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Posted: 3:30 PM Feb 9, 2010
New hockey team in Augusta starts to take shape
The wait is over hockey fans, hockey is returning to Augusta in October. Both the owners and the fans think it'll work this time around
Reporter: Matt BarnesEmail Address: matt.barnes@wrdw.com |
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Tuesday Feb. 9, 2010
The wait is over hockey fans, hockey is returning to Augusta in October. The owners and the fans think it'll work this time around
When it comes to hockey in Augusta, what a difference 14 months can make.
"I've made a lot of great friends here at the hockey games. I feel like part of me has been amputated," said former Lynx season-ticket holder Adam Kleba back in December.
But on this day, "A big turnaround since we were last at a press conference regarding hockey in Augusta. You probably rememeber, I was pretty depressed that night but now, I'm like a little kid in a candy store."
That's because hockey is coming back, with a new ownership group led by Bob Kerzner and a new league in the Southern Professional Hockey League. But after the Lynx folded just 14 months ago, why come to Augusta?
"You know, I have a passion for this game and we tried to find an arena where a management team in the arena also had a passion to bring hockey into the arena," said Kerzner.
"The team obviously fits into our footprint of the SPHL of what we're trying to create so there wasn't really any hesitation," said SPHL commissioner Jim Combs. "We knew the fans were here and we knew we coudl make it successful here."
The first task for the new front office, building a solid fan base, something the Augusta Lynx were lacking. For the die-hard fans though, today's announcement couldn't come soon enough.
"Well, I'm just glad that we have hockey again," said former Lynx season-ticket holder Kelly Ayres. "I don't know what the caliber of this league is. Hopefully, it'll be of the same quality but just to have something to do, and something to see again and cheer on, I'm very pleased."
With a two year lease agreement signed with the James Brown Arena, now the only question, how long will this team last?
"I would like to see it 10 years from now, 12 years from now," said Kerzner. "And I'd like to see an average fan base of about 3,000 a game. If we can get 3,000 and with a little corporate support, we'll be just fine."
The team does not have a coach or name yet. If you want to help name the team, head to the SPHL.com.
Football
Westside: Chris Hunter- Albany St
Lincoln Co: Marquis Parks- SC St.
Lincoln Co: AG Middlebrooks- Ga. Mil.Coll.
Lakeside: Khadi Tshishiku-Harvard
Lakeside: Ricky McMurtrey -East Cent. Ok.
Lakeisde: Chris Hartfield- East Cent. Ok
Allen-Fairfax: Bashaud Breeland- Clemson
Allen-Fairfax: Jerrell Priester-Kentucky
Silver Bluff: Kyle Mackey- Newberry
Demarcus Lawrence- Butler CC
Glenn Hills: Terrell Fitts-SC St.
North Augusta: Brandon Bright-Newberry
North Augusta: Dillion Temples-Newberry
North Augusta: Cam Alston-Howard
North Augusta: Charles Coleman-The Citadel
North Augusta: Montel Hughes -Presbyterian
North Augusta: LJ Perry- The Citadel
North Augusta: Matt Hazel-Coastal Carolina
Jefferson Co: Barry Bostic-Georgia Tech
Hephizbah: Gary Robinson-Furman
Hephzibah: Quame Collins-Hutchinson CC
Hephzibah: Bobby Liggins -West Georgia
Hephzibah: Chris Owens-Ga. Mil. Col.
ARC: Evan Dansby- Tusculum
ARC: MarQuon Medlock-Tusculum
ARC: DJ Brooks-Tusculum
ARC:Jerrel Anderson-Tusculum
ARC:Jarrad Quarles- SC St.
Burke Co: Terrell Brigham- So. Alabama
Grovetown: Seth Hill-The Citadel
Greenbrier: Trevor Jones-Tusculum
Men's Soccer
Grovetown: Gabe Warner-Southern Tech
Aquinas:Ethan Lapan- Georgia Southern
Greenbrier: Stephen Maxwell- Gardner Webb
Greenbrier: Hunter Norton -Georgia Southern
Greenbrier: Tyler Sanders- Palm Beach Atl. U.
Women's Soccer
Lakeside: Stephanie Allen- Presbyterian
Greenbrier: Riley Marschalk- Nichoolls St
Greenbrier: Brittaney Borror- Georgia College & St
Greenbrier: Kelsey Waechter- So. Florida
Baseball
South Aiken: Nathan Kuhns -Coastal Carolina
Greenbrier: Shawn McCain- Western Carolina
Greenbrier: Chad Farmer- Appalachian State
Greenbrier: Sam Daniel -USC Aiken
Greenbrier: Ben Morgan -Ga. Southern
Lakeside: Jeffrey Stoner- Francis Marion
Lakeside: Zach Hayden -Middle Georgia
Lakeside: Clayton Miller -Armstrong Atlantic
Harlem: Steve Beasley -USC Aiken
Harlem: Jay Aplin -Shorter College
Lakeside: Andy Pringle- Reinhardt College
Lakeside: Will Hogan- Andrew College
Softball
Curtis Baptist: Nicole Young -Brewton Parker College
Greenbrier: Kaila Hunt- Alabama
Greenbrier: Ashlyn Masters- Florida St.
North Augusta: Aubrey Lamar- Kentucky
Golf
South Aiken: Chandler Brazeal -Wofford
ARC: William Sigg- Presbyterian
Lakeside: Kelby Burton-Kennesaw St.
Women's Basketball
Warren Co: Candice Warthen- Arizona
Hephzibah: Aarika Judge- Cent. Fla.
Westside: Aishya Wofford- Ga. Southern
Men's Basketball
Burke Co: Martaveous Smith- Winthrop
Laney: Larry Doby -Ga. State
Volleyball
North Augusta: Anna Vizvary-Pfeiffer
Aiken: Kiki Hennessey -Lander
Tennis
Westminster: Rebecca Shine -Louisville
