Augusta re-signs Galbraith

As solid as Lance Galbraith was as a rookie last season, the Augusta Lynx think he'll be an even better second-year pro.

Galbraith became the second Lynx player to re-sign Tuesday, joining East Coast Hockey League All-Star and All-Rookie selection Patrick Yetman.

Like Yetman, the 22-year-old Galbraith has all-star potential, although their styles are polar opposites.

Last season, Galbraith established himself as one of the league's biggest agitators. Along with his physical presence (Galbraith was second on the club with 311 penalty minutes), the Brampton, Ontario, native became more involved offensively late in the season. He finished with 27 points on 12 goals and 15 assists and was second on the team with a plus-9 rating.

Galbraith also appeared in six American Hockey League games last season for Norfolk and Springfield.

SUMMER JOB: While most hockey players and coaches can be found on the golf course during the off-season, you'll find defenseman David Wilkie on the car lot.

The former NHL blueliner is working as a car salesman at Augusta Lincoln Mercury Suzuki. Already, he has sold nine vehicles in his first month.

"It's a way to make ends meet for the summer, because you don't get paid (by the Lynx) in the summer and there's no health insurance, which is a big thing when you've got a family," said Wilkie, a former first-round draft pick by the Montreal Canadiens.

"I enjoy it a lot. I work for great people. And it's not much different than hockey in that you get out of it what you put into it. I've always been a work-ethic guy."

The walls of Wilkie's office are a personal hockey shrine. Included are photos of his days in the NHL, trading cards, a poster of his days with the Houston Aeros in the International League, his Lynx jersey, a hockey stick and gloves.

"I've found the people that come in are more intrigued by my Lynx jersey than they are by my NHL stuff," Wilkie said.

As for Wilkie's status for next season, the Lynx have yet to offer him a contract. The 28-year-old veteran, however, believes a deal will be done soon.

"We're working on it," Wilkie said. "I love Augusta and the organization. I want to stay right here."

Several players have said they want Wilkie to return and become Augusta's fourth captain. The captain's spot opened with the retirement of Scott Morrow last month.

While coach Jim Burton said he wants Wilkie back, owner Peter Gillespie is fearful Wilkie's knee problems would open the team up to a lawsuit.

Wilkie had reconstructive knee surgery in May 2001, but played in all 72 games for the Lynx last season. He underwent arthroscopic surgery on the knee in April and says it now feels so good he could "play at least another two years."

Before the 2001-02 season, Wilkie signed a liability waiver and said he would be willing to do so again.

BACK TO THE FUTURES: The ECHL's deadline to complete trades for "future considerations" passed Thursday, and the Lynx received defenseman Philippe Lakos from the Pensacola Ice Pilots to complete the Louis Dumont trade.

The 6-foot-4, 205-pound Lakos had no goals, four assists and 101 penalty minutes in 52 games for Reading and Florida last season. The Lynx also hope to land his brother - 6-6, 240-pound defenseman Andre Lakos, who played for Utah of the AHL last season. Andre was a third-round draft pick by the New Jersey Devils in 1999.

As for the future considerations the Lynx are owed from the Mobile Mysticks for the Jessie Rezansoff trade last December, general manager Mike Pierson said a paperwork snafu involving the ECHL and the Professional Hockey Players Association has delayed the deal's completion.

The Lynx are supposed to receive forwards Mike Vigilante and John Sadowski, but the Mysticks are suspending operations next season before moving to suburban Atlanta in 2003.

Under the collective bargaining agreement between the PHPA and the league, all of Mobile's players have been declared free agents.

For now, Vigilante and Sadowski are not Augusta's property, but Pierson said he hopes to have the trouble ironed out soon.

ONE TIMERS: The deadline for ECHL teams to submit the list of players whose rights they will retain (reserve list) passed last Friday. The Lynx included every player that was on the active roster at the end of the season, excluding goalie Zac Bierk. Bierk could not be protected because he is under NHL contract. ... Veteran forward Guy Larose won his second championship in three seasons, helping the Chicago Wolves capture the AHL's Calder Cup over Bridgeport. Chicago is the Atlanta Thrashers' top affiliate, while Bridgeport is a New York Islanders' farm club. Larose, who was called up to Chicago in mid-March, led the Wolves to an IHL title in 1999-2000. ... The Reading Royals named former Baton Rouge coach David Lohrei as coach Tuesday. ... The Trenton Titans lost their third coach in as many years as Peter Horachek resigned to take the head coaching job with AHL Milwaukee. ... Gwinnett County owners named ex-Mysticks GM Steve Chapman as GM of the team that will begin play in 2003-04. The team has launched a name-the-team contest in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Reach Rob Mueller at (706) 823-3425.