Lynx get eight from AHL camps

Published on October 6, 2006 under ECHL (ECHL)
Augusta Lynx News Release


Augusta, GA - The Augusta Lynx received seven players from the American Hockey League's Portland Pirates and one from the Worcester Sharks as the team prepares to open training camp this weekend in anticipation of the 2006-07 ECHL season.

Assigned from Portland were defenseman Ken Scuderi and forwards Mike Erickson, Dirk Southern, Shane Hynes, JB Bittner, Jarrett Robertson, and Myles Zimmer. Defenseman Mike Hutchins was assigned from Worcester.

Scuderi spent his rookie campaign in Augusta last season, appearing in all 72 regular season games and both of the club's playoff contests before heading to Portland for the AHL playoffs for one match. In Augusta the 26-year-old blueliner notched one goal and 15 points to go with 36 minutes in penalties during the regular season, and recorded no points and four minutes in penalties in three post-season games between the Lynx and Portland.

Elk River, Minn. native Erickson also spent time in Augusta last season, playing the final eight games of the regular season with the club, scoring three times and adding four assists. The 6-3, 200 lb. right wing also added an assist in two playoff games. Originally selected by the Minnesota Wild in round 3 (#72 overall) of the 2002 NHL Entry Draft, Erickson played junior hockey under current Lynx head coach and director of hockey operations Bob Ferguson with the USHL's Des Moines Buccaneers over parts of three seasons from 2000 - 2004.

A pair of Ducks draft choices will also find their way to Augusta in Hynes and Southern. Hynes was selected #86 overall in round three of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, while Southern went in round 7 (#218 overall) the same year. Hynes is a 6-3, 225 lb. forward from Calgary, Alberta who saw action in 12 regular season games with the Pirates last year, notching a goal and four points along with 32 minutes in penalties after three seasons with Cornell University. Southern jumped from the USHL's Lincoln Stars after 22 goals and 58 points in 60 games for the 2001-02 campaign to Northern Michigan University for four years where he posted double-digit goal totals in each season. The 6-0, 185 lb. Winnipeg, Manitoba native had his best year as a senior last year, with 11 goals and 34 points in 39 games.

Hutchins was selected by the San Jose Sharks in round 9 of the 2002 NHL Entry Draft, and played one season with the USHL's Des Moines Buccaneers in 2001-02 before deciding to play college hockey for the University of New Hampshire from 2003-2006. While at UNH, the 5-11, 197 lb. rearguard posted three goals and 10 points along with 81 PIMs in 61 games.

Rounding out the recent roster moves are 24-year-old Bittner, 25-year-old Robertson, and 21-year-old Zimmer. Bittner has 80 games of pro experience over the last two seasons with the ECHL's Dayton Bombers and Johnstown Chiefs as well as Portland and the Syracuse Crunch of the AHL. A 5-11, 180 lb. right hand shot, Bittner has 17 goals and 50 points over that span. Robertson played four seasons with Brown University prior to turning pro this season, and Zimmer is a four-year product of the Western Hockey League's Prince George Cougars where he notched 57 goals and 112 points in 238 games while spending 575 minutes in the penalty box.

Augusta will open training camp this Sunday, October 8 when they take to the ice for the first time at the James Brown Arena. A full training camp preview and schedule will follow on tomorrow.

Single game seats are now on sale as are full and partial season ticket plans through the Lynx office by calling (706) 724-4ICE. Augusta opens the season Friday, October 20 against the Columbia Inferno and Saturday, October 21 versus the Gwinnett Gladiators. Both games will start at 7:35 pm and feature live music, fireworks, giveaways, and great hockey action!

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