Lynx to face Ice Pilots, Inferno this weekend

Published on February 16, 2006 under ECHL (ECHL)
Augusta Lynx News Release


Coming off a stirring 6-5 come-from-behind victory over the Gwinnett Gladiators on Tuesday night, the Augusta Lynx prepare for a pair of important weekend contests against the Pensacola Ice Pilots on Friday and the Columbia Inferno on Saturday.

It's been quite some time since Augusta has played either of the two clubs, not having seen Pensacola since December 7th and Columbia since back on December 3rd. Since then, the Inferno have fallen out of the playoff picture, at one point going 0-11-2 before getting back in the win column. Pensacola, meanwhile, fired head coach Rick Adduono back on January 6th and placed assistant coach George Dupont in the position of interim head coach. Both teams currently sit behind Augusta for the sixth and final playoff spot in the American Conference Southern Division.

"This stretch for us, this week, is a make or break week for our team," said Lynx head coach and director of hockey operations Bob Ferguson. "Every game is so important right now, but especially against teams chasing you in the playoff picture. These are games you have to win."

The Ice Pilots will be hampered in goal this weekend, with both Frederic Cloutier and Todd Ford on recall to the American Hockey League. That leaves the club with Jomar Cruz, who helped the Ice Pilots to an overtime point last time Pensacola visited Augusta, and emergency backup goaltender Glenn Riddler.

Pensacola's roster has changed due to several trades, most notably the dealing of ECHL All-Star defenseman Corey Neilson to the Florida Everblades. Neilson, who led the team in scoring last season, was traded for two players who refused to report to the Ice Pilots in Jonathan Lehun and Nick Vukovic. Vukovic was subsequently dealt for Stuart Kerr, while Lehun was eventually waived by the club. Tack on a rash of injuries and call-ups, plus a few more trades, and the Ice Pilots team heading into the Augusta-Richmond County Civic Center on Friday will not be very familiar looking one, even to fans who were at the game back on December 7.

Columbia is another team that has seen ups and downs this year, but has stuck by head coach Ted Dent. At 18-28-5, the Inferno are enduring one of their worst seasons in quite some time, but are slowly managing to gain ground back on the Lynx. Things looked promising for the Inferno when they received former NHL goaltender Jani Hurme on a conditioning assignment from the Atlanta Thrashers, but he has gone 5-5-0 with a 3.63 GAA and a .903 save percentage. Leading scorer Leon Hayward was loaned to the Lowell Lock Monsters of the AHL, and in response the team made a deal with the Utah Grizzlies to acquire center Jeff Miles in exchange for defensemen Scott Basiuk (owed from a previous trade with Bakersfield) and Eric Nelson. In Miles the Inferno look for an offensive jolt after scoring only two goals in three games prior to a 4-1 win over South Carolina on Saturday. With Utah this year, Miles recorded 20 goals and 45 points in 45 games this year.

"It's been so long since we've played these teams, it almost feels like starting over," said Ferguson. "Especially considering the moves Pensacola has made. But we have to concentrate on playing our game first, and worry about what they're doing second."

Augusta staged a thrilling come-from-behind win over the Gwinnett Gladiators on Tuesday night thanks to Ryan Lang's two goal, one assist performance that included the game-winning goal with just eight seconds remaining. Despite allowing five goals to the Gladiators, Augusta finished their checks, played with energy and enthusiasm, and got solid goaltending from Jason Wolfe, who allowed two goals on 13 shots in two periods of relief work to earn the win. Over the last five games, Wolfe has seen action in four of those, going 1-1-1 with a 1.79 GAA and .936 save percentage.

"As long as we continue to work hard, I think the results will follow," said Ferguson.

The Lynx look to keep the ball rolling against Pensacola on Friday at 7:35 pm. One lucky Lynx fan will have a chance at $20,000 in the First Command Financial Bank Shot contest, while another fan will take a shot at winning a ruby ring from the Jeweler's Bench in the Ruby Roll.

Saturday night Columbia comes to town for a 7:35 pm faceoff on a night featuring displays and performances by the Greater Augusta Arts Council, AIHA Youth Hockey playing between periods, and USC Aiken's men's baseball team will be in attendance at the game as their coaches participate in the Dino's Chicago Express Home Run Derby.

Seats are on sale now for $11, $14, and $15, with a discount for Comcast Cable subscribers, students, and military personnel. Call (706) 724-4ICE for more information or to purchase seats today. The games will be broadcast on your Home for Lynx Hockey, NEWSTALKSPORTS 1630, with the Classic Stucco and Stone Pre-Game Show kicking off one half-hour before faceoff.

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