. On Tuesday, the Lynx fell 6-0 to the ‘Rays at home. It marked the third time this season that the Lynx have been shutout at home. It also marked the third game in a row that the Stingrays have defeated the Lynx. Lynx goaltender #30 Bobby Goepfert tried valiantly to keep the Lynx in the game, but South Carolina's power play was deadly, going 4 for 8 in the game while the Lynx power play stalled at 0 for 8. During the regular season finale on Saturday, the Lynx gave a much better effort against the Stingrays. In front of a great crowd of 4,098 fans at the James Brown Arena, the Lynx stormed to the lead with a goal from #22 Shane Hynes. However, it was answered by South Carolina in the 2nd period. The Lynx regained the lead with a goal from #3 B.J. Crum, but again the ‘Rays would answer. The Lynx took their third lead of the game with a goal from All-Star #25 Adrian Veideman, but it would not be enough as two, 3rd period goals past Lynx goaltender #35 J.P. Levasseur gave the Stingrays a 4-3 win. #17 Anthony Battaglia had two assists in the game.

TWO GAMES THIS WEEK:

Game #1, South Division Quarterfinals: Thursday, April 10 vs. South Carolina Stingrays, 7:05pm

(James Brown Arena)

Game #2: South Division Quarterfinals: Saturday, April 12 vs. South Carolina Stingrays, 7:05pm

(James Brown Arena)

LYNX TO FACE STINGRAYS IN FIRST ROUND OF PLAYOFFS: The Augusta Lynx have announced their dates and ticket pricing for the first round of the 2008 Kelly Cup Playoffs as they will face the South Carolina Stingrays in the South Division Quarterfinals. The best of five series will begin in Augusta on Thursday, April 10th at 7:05pm at the James Brown Arena. Ticket prices for the playoffs range from $11-$13. Here is the complete schedule for the best of five series:

South Division Quarterfinal Series (best of five)

#7 Augusta Lynx vs. #2 South Carolina Stingrays

Game #1: Thursday, April 10 @ Augusta, 7:05pm

Game #2: Saturday, April 12 @ Augusta, 7:05pm

Game #3: Monday, April 14 @ South Carolina, 7:05pm

Game #4: Tuesday, April 15 @ South Carolina, 7:05pm*

Game #5: Wednesday, April 16 @ South Carolina, 7:05pm*

*if necessary

Individual playoff tickets range in price from $11-$13. To purchase individual playoff tickets and for more information, call 706-724-4423 or visit www.augustalynx.com

LYNX TOP 100,000 FANS THIS SEASON! With their 3rd largest crowd of the season this past Saturday night, the Augusta Lynx are pleased to announce that over 100,000 fans past through the turnstiles this year at the James Brown Arena for the Augusta Lynx home games. Lynx home attendance was up 10.8% this year over last year. Last year, the Lynx had a total of 92,042 fans for 36 home games. This season, the Lynx had over 10,000 more fans than last year for a season total of 102,044. Only seven other professional minor league hockey teams had a larger percentage of increase in attendance vs. last season than the Lynx. Earlier this season, the Lynx played in front of the two largest crowds to see a game at the James Brown Arena since October 22, 2004. The crowd of 5,542 on March 29th and the crowd of 5,506 on February 2nd were the two largest crowds of the season for the Lynx. Out of 358 total home games in Augusta from 1998-2008, they both rank in the top 40 of all-time crowds in Lynx history.

LEADING GOAL-SCORER AARON SLATTENGREN BACK FOR PLAYOFFS: Augusta Lynx Head Coach Bob Ferguson announced Monday that leading goal-scorer Aaron Slattengren has returned to the Lynx for their playoff run. Slattengren, 26, returns to the Lynx for the first time since January 15th. Prior to his call up to play for the Providence Bruins in the American Hockey League, Slattengren totaled 28 goals for the Lynx in just 33 games played. His 28 goals still lead the way for the Lynx despite playing less than half of Augusta's regular season games. Slattengren was signed to a professional tryout contract with the Providence Bruins of the AHL back on January 17th and shined for the Bruins during his 32 games in Providence. Slattengren totaled 23 points in 32 games played. Five times during his stint with the Bruins he had multiple-point games including three, two-goal games. Prior to being called up by the Bruins, Slattengren played in five games during a professional tryout with the Manitoba Moose, where he went scoreless in five games through late December and early January. Prior to leaving the Lynx for the AHL, Slattengren was dominant in a Lynx uniform. In just 33 games played he equaled his point total (44) from all of last season. Twice, he was named as the ECHL Player of the Week this season. Back on November 27th, Slattengren had a career night in a 9-1 win for the Lynx over the Pensacola Ice Pilots. Slattengren scored four goals and added three assists for a seven-point night. It set a new Lynx record and his +8 rating during the game tied an all-time ECHL record. The second time Slattengren was named player of the week was during his brief return to the Lynx in early January when he had back-to-back four point games. Slattengren has had nine multiple-point games this year for the Lynx and three hat-tricks.

VEIDEMAN NAMED TO ECHL ALL-ROOKIE TEAM: Lynx defenseman #25 Adrian Veideman joined an elite list of Lynx players this past Thursday when the ECHL began announcing its postseason awards for the 2007-08 season. Veideman became only the second Augusta Lynx player in the team's history to be named to the ECHL's All-Rookie Team. The 24-year old rookie has 11 goals and 29 assists in 66 games for the Lynx this year. Veideman is second among first-year defensemen and 10th overall with 40 points in 66 games. He is second among rookie defensemen and tied for seventh overall among defensemen with 11 goals. Veideman was selected to the ECHL All-Star Game after ranking second among rookie defensemen with 13 assists and third with 16 points in 26 games. He is under AHL contract to Portland and has two points (1g-1a) and two penalty minutes in six games with the Pirates. The ECHL started recognizing an all-rookie team in 2000-01. Since that time only one other Augusta Lynx has been named to the ECHL All-Rookie team, which was forward Patrick Yetman (2001-02).

CHRISTIE RETURNS FROM PORTLAND: Augusta Lynx forward Matt Christie has been returned from his load to the Portland Pirates in the AHL. Christie was recalled by the Portland Pirates of the AHL back on March 31st. During his most recent stint in Portland, Christie played in two games, going scoreless with a -1 rating. Christie had one of his best months of action in March with the Lynx, scoring 12 points in 15 games played, including back-to-back three point games on March 12th and 14th. Christie is 4th on the Lynx in scoring this season, scoring 40 points in 52 games played. This is Christie's third stint with the Pirates this season. He began the season in Portland in October before being sent to the Lynx in November. Christie returned to Portland for 14 games in December and January. Christie has played in 18 AHL games with Portland, scoring nine points.

HARLEY RAFFLE TO CONTINUE THROUGH PLAYOFFS: The season-long raffle for the 2008 customized Augusta Lynx Harley-Davidson fatboy, softtail motorcycle is continuing through the 2008 Kelly Cup Playoffs. Only 1,200 raffle tickets will be sold for a chance to win this awesome bike with chrome mag wheels and custom Lynx paint job. Raffle tickets are just $20 and are available at every Lynx home game and at Harley-Davidson of Augusta. Proceeds benefit the MCG Children's Medical Center. A live drawing to determine the winner will be done at a future date after the playoffs are over and will be conducted at an announced public event at Harley-Davidson of Augusta.

NEXT BROADCAST: The next broadcast of Augusta Lynx hockey is Thursday, April 10th as the Lynx host the South Carolina Stingrays for Game #1 of the South Division Quarterfinals at the James Brown Arena in Augusta. Face-off time is 7:05pm with the Stone by Design Pre-Game Show beginning at 6:50pm. The game can be heard live in Augusta on NewsTalkSports 1630AM WRDW, or live over the internet at www.augustalynx.com

The week that was:

Tuesday, April 1, South Carolina Stingrays 6 @ Augusta Lynx 0

Tuesday night's 6-0 drubbing by the South Carolina Stingrays over the Augusta Lynx is going to be a game that the Lynx will have to forget, quickly. Off the strength of four power play goals, the 'Rays used early, efficient scoring and solid goaltending to show the Lynx why they may be the favorite to win the South Division playoffs when all is said and done. Head Coach Bob Ferguson made his return to the bench and preached that the Lynx needed to be disciplined against a team like the Stingrays. However, some early penalties by the Lynx cost them goals, none of which they were able to get back. South Carolina wasted litte time on their first power play getting a goal from Trent Campbell, who smashed home a backdoor pass past a helpless #30 Bobby Goepfert. Ben Nelson scored the next two, both during four minute power play, to increase the lead to 3-0. Meanwhile, the Lynx power play struggled and the Lynx found themselves down three goals at the end of the 1st period. After a scoreless 2nd period, the Stingrays turned it on again early in the 3rd period with Nelson's third goal of the night, again on the power play. Pierre Luc O'Brien scored the first even strength goal of the game to make it 5-0 and that would be it for Goepfert, who tried his mightiest to keep his team in the game, but just didn't get the help on this night. #35 JP Levasseur went in for the Lynx, but it made little difference as Matt Scherer made it 6-0, which would be the final score. The main difference in the game was the power play with the Lynx going 0 for 8, while the Stingrays went an efficient 4 for 8. Davis Parley stopped all 25 Lynx shots for his fourth shutout of the year.

Saturday, April 5, South Carolina Stingrays 4 @ Augusta Lynx 3

The South Carolina Stingrays lead once in Saturday night's regular season finale at the James Brown Arena, and that lead came with four minutes remaining in the game as the 'Rays edged by the Lynx, 4-3. The Lynx started much better than they did Tuesday night against the Stingrays, scoring the game's first goal just over five minutes in as #22 Shane Hynes smacked home a rebound underneath 'Rays goaltender Josh Johnson after a blast from #17 Anthony Battaglia. The 'Rays evened it up in early in the 2nd period as Matt Smith got behind the Lynx defense and put one over the shoulder of Lynx goaltender #35 JP Levasseur. The came storming back minutes later as defenseman #3 B.J. Crum got a pass from Battaglia and Hynes in the slot and wristed one past Johnson, who was fooled by a late deflection off his own defenseman. The 'Rays came right back to make it 2-2, as a two saves from Levasseur in front wasn't enough as Marty Guerin lifted a shot over the laid out goaltender to tie the game. The Lynx regained the lead as a beautiful give-and-go play from #20 Matt Auffrey to #11 Matt Christie got the puck to a streaking #25 Adrian Veideman off the bench, who wristed a shot past Johnson's glove for a 3-2 lead. The Lynx killed off two double minor power plays in the 3rd period, but the 'Rays got two goals from Trent Campbell, eight minutes a part to take the lead for good, as the Lynx struggled for only four shots the entire 3rd period. The Lynx were 0 for 3 on the power play while the Stingrays went 0 for 5.

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