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Lynx Continue To Build For 2004-05

June 14, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Augusta Lynx News Release


The Augusta Lynx announced the completion of several deals last week that have given the club more shape for the upcoming season, announcing they have received defenseman Steve Munn from the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies; plus forward Jamie Johnson and defenseman Rod Sarich from the Louisiana IceGators. Also, the team announced that the rights to forward Scott Corbett were sent to Fresno to complete an earlier deal for defenseman Dan Ennis.

Deals Completed For Future Considerations From 2003-04 Season

The Augusta Lynx completed several future consideration deals from last season to improve their roster for 2004-05.

Coming to the team from the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies is defenseman Steve Munn. Hailing from Maymont, Saskatchewan, Munn spent last season splitting time with Atlantic City and the American Hockey League's Bridgeport Sound Tigers. With the Boardwalk Bullies, Munn led the team with a +30 rating in 63 games. The 6-2, 215 lb. defenseman scored one goal while adding 10 assists for 11 points to go with 136 PIMs. While in Bridgeport this season, Munn played six games, tallying one assist and 11 PIMs and a +1 rating. Munn also won a Kelly Cup with Atlantic City in his first full season of pro in 2002-03.

The Lynx sent defenseman Marc St. Jean to the Boardwalk Bullies in the deal after acquiring him from Charlotte in exchange for Gregg Naumenko. St. Jean never did play a game for the Lynx, opting not to report after the deal. Augusta then sent him to the Boardwalk Bullies in exchange for future considerations (Munn).

The Lynx also completed the deal that sent Matt Dzieduszycki to the Louisiana IceGators last season, getting forward Jamie Thompson and defenseman Rod Sarich in return.

Sarich, 23, finished the year second in scoring among Louisiana's defensemen with at least 20 games, notching five goals and 30 points and 36 PIMs. The Bladworth, SK native also saw quality time on the IceGators' power play this year, scoring 15 power play points with three goals. Selected by the Florida Panthers with the 109th overall pick in round 4 of the 1999 NHL Entry Draft, the 6-3, 185 lb. blueliner played part of six seasons with the Calgary Hitmen of the Western Hockey League before turning pro with Louisiana in 2002-03. A brief stint in Finland to begin the 2003-04 Season saw Sarich notch one assist and four PIMs in 20 games before returning to Louisiana this year.

Johnson finished tied for fifth place among ECHL rookies in scoring this past season, totaling 12 goals and 57 points along with a +7 rating and 46 PIMs. The 5-11, 185 lb. center also was a key part of Louisiana's power play, notching 15 assists and 18 points in man-up play. During the post-season, Johnson collected three goals and nine points in nine games. The 22 year-old forward hit the 100 point mark his last season in the Ontario Hockey League, amassing 24 goals and 76 assists for the Oshawa Generals.

Finally, the club announced that they have completed a deal with Fresno for the rights to defenseman Dan Ennis, sending the rights to forward Scott Corbett to the Falcons for 2004-05.

Ennis was acquired by the Lynx earlier in the season for future considerations, but never played a game with the club. Corbett, meanwhile, spent his rookie campaign with Augusta, compiling nine goals and 21 points to go with a -12 rating and 16 PIMs.

Lynx Attend ECHL League Meetings

A contingent of Lynx staff attended the ECHL's annual meetings in Atlanta this past week. General Manager Paul Gamsby, Assistant General Manager Rob Mueller, Director of Promotions and Community Relations Krista Goetz, Director of Broadcasting and Public Relations Tom Callahan, and Ticketing Director Cindy Gould were on hand for an assortment of round tables, training sessions, and demonstrations provided by the ECHL. The league also handed out their individual and team front office awards for 2004-05 as follows:

ECHL AWARDS OF DISTINCTION

Florida Everblades

Johnstown Chiefs

ECHL EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR

Terry Parks – Alaska

ECHL TICKET DEPARTMENT OF THE YEAR

Alaska Aces

ECHL TICKET EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR

Brendan Desjardin – Alaska

Jesse Martin – Mississippi

ECHL BROADCASTER OF THE YEAR

Jack Michaels – Alaska

ECHL MEDIA RELATIONS AWARD

Mike Kelly – Mississippi

ECHL MARKETING AWARD

Eric Trapp & John Cunningham – Idaho

ECHL MERCHANDISER AWARD

Brian Hommel – Reading Royals

ECHL Board of Governors Meeting Recap

The ECHL Board of Governors met in Atlanta this past week as well to make decisions about the upcoming 2004-05 Season for all member teams. The following is a brief summary of the results of the meetings, with more in-depth coverage on www.echl.com and www.augustalynx.com.

· Florida's Craig Bush was re-elected Chairman of the Board for the 2004-05 Season.

· The ECHL has eliminated the 10-minute misconduct penalty assessed to the instigator of an altercation. Instigating penalties will now carry only two-minute minor and five-minute major penalties.

· Teams will now have the options to use a minimum of ten shooters in a shootout. After the tenth shooter, teams may elect to continue through their lineup or revert to a player who has already shot in the overtime.

· Players traded after February 1 may not play (unless the player clears waivers) or be traded back to the same team until after January 1 of the following season.

· ECHL All-Star Game head coaches will be determined by winning percentage on January 3rd of the current season, with the remainder of the coaching staff selected via the same balloting system as was previously in place.

Conferences Realign, Rename

Also at the ECHL Board of Governors Meetings, it was decided that the league would be divided into the following conference and divisional alignments for the 2004-05 Season:

American Conference (14 teams)

East Division (7 teams) - Charlotte Checkers, Columbia Inferno, Greensboro Generals, Greenville Grrrowl, Pee Dee Pride, Roanoke Express and South Carolina Stingrays.

South Division (7 teams) - Augusta Lynx, Florida Everblades, Gwinnett Gladiators, Louisiana IceGators, Mississippi Sea Wolves, Pensacola Ice Pilots and Texas Wildcatters.

National Conference (16 teams)

North Division (8 teams) - Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies, Dayton Bombers, Johnstown Chiefs, Peoria Rivermen, Reading Royals, Toledo Storm, Trenton Titans and Wheeling Nailers.

West Division (8 teams) - Alaska Aces, Bakersfield Condors, Fresno Falcons, Idaho Steelheads, Las Vegas Wranglers, Long Beach Ice Dogs, San Diego Gulls and Victoria Salmon Kings.

The ECHL will announce the playoff format for the 2004-05 Season on Tuesday.

Ticket Information

Season tickets are now on sale through the Lynx office or by calling (706) 724-4423. Single seats start as low as $340! You can also order on line through the team's web site at www.augustalynx.com. Keep your browser pointed there during the off-season for breaking news and Lynx team developments!

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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.

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