Sports stats



Augusta Lynx Weekly

January 2, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Augusta Lynx News Release


Augusta, GA - The Augusta Lynx spilt four games this past week (including a New Year's Eve game this past Monday night). Last Thursday, the Lynx traveled to Charlotte for the second time this year and fell to the Checkers, 4-1. All-star defenseman #27 Adrian Veideman had the lone goal for the Lynx, who have only managed one goal per game in their two appearances in Charlotte this season. The next night, the Lynx used a flare for the dramatic to defeat the Gwinnett Gladiators for the first time this season 4-3 in overtime. #23 John Laliberte scored the final two goals of the game, including the OT winner for the Lynx. On Saturday, the Lynx finally scored on their 10th shooter in a 3-2 shootout win over the Columbia Inferno. #27 Nick Toneys was the shootout hero, while goaltender #30 Bobby Goepfert stopped all 10 Inferno shooters. Monday, a depleted and tired Lynx line-up fell again to the Charlotte Checkers, this time by a 2-0 score. It marked the second time this season the Lynx have been blanked at home.

TWO GAMES THIS WEEK:

Friday, January 4 vs. Columbia Inferno, 7:35pm (James Brown Arena)

Saturday, January 5 @ Columbia Inferno, 1:05pm (Carolina Coliseum)

AHL CALL-UPS PUTTING LYNX TO TEST: It is always a good thing when players are called up to the American Hockey League. However, for the Augusta Lynx, it has definitely put a pinch on the Lynx roster. On Monday against the Inferno, the Lynx only managed to dress 14 skaters in a 2-0 loss. Matt Christie, Ryan Dingle, Aaron Slattengren and John Laliberte were the Lynx forwards that were called up to the AHL in the month of December.

VETERAN RYAN PETZ ADDED TO LYNX ROSTER: Augusta Lynx Head Coach Bob Ferguson announced December 29th that the Lynx signed veteran forward Ryan Petz to a professional tryout contract. Petz, 33, was in the line-up for the Lynx as they defeated the Columbia Inferno on Saturday in a shootout. Petz enters his 12th professional season, having played for five ECHL teams, including the Augusta Lynx last season. In 26 games, the forward from Calgary, Alberta, scored 8 points during the second half of the season.

AUGUSTA MITSUBISHI NIGHT ON FRIDAY, JANUARY 4TH: The Augusta Lynx return home on Friday, January 4th as they face the Columbia Inferno at 7:35pm at the James Brown Arena. Representatives from Augusta Mitsubishi will be hand displaying and showcasing their new 2008 models, which will include a parade of cars on the ice during intermission.

FEE LIVE IN CONCERT DURING JANUARY 11TH HOME GAME: The Augusta Lynx along with 88.FM WAFJ are proud to announce a live concert during Faith and Family Night on Friday, January 11th home game vs. the Florida Everblades starring popular Christian rock band, FEE. Fee is led by frontman Steve Fee, who has been featured at Passion and Catalyst conferences, at 7:22, and also as the worship leader at North Point Community Church in Atlanta. Fee released their debut album We Shine this past fall. Fee will be performing following the game in the Lynx Den.

VOTE FOR THE LYNX LOGO: The Augusta Lynx logo has made it all the way to the finals of an independent, online ECHL logos contest! The Lynx logo is facing the Stockton Thunder logo in the finals. To vote, please visit http://hockeylogos.blogspot.com

2008 LYNX TEAM CALENDARS ON SALE NOW! The 2008 Augusta Lynx/Harley Davidson team calendars starring the Lynx players and the Lady Lynx are on sale now during each Lynx home game. For only $5 you can have this great 13-month calendar with pictures inside of the Lynx players and the Lady Lynx. The shoot was done in November at Harley-Davidson of Augusta and features various new models of Harley-Davidson motorcycles.

USCA EXTRA INNING BULL RIDING: The USCA Extra Inning Bull riding is going to be held on January 19th at the James Brown Arena. This event sells out quickly! Tickets are now on sale at all Ticketmaster locations, so make sure to pick yours up for this great event.

RADIO HOUR RETURNS JANUARY 7TH: The Augusta Lynx Radio Hour returns to the air on Monday, January 7th from 7:00-8:00pm at Indigo Joe's (3730 Wheeler Rd.) in Augusta. Join the Voice of the Lynx, Alex "Cheeks" Kyrias for the weekly show that discusses all that related to the Augusta Lynx broadcast LIVE on 1630AM WRDW. This week's guests are Head Coach Bob Ferguson, and Lynx players #14 Tim Branham and #27 Nick Toneys.

BROADCAST INFO: The next broadcast of Augusta Lynx hockey is Friday, January 4th as the Lynx host the Columbia Inferno at the James Brown Arena. The game can be heard live on Newstalksports 1630AM WRDW at 7:35pm. The Stone by Design pre-game show will begin at 7:20pm. Games can also be watched and listened to live on B2 Networks. For more information, visit www.augustalynx.com.

COMPARED TO LAST YEAR: After 32 games last season, the Lynx were 15-17-0-0. This season after 32 games, the Lynx are 17-12-0-3. The Lynx won a franchise-record 39 games last season.

The week that was:

Thursday, December 27, Augusta Lynx 1 @ Charlotte Checkers 4

A shorthanded Augusta Lynx team battled hard on Thursday in Charlotte against the Checkers, but fell 4-1. The Lynx, down 2-0 heading into the 3rd period, dominated the final frame, outshooting the Checkers 14-8 in the period and 32-30 for the game. The Lynx closed the Checkers lead to within 2-1 on a goal from #25 Adrian Veideman off a scramble in front with assists to #18 Igor Pohanka and #15 Eric Lundberg. However, the lack of Lynx power plays kept them from getting the great opportunity they needed late in the game. The Lynx were whistled for the last four penalties of the game. #35 JP Levasseur had another strong performance between the pipes, stopping 27 shots, but it was his counterpart Mike Ayers who was the first star of the night for the Checkers as the Lynx fell for the second time this year in Charlotte.

Friday, December 28, Gwinnett Gladiators 3 @ Augusta Lynx 4 (OT)

Behind two goals from #23 John Laliberte, the Augusta Lynx posted their first win of the season over the Gwinnett Gladiators on Friday night with a thrilling 4-3 overtime win in front of 3,238 fans at the James Brown Arena. From the get go, the Lynx played an inspired 1st period swamping the Gladiator net with 21 shots. The Lynx broke through first as #6 Will Bodine intercepted a pass at the Glads blueline and raced in on a 3 on 1, where he slipped a shot over Dan Turple's blocker side for a 1-0 lead and Bodine's second goal of the season. The 2nd period saw the Gladiators turn the tide, taking advantage of seven power plays in the second frame alone. The league's best power play got two goals from Matt Anderson and Lou Dickenson in a span of 1:18 to take a 2-1 heading into the lockerroom. The Lynx had to kill off an extended 5 on 3 to begin the 3rd period, and thanks to several key saves by goaltender #30 Bobby Goepfert, the Lynx were able to kill off the rest of the penalties to seize the momentum. It didn't take long for Augusta to tie the game as #18 Igor Pohanka raced down the left wing and beat Turple high to the glove side with a pin-point shot that banked in off the post. The assist on the game-tying goal went to #20 Matt Auffrey. The Lynx took a 3-2 just four minutes later on a power play of their own as John Laliberte smashed home a loose puck in front with help from Auffrey and #25 Adrian Veideman. However, Gwinnett applied pressure late in the game with some vicious cycling in the Lynx zone that paid off in a goal with 3:20 remaining from Jeff Campbell to tie the game at 3-3. In the overtime, a breakaway down the right wing by #27 Nick Toneys was interupted by a hooking penalty on Mike Hamilton. The 4 on 3 power play is all the Lynx would need as a broken play face-off win by #9 Louis Goulet got the puck to Laliberte in the slot, who smashed home the one-timer past Turple for the game-winner.

Saturday, December 29, Columbia Inferno 2 @ Augusta Lynx 3 (SO)

The fans at the James Brown Arena the past two nights have definitely got their monies worth. On Saturday night, the Lynx used another flare for the dramatic to defeat the Columbia Inferno 3-2 in a shootout. It took the 10th shooter for the Lynx to decide the game as defenseman #27 Nick Toneys scored the only goal out of a combined 20 shooters for both teams to win it for the Lynx. Lynx goaltender #30 Bobby Goepfert stopped 29 of 31 shots in the game and all 10 Inferno shooters in the shootout. The Lynx got off to another strong start in the 1st period as #9 Louis Goulet scored just 1:09 into the game on the power play with helpers to #23 John Laliberte and #20 Matt Auffrey. The Lynx were dealt a tough blow right after Goulet's goal as forward #18 Igor Pohanka received a 5-minute major for interference and a game misconduct after checking Inferno defenseman Dan Glover into the boards, temporarily injuring the defenseman. The Lynx killed off the 5-minute power play and late in the period #6 Will Bodine smashed home a loose puck for his second goal in as many nights with help from #16 Chase Watson and #27 Nick Toneys, and the Lynx led 2-0 after the 1st period. The Inferno turned the tide in the 2nd period with some great forechecking that paid off in two straight goals to tie the game, both by leading scorer Jeff Miles. However, the Lynx "bend, but don't break defense" led by Goepfert were able to hold the fort in the 3rd period sending the game to extra time for the second straight night. Both teams had three shots in overtime, but after nothing was solved it took the 20th combined shooter of the night for the Lynx to earn the extra point and their 17th win of the season.

Monday, December 31, Charlotte Checkers 2 @ Augusta Lynx 0

A tired, shorthanded Lynx team fell short on New Year's Eve on Monday, losing to the Charlotte Checkers, 2-0. It was the second time this season the Lynx have been shutout at home. Lynx goaltender #35 JP Levasseur was the star of the first period, stopping all 14 Checkers shots while his counterpart Chris Holt was equally impressive on the other end, stopping eight shots including a point-blank chance by #17 Jeremy Schenderling. The 2nd period was all Checkers, even though the Lynx outshot them 9-6. Off a Lynx turnover at the blueline, Chris Capraro took a loose puck and smashed it over the blocker of Levasseur for a 1-0 Checkers lead. Minutes later, and on a 5 on 3 power play, Capraro struck again slipping one home under Levasseur for a 2-0 lead. Everytime the Lynx mounted an attack it was squashed by a penalty or some nice saves from Holt, who was the 1st star of the night. Any thought of a comeback was squashed by three, 3rd period penalties on the Lynx as the Checkers went 1 for 7 on the power play, while Lynx managed an 0 for 3 mark.

• Discuss this story on the ECHL message board...

ECHL Stories from January 2, 2008


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Augusta Lynx Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central