Snakes Split On The Road; Play Three This Week

Published on February 1, 2010 under SPHL (SPHL)
Columbus Cottonmouths News Release


COLUMBUS, Ga. - The Columbus Cottonmouths split the past weekend of games, both 2-1 decisions. On Friday night, the Snakes collected just their third road win of the season and first win away from Columbus in eight weeks in a 2-1 victory in Pensacola. On Saturday night, Columbus remained winless in Biloxi with a 2-1 loss against the Mississippi Surge. This week features three games, each two days apart. The Cottonmouths travel to Fayetteville, N.C. to face the FireAntz on Tuesday night, then play the back end of a home-and-home with the `Antz on Thursday night at the Snake Pit. On Saturday night, league-leading Huntsville heads into Columbus as the Snakes try again to pick up that elusive first win of the season against the Havoc. All three games will be broadcast on B2 Networks with both a video and audio feed, with a nominal fee for each game. A free audio-only webcast of the games is also available. Details can be found at www.cottonmouths.com. In addition, road games are now broadcast locally in the Columbus area on 106.9 WRCG-FM.

CURRENT RECORDS AND STATS

Last Week: 1-1-0

Record: 13-15-5, 31 pts (6th Place, SPHL)

98 GF, 110 GA

17.4% PP (7th, SPHL); 82.7% PK (3rd, SPHL)

LAST WEEK'S TRANSACTIONS

1/30 - Signed F Brent Clarke to three-game tryout

UPCOMING GAMES AND PROMOTIONS

Tuesday, February 2 - Columbus at Fayetteville, 7:35 PM EST (Season Series vs. FAY: 3-4-0)

Columbus travels to the Crown Coliseum in Fayetteville, N.C. on Tuesday night to face the FireAntz. Fayetteville and Pensacola are the only two cities where the Cottonmouths have won road games this season, with the Snakes taking a 3-2 victory in Fayetteville back on December 4.

Thursday, February 4 - Fayetteville at Columbus, 7:30 PM EST

The FireAntz return the favor on Thursday night, traveling to Columbus to face the Cottonmouths in the Snake Pit. In their last visit to Columbus, Fayetteville threw 55 shots on goal at Snakes goaltender Ian Vigier but only found the back of the net once, falling to the Snakes 2-1 on January 21.

PROMOTIONS: Shoes for Haiti Shoe Driveplease donate new or slightly worn shoes, which will be sent to aid earthquake victims; Dollar Days--$2 draft beer, $1 hotdogs; Georgia Lottery Night

Saturday, February 6 - Huntsville at Columbus, 7:30 PM EST (Season Series vs. HSV: 0-4-1)

The Cottonmouths will look for their first win of the season over the Huntsville Havoc this Saturday night at the Snake Pit. After a torrid start and being atop the league standings since the start of the season, the Havoc have cooled off as of late and are actually winless in their last five games, going on an 0-3-2 skid. The Havoc have lost league-leading goaltender Mark Sibbald for the foreseeable future as he was signed by the Central Hockey League's Mississippi RiverKings. Their sizable lead in the SPHL has shrunk to two points over second-place Mississippi, although Huntsville has two games in hand on the Surge.

PROMOTIONS: Legends Weekend! Special 6 pm Legends game, gates open at 5:30. Over 30 former Snakes, including 19 league champions from 1998 and 2005 will be in attendance.

COTTONMOUTHS WEEK IN REVIEW

Friday, January 29 - Columbus 2 at Pensacola 1 (Attendance: 4,649)

The Snakes did all their scoring in an 84-second span in the third period and goaltender Chad Rycroft and the defense did the rest in a 2-1 win over Pensacola on Friday night. It was just the third win for the Snakes this season away from Columbus (their second in Pensacola) and the first road victory since a 3-2 win in Fayetteville on December 4. Kyle Lundale scored the first goal and assisted on the second, while Sam Bowles notched the game-winner. Rycroft stopped 36 of 37 shots on the night, while Ryan Scott made 28 saves on 30 shots on goal for the Ice Flyers. Both teams scored once on the power play with Columbus having six chances with the man advantage and Pensacola seven.

Saturday, January 30 - Columbus 1 at Mississippi 2 (Attendance: 4,848)

Columbus found themselves on the opposite end of a 2-1 decision on Saturday night, falling to the Mississippi Surge in Biloxi. Ryan McCarthy scored the lone goal for the Cottonmouths, while Ian Vigier kept the Snakes in the game throughout with 42 saves on 43 shots on goal. Bill Zaniboni picked up the victory between the pipes for Mississippi with 19 saves on 20 shots; it was Zaniboni's first action of the season against the Cottonmouths as Ryan Senft had played every minute in goal for the Surge in Mississippi's previous four games against the Snakes. Columbus was 0 for 5 on the power play while the Surge were 1 for 10 with the man advantage.

THREE STARS OF THE WEEK

1. D Kyle Lundale - Lundale had a hand in both goals in Friday's 2-1 win in Pensacola, scoring the first goal and assisting on the game-winner.

2. G Chad Rycroft - Rycroft's 36 saves on 37 shots Friday night helped the Snakes to the win over the Ice Flyers.

3. G Ian Vigier - Vigier gave the Cottonmouths a chance to win on Saturday night in Biloxi, turning away 42 of the 43 Mississippi shots on goal he faced.

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



SPHL Stories from February 1, 2010


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central