Lynx to replace Sea Wolves as ECHL affiliate for Admirals

The Augusta Lynx will be the ECHL affiliate of the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Norfolk Admirals, the Lightning announced Thursday.

The Lynx will replace Mississippi, which served as Tampa Bay's and Norfolk's ECHL affiliate last year. The Lightning will supply the Lynx players under NHL and AHL contracts and will aid in choosing the Lynx coaching staff.

Augusta becomes the seventh ECHL affiliate for the Admirals, who will begin their ninth AHL season this fall. Norfolk has previously been aligned with Toledo, Greenville, Florence, Roanoke, Jackson and Mississippi.

The Lynx have made the ECHL playoffs in six of their 10 years in operation.

"We feel that due to the organization's desire to win and because of its proximity to Tampa and our AHL affiliate in Norfolk, there really is not a better option for us in the ECHL," said Brian Lawton, Tampa Bay's vice president of hockey operations.

In other Admirals/Lightning news, 30 players between the ages of 18-25, including No. 1 overall draft pick Steve Stamkos, will participate in a week-long Lightning prospect camp beginning Monday in Victoria, British Columbia.

Players from the 2007-08 Admirals invited to the camp include defensemen Kevin Quick and Andy Rogers, winger Chris Lawrence and center Paul Szczechura. Also on hand will be defensemen Ty Wishart and Scott Jackson, two highly-touted prospects expected to join Norfolk this season.

Paul White, 757-418-1447, Paul.white@pilotonline.com