Former Augusta Lynx radio broadcaster Tom Callahan occasionally would suit up in his old goaltending gear and practice when the team was short on netminders.

The new voice of the team, Alex Kyrias, could do the same - although he doesn't think that will happen.

The Lynx are expected to announce today that Kyrias, a one-time ECHL backup goalie, has been hired as Augusta's new director of broadcasting and public relations.

"I was on the worst team in the men's league here in Dallas, getting shelled every night, and I was let go by the director in favor of some younger guys. So having been fired from a men's league team, I don't know that I'll be putting on the pads anymore," said Kyrias, 34. "It would be pretty comical. I'll definitely be behind the mic from here on out."

A standout goalie at the University of Indiana and a Greenville Grrrowl backup in the 1998-1999 season, Kyrias (pronounced "curious") spent the past five seasons as play-by-play man for the Texas Tornado of the North American Hockey League, a junior circuit.

Lynx general manager and co-owner Dan Troutman said Kyrias was the team's first choice to replace Callahan, who's working for the Peoria Rivermen of the American Hockey League.

"He was No. 1 on our list, so we're extremely happy to land him. We couldn't be happier," Troutman said. "I believe we are getting one of the more enthusiastic and up-and-coming broadcasting talents in hockey."

Kyrias set numerous goaltending records for the Hoosiers from 1993-97. After college, Kyrias spent time as a back-up for the now-defunct Grrrowl, and later went back to Indiana University to serve as general manager and associate coach for the men's hockey team from 1998 until 2002.

"Having played hockey for 24 years, I think that really helps the broadcast end of things," Kyrias said Tuesday. "Obviously there are some shoes to fill. I'm just going to do what I've been doing, which is 100 percent energy.

"I just love hockey, pure and simple. I live it and breathe it, and I'll bring that energy to the broadcasts."

NEW-LOOK PLAYOFFS: The ECHL announced the 2007-08 conference and division alignments and a new playoff format after its annual owners' meeting this past weekend in Henderson, Nev.

Twenty-one of the league's 25 teams will qualify for the postseason. That includes eight of the nine teams in the South Division, to which the Lynx belong.

Also this season, the division quarterfinals will be a best-of-five series instead of best-of-three, which the league used in previous seasons. Augusta lost in the division quarterfinals the past two seasons.

"All it really does is puts everybody on an equal playing field," Lynx coach Bob Ferguson said. "I think it's good. I'm just glad they eliminated the best-of-three format in the opening-round series.

"That wasn't fair to some teams that worked all year to qualify, then had no time to prepare and essentially no margin for error."

ON THE MOVE: Ferguson is working to sign players from last year's team before the July 1 qualifying deadline.

He said Mike Erickson and Weston Tardy have signed to play in Europe next season.

NEW DEAL: This year, full-season ticket holders may exchange an unused ticket for any Saturday night seat, based on availability.