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Augusta Lynx Weekly

March 31, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Augusta Lynx News Release


Augusta, GA - The Augusta Lynx posted another winning week for the second consecutive week taking five out of eight points, maintaining their solid standing in 7th place in the ECHL's South Division. The week began on Monday with a road test in Pensacola. Despite having two leads in the game, the Ice Pilots scored the last two goals of the contest to win 3-2. #12 Ryan Dingle and #9 Louis Goulet scored for the Lynx while goaltender #35 JP Levasseur made 34 saves. On Tuesday, the Lynx looked to exact revenge, but would have to do so for the remainder of the week without their Head Coach Bob Ferguson, who flew to Ontario to be with his ailing father. The Lynx responded with an emotional 1-0 overtime win. Lynx goaltender #30 Bobby Goepfert posted his 3rd shutout of the season, while Lynx defenseman #25 Adrian Veideman scored the game's only goal with: 16 seconds remaining in the OT. The Lynx continued their winning ways on Friday with a close 3-2 win over the Columbia Inferno. #20 Matt Auffrey scored two goals, while #7 Travis Fuller had the other. #30 Bobby Goepfert won his fourth straight start, making 25 saves. Saturday in front of the largest crowd (5,542) since Opening Night of 2004, the Lynx and Sea Wolves engaged in a game which saw a combined 11 goals, seven fighting majors, and a shootout to decide things. The Lynx led early in the 3rd period 5-2 with two goals from #7 Travis Fuller and goals from #16 Chase Watson, #21 Bobby Bolt and #22 Shane Hynes. However, Mississippi stormed back in the 3rd period with three goals to tie the game and eventually won in a shootout as two shooters beat Lynx goaltender #35 JP Levasseur, while the Lynx failed to score with four shooters.

TWO GAMES THIS WEEK:

Tuesday, April 1 vs. South Carolina Stingrays, 7:05pm (James Brown Arena)

Saturday, April 5 vs. South Carolina Stingrays, 7:05pm (James Brown Arena)

ANOTHER RECORD CROWD! Saturday night, the Lynx played in front of the largest crowd to see a game at the James Brown Arena since October 22, 2004. The crowd of 5,542 was the largest crowd of the season for the Lynx and the second time this season that there has been a crowd over 5,500 fans. Out of 356 total home games in Augusta from 1998-2008, it ranks in the top 40 of all-time crowds.

LORNE FERGUSON, FATHER OF BOB FERGUSON, PASSES AWAY AT AGE 77: Augusta Lynx General Manager Dan Troutman regrettably announced on Friday that Lorne Ferguson, father of Augusta Lynx Head Coach Bob Ferguson, passed away in Kingston, Ontario at the age of 77. "The Augusta Lynx send our deepest regrets, sympathy and prayers to the entire Ferguson family during this difficult time," said Troutman. "Bob was very close with his father and we were happy he was able to be with him during his final moments." Bob Ferguson joined his father and family on Tuesday in Ontario and was there through the weekend. He will rejoin the Lynx this week. Lorne Ferguson played eight seasons in the National Hockey League totaling 422 games with the Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks. Ferguson played in the 1956 Stanley Cup Finals with the Detroit Red Wings, scoring three points in 10 playoff games as the Red Wings lost in the finals to the Montreal Canadiens.

LYNX RADIO HOUR SEASON FINALE ON MONDAY, MARCH 31ST: It is the season finale of the Lynx Radio Hour! Join the Voice of the Lynx, Alex "Cheeks" Kyrias along with Head Coach Bob Ferguson as they sit down and discuss all topics related to the Lynx. The show also features Lynx General Manager Dan Troutman, along with player guests Travis Fuller and Chris Brooks. This is the final show of the year and can be seen LIVE at Indigo Joe's (3730 Wheeler Rd.) in Augusta from 7-8pm on Monday, March 31st.

CHISTIE GETS CALL TO THE AHL AGAIN: Augusta Lynx forward Matt Christie has been recalled by the Portland Pirates of the AHL. Christie got the call late Saturday afternoon and joined the Pirates for their home game against Albany on Sunday afternoon. 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 16 AHL games with Portland, scoring nine points.

LYNX BACK HOME FOR TWO THIS WEEK AGAINST STINGRAYS: The Augusta Lynx return to their home ice of the James Brown Arena on Tuesday, April 1st at 7:05pm against the South Carolina Stingrays, and Saturday, April 5th at 7:05pm also against the Stingrays. If the playoffs began today, Augusta would face South Carolina in the 1st round of the Kelly Cup Playoffs.

LYNX IN THE PLAYOFFS FOR 3RD STRAIGHT SEASON: The Augusta Lynx have clinched a Kelly Cup Playoff berth for the 3rd straight season. The Lynx are in 7th place in the South Division, four points behind Columbia and Charlotte. In his 9th year of professional coaching (26th overall), Head Coach Bob Ferguson has never coached a team that has missed the playoffs. The Augusta Lynx have released and posted their 2008 Kelly Cup Playoff ticket information on their website. Playoff ticket prices start at $100 for the first 10 home playoff games. Money for playoff home games not played can be applied towards 2008-09 season tickets or refunded. For more information, please call the Augusta Lynx office at 706-724-4423 or visit the Augusta Lynx website at: http://www.augustalynx.com/tickets/playoffs/

METRO SPIRIT TWO FOR TUESDAY THIS WEEK: During this Tuesday's home game on April 1st, the Lynx will host Metro Spirit Two for Tuesday. All beer and sodas are priced 2 for 1 all game long! To order your tickets, call the Lynx office at 706-724-4423.

SATURDAY IS FAN APPRECIATION NIGHT AND BLACK JERSEY AUCTION: This Saturday April 5th, the Lynx will host the South Carolina Stingrays for the final game of the 2007-08 regular season. It is Fan Appreciation Night, as the Lynx will be honoring and surprising their fans throughout the game as they empty their prize bin. Following the game, there will be a live jersey auction in the Lynx Den for the Lynx black jerseys worn throughout the season.

NEXT BROADCAST: The next broadcast of Augusta Lynx hockey is Tuesday, April 1st as the Lynx host the South Carolina Stingrays 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

20 YEARS OF ECHL BOOK AVAILABLE NOW: Orders are still be accepted for "20 Years of the ECHL," a comprehensive book by noted minor league hockey historian and author Jim Mancuso that is called a "must read" for ECHL fans. Fans can purchase the book on the left-hand side of the ECHL web site at ECHL.com. Mancuso takes readers on a tour that has seen the "East Coast Hockey League" transform from five teams in four states into the "ECHL" with 25 teams across North America. The book has more than 200 photographs and interviews. The soft-cover, 136-page book is $26 per copy.

COMPARED TO LAST YEAR: After 70 games last season, the Lynx were 39-27-1-3. This season after 70 games, the Lynx are 32-33-1-4. The Lynx won a franchise-record 39 games last season.

The week that was:

Monday, March 24, Augusta Lynx 2 @ Pensacola Ice Pilots 3

The Lynx had another game slip through their fingers on Monday night, as they fell to the Pensacola Ice Pilots, 3-2. Although the Lynx and Ice Pilots generated plenty of offense in the first two periods, nothing was decided despite the Lynx 30 shots on goal. Lynx goaltender #35 JP Levasseur was stingy as was the Lynx defense. #20 Matt Auffrey and Preston Briggs dropped the gloves late in the 2nd period to prove the goal-starved crowd in Pensacola. However, the 3rd period saw plenty of scoring as the Ice Pilots struck first with a goal from Patrick Bordeleau, who used his size to establish himself in front of Levasseur and knock home the game's first goal. The Lynx countered right back with a goal from #12 Ryan Dingle, who worked a great play with #7 Travis Fuller to get the puck down low and smash it home past Pensacola goaltender Mike Brodeur. The Lynx answered again and took their first lead of the night with a wrap-around goal from captain #9 Louis Goulet, who got a pass behind the net from #17 Anthony Battaglia and wristed one underneath Brodeur. The lead would not stick however, as the Ice Pilots scored on a shot from the point on the power play from Tim Songin that was redirected by Bordeleau, who again was parked in front of Levasseur. The game-winner for the Ice Pilots came halfway through the period, as a erant pass in the Lynx zone and subsequent turnover led to a 2 on 1 down low on Levasseur, who was unable to stop the shot from the slot from Adam Hobson. With the Ice Pilots back on top 3-2, the Lynx mounted a late attack with Levasseur out of the net for the extra attacker, but could not get the equalizer. The Lynx outshot the Ice Pilots 43-37, but were outshot 17-13 in the 3rd period. The Lynx winning streak is again haulted at two games. The Lynx have not won more than two games in a row since December 1st.

Tuesday, March 25, Augusta Lynx 1 @ Pensacola Ice Pilots 0 (OT)

Lynx defenseman #25 Adrian Veideman scored the game-winning goal in overtime with just :16.3 seconds remaining to give the Augusta Lynx a 1-0 overtime win over the Pensacola Ice Pilots on Tuesday. The game was very similar to Monday night's affair, with both teams going scoreless through two periods. However, Lynx goaltender #30 Bobby Goepfert was the story of the first 40 minutes, as he held the Ice Pilots at bay with several spectacular saves. In the 3rd period both teams hit the post on some great chances, but the game would go to a scoreless overtime. In OT, the Lynx benefited with a late power play that led to Veideman's game-winner, which was a one-time blast from the high slot after some creative passing from #11 Matt Christie and #20 Matt Auffrey. It was Goepfert's 3rd shutout of the season. Goepfert, who made 28 saves, has only allowed one goal in his last 10 periods played. The Lynx outshot the Ice Pilots 34-28.

Friday, March 28, Columbia Inferno 2 @ Augusta Lynx 3

Without their Head Coach Bob Ferguson on the bench for a second straight game, the Lynx squeezed out another close win on Friday night defeating the Columbia Inferno, 3-2. #20 Matt Auffrey had two goals, while #7 Travis Fuller added the other. The Lynx started out strong, outshooting the Inferno early 10-1, which was culminated with Auffrey's first goal of the night, which was a beautiful coast-to-coast play as Auffrey deked his way around the Inferno defense and slid one underneath goaltender Todd Ford. In the 2nd period, the Inferno answered back with a goal from Dan Sparre, who walked in alone on Lynx goaltender #30 Bobby Goepfert and beat him to the low blocker side. The Inferno took their first lead of the game early in the 3rd period thanks to a power play goal from former Lynx defenseman Eric Lundberg, who fired a slapshot that beat a screened Goepfert to make it 2-1 Columbia. However, the Lynx were given a jolt thanks to a double minor penalty on the Inferno's AJ Bozoian, which led to two straight Lynx power play goals. The first came off the stick of Travis Fuller, who swooped in to pick up a loose rebound after a shot from #11 Matt Christie and more help to #25 Adrian Veideman, who rushed the puck into the zone. Less than two minutes later, Auffrey scored his second of the night and 25th of the season with a wrist shot from the circle that beat a screened Ford for the eventual game-winner sending the 3,323 fans at the James Brown Arena into a roar. The Lynx, led by Goepfert's 25 saves, shut the door the rest of the way for their second consecutive win and 4th win in their last five games.

Saturday, March 29, Mississippi Sea Wolves 6 @ Augusta Lynx 5 (SO)

In front of the largest crowd of the season of 5,542 fans, a 5-2 lead in the 3rd period wasn't enough for the Augusta Lynx, as the Mississippi Sea Wolves stormed back with three goals in a seven-minute span to ultimately defeat the Lynx 6-5 in a shootout. The game started with plenty of fireworks with a fight just :21 seconds into the game. The Sea Wolves got on the board first with a goal from Torry Gadja. The Lynx answered with a goal from #16 Chase Watson, who with a power play winding down, slipped one past Morgan Cey to tie the game. The Sea Wolves answered back with a shorthanded goal from Andy Contois to make it 2-1 after one period. The second period opened with a fight between heavyweights Will Bodine and Michael Couch. That charged up the Lynx and #7 Travis Fuller tied the game, as he collected a shot from #25 Adrian Veideman off the end boards and put a rebound home to tie the score at 2-2. Fuller made it 3-2 thanks to a 2 on 1 with #12 Ryan Dingle after a breakout pass from #24 Jamie McKinven. The Lynx increased the lead early in the 3rd period to 4-2 with a quick goal from #21 Bobby Bolt, who got a great pass from #20 Matt Auffrey and more help from #14 Tim Branham. The Lynx increased the lead to 5-2 and chased Cey from the net with a goal from #22 Shane Hynes, who took a pass from #9 Louis Goulet and slipped one underneath Cey for the three-goal lead. However, it would not be enough for the Lynx as goals from Brandon Scero, Ryan Menei, and another from Contois on the power in a span of seven minutes tied the game at 5-5 for the Sea Wolves, who seemed to charged up because of the switch in goal from Cey to rookie John Hallas. The Sea Wolves had a glorious chance to win in regulation with an extended 5 on 3 power opportunity with less than three minutes remaining, but good penalty killing by Goulet, Veideman and #2 Jason Platt sent the game to overtime. After nothing was decided in the overtime, the game would be decided in the shootout. Out of the four Lynx shooters, Hynes was the only one who managed to get a good sniff at a goal, but his shot rang off the right post, while Chase Trull and Jason Tejchma beat Levasseur over the catching glove to give the shootout win to Mississippi.

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