Call-ups can benefit Augusta in long run

The Augusta Lynx will be without another of their best players to open their longest road stretch of the season tonight at South Carolina.

Lynx forward Joel Stepp, the team's second-leading scorer, has been recalled to the Portland Pirates, joining leading scorer Nicolas Corbeil and goaltender Mike Wall in the American Hockey League.

Stepp's call-up means Augusta is without two-thirds of its most prolific line heading into seven consecutive games on the road, including a swing to Alaska and western Canada.

But while the call-ups are hurting the Lynx in the short term, coach Bob Ferguson said ultimately it makes the organization stronger.

"If we're going to make the Lynx one of the elite teams in this league and make players want to come here, you have to show you can get players up to the next level," Ferguson said. "That's what they're here for - they'd like to move up. And we're starting to get more players called up. It really hurts you short term, but you have to look at the big picture."

Corbeil was loaned to the Lowell (Mass.) Lock Monsters last week and scored twice in three games. Wall also is with Portland.

Augusta (16-19-3) enters the three-week trip in sixth place in the South Division, just one point behind South Carolina.

The Lynx visit first-place Florida on Saturday, take a three-day break for the ECHL All-Star Game and leave for Alaska on Jan. 26.

"Right now we're at a point where we can move up pretty fast or we can fall pretty fast," Lynx defenseman Martin Lapointe said. "So this long road stretch is going to be important."

The Lynx are searching for consistency and looking to at least hold on to sixth place, though seventh-place Pensacola has closed within two points for the division's final playoff spot.

"The thing for us right now is trying to find some consistency," Ferguson said. "Lately, it's not just been game to game, it's been period to period. Every time we gather momentum, we take a step backward.

"What we want to do with this road trip staring us in the face is gain some momentum in our game and shore up all aspects - offense, defense and special teams."

- Augusta center Brian Passmore, the team's third- leading scorer, was added to the ECHL American Conference All-Star team to replace Corbeil.

Reach Steve Sanders at (706) 823-3216 or steven.l.sanders@augustachronicle.com.