God Speed boys! Thanks for the decade of great fun, entertainment and competetion.
The Augusta Lynx made one last trip to James Brown Arena on Wednesday morning.
A day after the Lynx ownership announced the team was folding, there were still lockers to clean out, equipment to turn in and bags to pack. But, more importantly, the question of "What now?" needed answering.
"It's just a waiting game. Everything's still up in the air," rookie Joel Hanson said.
The players underwent exit physicals, then patiently waited outside coach John Marks' office for final one-on-one meetings. Marks said the phone started ringing at 6:30 a.m. and rarely stopped, as agents, coaches and general managers from different hockey leagues tried to get their hands on the suddenly available talent.
"My cell phone tells me I've had 67 calls," Marks said just after 4 p.m. "And that doesn't include calls to my office.
"Obviously, there's a group of guys here who are more pursued than others, but I've been fielding calls all day, and I hope that they all land on their feet somewhere."
Forward Patrick Bordeleau said he took calls from eight different teams Wednesday morning and was weighing multiple offers, including ones from Las Vegas, Utah, Idaho, Gwinnett and South Carolina.
Forward Matt Auffrey also received calls. The 22-year-old Cincinnati native has played 90 games for Augusta over the past 14 months and said he'll definitely miss the Lynx.
"I really liked it. I felt comfortable playing here so it's a huge disappointment for me," he said. "The fans were always good. They like to see a good physical game here in the South, and that's what I like."
Goaltender Mike Brodeur heard from some American Hockey League teams and received interest from an agent looking to fill a goalie position in the Swiss National League.
John Sellars, who served as the Lynx's equipment manager for the past two seasons, collected sticks, jerseys and pads. He stopped briefly to field a job offer of his own.
Sellars said he'll start as early as next week in a similar position with the Dayton Bombers.
Reach Billy Byler at (706) 823-3216 or billy.byler@augustachronicle.com.
Comments
God Speed boys! Thanks for the decade of great fun, entertainment and competetion.
John Marks is a complete moron, i hope he never works in the hockey business again!
I wonder how much the owners spent on those new ugly uniforms. I'm sure they could have used that money to stay a float another week or two.
yes-sir-amen, please elaborate, the people of Augusta deserve to know who is responsible, so it doesn't happen again.
It is sad to see this happen, good luck fellas. I will say that I think that the city of Augusta did a poor job of publicising the team. You go to most cities with a minor league team, they get a lot more publicity than the lynx did.
This happens all of the time in cities much bigger than Augusta. Atlanta lost The Flames to Calgary. Montreal lost the expos to Washington, DC. Los Angeles, the second largest city in the nation doesn't even have an NFL football team.
You need someone to blame, Blame the public not the owners or the coaches. The public just didn't attend the games. Low attendance equals low revenues. The money ran out. I'm sorry to see the team leave, I've enjoyed the games...win or lose. Just wasn't a big crowd getter.
dragsig - the Augusta media is pretty damn good at promoting the local teams. I've seen highlights on TV & teams are usually front page of Sports in the Chronicle. Do you want them selling Lynx tickets too!
rdbike - you can't blame the public. Why should they go to something that they have no interest in going to...or even knowing about. It's bad management!
All of you passionate Lynx fans can blame Augusta, the media, whomever all you want. Bottomline this has never happened before in the ECHL & I'm pretty damn sure there are teams that have been in similar situations. Fortunately for those cities, their teams decided to fold before the season started not after when they collected $ from sponsors & season ticket hodlers. These owners knew going into the season they would fail. That's the biggest shame of all!!!
LostYankee72,, How can anyone in the CSRA not know there was a hockey team in Augusta when it's been here over ten years. There have been radio and TV spots for the team over the years. I was not inferring that the public should go see something they were not interested in, but that the public's lack of participation contributed to the downfall of the team. Yes, ownership should have known going into the season they didn't have the funds to run this team for the entire season and going into the season hoping to find the funds was careless on their part. I see lawsuits coming from this. They duped the season ticket holders, the advertisers and the team. Would I do business with any of the Lynx owners...No way, No how...absolutely not!!!!!!
Will miss coming to Augusta for the games. It was a great rivelry. And no doubt you have the "loudist" booster club in the ECHL. From an outsiders perspective who has visited most of the arenas in our division I think the main thing you had against you was the James Brown arena itself. Small rink, poor lighting, drab environment, just not an exciting place to be. Kinda like Columbia was....not just a good hockey environment. It takes more than good hockey to draw crowds. I wish all the Lynx players success and hope we pick up a couple of your best.
The Money for Season Ticket Holders needs to be refunded rapidly. If not a Class Action Law Suit will be forth coming and I'm sure the GOAL group does not want to see that. That would not be good publlicity for Stokes-Hodges Auto Group, Burch Financial CPA, and Troutman.
GOOD RIDDANCE:
THE FLORIDA EVERBLADES are going to miss kicking LYNX Butts, this organization has always been a joke. Get MR. AARP John MARKS and the franchise goes down the toilet. Hope KROGER or EZ-GO are hiring for the benefit of your ECHL left-over scrubs....
Guess the "lock" additional 12 points will have to be against the STINKRAYS......................
In your dreams MFH. Don't sing it, bring it.
To the Lynx fans, we Stingray fans are saddened to lose you from the League. The close road trips have been great and have lended themselves to some pretty strong rivalries. Like we miss the Pride, Grrrowl and Inferno, we will also miss the Lynx. Good luck to you all in your endeavors to bring hockey back to Augusta in some fashion. Those that haven't been to a live game in your city have surely missed out on a lot of fun and friendships through the years.
I will be hoping for the best for all of you.
STINKRAYS:
Can hardly wait for the stinkray losers to show up at Germain next weekend to get their butts handed to them. KISER'S head will be cut open again and PISSANATO, if he makes the trip, will get a nice glove rub by HERAUF...
Maybe the stinkrays can get another MR. STINGRAY instead of BRETT MARETTI, who got arrested for urinating in public, hopefully So. Co. is the next to go......
MFHLAW..enjoy the season while it lasts because once the playoffs start you guys are gonna crap the bed just like every year..my guess is it will probably be to south carolina...how many times will the everblades make it to the finals before they actually bring the cup home? its great to see you talkin that garbage cause it will make you guys getting eliminating that much better..hope the lynx come back and hope south carolina or the seawolves own florida in the playoffs...by the way herauf is a joke i saw him get WORKED last year in biloxi
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