Snakes Push Home Win Streak To Five, Move Into 4th Place Tie

Published on March 7, 2011 under SPHL (SPHL)
Columbus Cottonmouths News Release


COLUMBUS, Ga. - The Columbus Cottonmouths went 2-1 in three games last week, dropping a road decision at Louisiana but winning home games against Fayetteville on Friday night and Huntsville on Saturday night. The two wins pulled the Snakes even with Pensacola for fourth place in the SPHL standings and put Columbus three games over the .500 mark for the first time all season. This weekend will feature a back-to-back series of games against the league leading Mississippi Surge in the team's first visit to the Snake Pit since November. Columbus will look to extend on its home winning streak, which after last weekend's results has been stretched to a season-best five games. Both games this week will be broadcast on America One 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: 2-1(0)

Record: 26-23(5), 52 pts (T-4th, SPHL)

147 GF, 147 GA

18.0% PP (3rd, SPHL); 87.2% PK (1st, SPHL)

LAST WEEK'S TRANSACTIONS

none

LEAGUE STANDINGS

TEAM GP W L PTS WPCT GF GA PIM HOME ROAD L10 MAX HI LO

xMississippi 49 31 18 62 .633 183 144 1036 18-7 13-11 6-4 76 1 5

Augusta 48 28 20 56 .583 171 155 1062 13-11 15-9 7-3 72 1 7

Huntsville 48 27 21 54 .563 145 128 866 14-8 13-13 4-6 70 1 7

Columbus 49 26 23 52 .531 147 147 1010 15-8 11-15 7-3 66 1 7

Pensacola 49 26 23 52 .531 170 172 983 12-13 14-10 3-7 66 1 7

Knoxville 50 23 27 46 .460 166 169 1146 14-12 9-15 4-6 58 2 7

Fayetteville 49 21 28 42 .429 152 159 969 10-14 11-14 4-6 56 2 7

Louisiana 52 15 37 30 .288 156 216 1046 9-19 6-18 6-4 38 8 8

x - clinched playoff spot; MAX - maximum number of points possible; HI - highest position possible; LO - lowest position possible

UPCOMING GAMES AND PROMOTIONS

Friday/Saturday, March 11/12 - Mississippi at Columbus, 7:30 PM EST (both nights) (Season Series vs. MIS: 1-4(0))

The Mississippi Surge visit Columbus this weekend for the first time since November 27. Columbus has split a pair of games at home so far this season against Mississippi but lost every game against the Surge in Biloxi; in fact, the Snakes are still in search of their first road win ever against Mississippi. After an injury to goaltender Kyle McNulty, the Surge

signed Bill Zaniboni to a three-game tryout. Zaniboni was named SPHL Goaltender of the Year last season as he helped Mississippi to the regular-season championship. Forward Matt Zultek will serve the final game of his ten-game suspension Friday and will be eligible to play for Mississippi on Saturday. He was suspended for his actions against Huntsville defenseman Bill McCreary in a game on February 13. Despite his sitting out the last nine games for the Surge, Zultek's 29 goals are still tops on the Mississippi roster and is fifth-best in the league. Michael Richard has passed him in the overall team scoring lead, though, with 55 points off 17 goals and 38 assists. PROMOTIONS: Player Card giveaway, sponsored by Carmike Cinemas. The first 1000 fans Friday and Saturday will receive the first and second set of player cards, respectively.

COTTONMOUTHS WEEK IN REVIEW

Thursday, March 3 - Columbus 2 at Louisiana 5 (Attendance: 3,218)

The Snakes fell to the Louisiana IceGators 5-2 in Lafayette Thursday night in the IceGators' last home game of the season. Sam Bowles and Daryl Moore scored the goals, both on the power play in the game's final two minutes, for Columbus. Ian Vigier stopped 27 of 30 shots on goal in the loss as two Louisiana goals were empty-netters, and Mike Brown of the IceGators picked up the win in net with 30 saves on 32 shots. While Columbus was 2 for 8 on the power play, the IceGators were 0 for 4 with the man advantage.

Friday, March 4 - Fayetteville 1 at Columbus 2 (SO) (Attendance: 2,068)

The goaltenders stole the show in last night's game at the Snake Pit, with the Cottonmouths' Ian Vigier and Fayetteville's Mike Spillane matching each other save for save through regulation and overtime, each allowing just one goal. In the shootout, however, the Snakes would prevail, picking up the two standing points and a 2-1 victory. Brett Hammond scored the regulation goal for Columbus with Jesse Cole credited with the shootout game-winner and also assisting on Hammond's goal. Sam Bowles picked up a point as well with an assist. Vigier stopped 18 of 19 shots on goal in regulation and overtime while Spillane deserved a better fate in net for the FireAntz with 34 saves on 35 shots. Both teams were scoreless on the power play with Fayetteville going 0 for 2 and the Cottonmouths 0 for 4.

Saturday, March 5 - Huntsville 1 at Columbus 2 (Attendance: 3,231)

The Snakes won their second straight 2-1 decision at home on Saturday night, this time over the Huntsville Havoc. Brett Hammond and Bret Tyler scored the goals for Columbus with Jesse Cole assisting on each one. Tyler also enjoyed a two-point night as he assisted on Hammond's marker. Andrew Loewen matched Ian Vigier's one-goal performance the night before in net for the Snakes but was a little busier as he stopped 28 of the 29 Huntsville shots on goal he faced. Dan McWhinney turned away 25 of 27 shots on goal in net for the Havoc. Both teams scored once on the power play as the Snakes were 1 for 6 with the man advantage and Huntsville was 1 for 5.

THREE STARS OF THE WEEK

1. F Jesse Cole - Cole had five points in three games, assisting on all but one of the Snakes' five regulation goals and was also credited with a goal courtesy of the game-winning shot in the shootout Friday night.

2. D Bret Tyler - Tyler had an assist on Thursday night and notched a goal and assist on Saturday night.

3. F Brett Hammond - Hammond scored a goal in each of the Snakes' home wins on Friday and Saturday night.

Lindsey Gierer Director of Public Relations Columbus Cottonmouths Hockey 706 571 0086 www.cottonmouths.com

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SNAKE PIT WEEKLY THE OFFICIAL WEEKLY RELEASE OF THE COLUMBUS COTTONMOUTHS, VOLUME 20

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MARCH 7, 2011

SNAKES PUSH HOME WIN STREAK TO FIVE, MOVE INTO 4TH PLACE TIE

COLUMBUS, Ga. - The Columbus Cottonmouths went 2-1 in three games last week, dropping a road decision at Louisiana but winning home games against Fayetteville on Friday night and Huntsville on Saturday night. The two wins pulled the Snakes even with Pensacola for fourth place in the SPHL standings and put Columbus three games over the .500 mark for the first time all season. This weekend will feature a back-to-back series of games against the league leading Mississippi Surge in the team's first visit to the Snake Pit since November. Columbus will look to extend on its home winning streak, which after last weekend's results has been stretched to a season-best five games. Both games this week will be broadcast on America One 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: 2-1(0)

Record: 26-23(5), 52 pts (T-4th, SPHL)

147 GF, 147 GA

18.0% PP (3rd, SPHL); 87.2% PK (1st, SPHL)

LAST WEEK'S TRANSACTIONS

none

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