Snakes Win Two Of Three; Face Louisiana In Weekend Set

Published on January 23, 2012 under SPHL (SPHL)
Columbus Cottonmouths News Release


COLUMBUS, Ga. - The Columbus Cottonmouths played three games in three nights last weekend, defeating Knoxville in both games of a home-and-home series with a 5-1 win on Friday in Knoxville and defeating the Ice Bears 4-3 in overtime at the Snake Pit on Saturday night. On Sunday afternoon, the Mississippi RiverKings spoiled the Snakes' quest for a perfect weekend with a 2-1 victory in the first SPHL game in Columbus between the two clubs. This weekend, the Louisiana IceGators make their first and only visit of the regular season to Columbus with a back-to-back set of games on Friday and Saturday night at the Snake Pit. The two teams have played three times this season in Louisiana with the `Gators winning two of three against Columbus. All games 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 107.7 FM.

CURRENT RECORDS AND STATS

Last Week: 2-1-0

Record: 19-10-5, 43 pts (3rd, SPHL)

98 GF, 86 GA

18.2% PP (5th, SPHL); 90.9% PK (1st, SPHL)

LAST WEEK'S TRANSACTIONS

1/19 - F Jesse Cole traded to Fayetteville for future considerations

1/20 - F Peter MacDougall activated from injured reserve

SPHL STANDINGS

TEAM GP W L OTL PTS WPCT GF GA PIM HOME ROAD L-TEN STREAK

Augusta 35 24 8 3 51 .729 143 105 876 15-2-2 9-6-1 6-2-2 1-0-0

Knoxville 32 22 8 2 46 .719 129 95 646 13-3-0 9-5-2 4-4-2 0-1-1

Columbus 34 19 10 5 43 .632 108 92 672 11-5-2 8-5-3 6-2-2 0-1-0

Louisiana 32 16 14 2 34 .531 113 115 552 8-6-1 8-8-1 5-5-0 1-0-0

Pensacola 30 16 12 2 34 .567 99 103 557 11-4-0 5-8-2 6-4-0 0-2-0

Huntsville 34 14 17 3 31 .456 104 122 803 7-7-1 7-10-2 4-6-0 1-0-0

Mississippi Surge 30 13 14 3 29 .483 93 103 588 7-5-2 6-9-1 5-3-2 3-0-0

Mississippi R'Kings 30 12 15 3 27 .450 88 102 467 8-7-1 4-8-2 7-2-1 5-0-0

Fayetteville 33 9 21 3 21 .318 102 142 653 4-11-2 5-10-1 3-6-1 0-3-1

UPCOMING GAMES AND PROMOTIONS

Friday/Saturday, January 27/28 - Louisiana at Columbus, Friday 7:30 PM EST/ Saturday 6 PM EST (Season Series vs. LOU: 1-2-0)

The Snakes host the Louisiana IceGators at the Columbus Civic Center for a pair of games this Friday and Saturday night. It marks the only time this regular season the `Gators will face Columbus. The two teams have played each other three times already at the Cajundome in Lafayette, La., with the Cottonmouths going 1-2-0 in those games. The IceGators are one of only two SPHL teams that Columbus has a losing record against so far this season; the Mississippi RiverKings are the other as the Snakes are 1-2-1 against them. Louisiana currently sits in fourth place in the SPHL behind third-place Columbus, but the Snakes have a comfortable nine-point lead over the IceGators; Louisiana does have two games in hand on the Cottonmouths, however. PROMOTIONS: Friday night is our annual Teddy Bear toss. Fans are encouraged to bring a stuffed animal to throw on the ice when the Snakes score their first goal. It is also Guns and Hoses Police and Fire Appreciation Night. Public safety officers showing their ID badge can receive $5 tickets on non-premium seating. Knology customers can also show their Knology invoice to receive buy one get one free tickets on non-premium seating. Saturday will have a special 6 pm start time to accommodate Midget Wrestling following the game. The first 1500 fans through the gates will receive a free chicken finger basket, and $2 Bud Light will be available from 5-6:30 pm.

COTTONMOUTHS WEEK IN REVIEW

Friday, January 20 - Columbus 5 at Knoxville 1 (Attendance: 4,418)

The Snakes defeated Knoxville 5-1 on the road Friday night in Tennessee in perhaps one of the most dominant performances in history by the Cottonmouths in Knoxville. Columbus jumped out to a 3-0 first period lead off the sticks of Sam Bowles, Andrew Krelove, and Derek Pallardy. After Emery Olauson put Knoxville on the board, Bowles buried his second goal of the game in the second period, with Orrin Hergott tacking on an insurance marker early in the third. Ian Vigier turned in a 28-save performance on 29 shots for the win in net for Columbus, while the Ice Bears' Jesse Kallechy stopped 24 of 29 shots on goal in the losing effort between the pipes for Knoxville. Both teams had eight chances on the power play, with Columbus making good on two of theirs and stymieing all of Knoxville's chances.

Saturday, January 21 - Knoxville 3 at Columbus 4 (OT) (Attendance: 3,952)

For the third time in the five meetings between the two teams so far this season, the Cottonmouths and Knoxville Ice Bears battled to a regulation tie on Saturday night at the Snake Pit. However, Sam Bowles would notch the game-winner in overtime to give Columbus the extra standing point and a 4-3 win over Knoxville. Peter MacDougall scored twice in regulation with John Sullivan also scoring once. Kevin Swider provided all the goals for the Ice Bears with a hat trick in the game, including the game-tying power play marker for Knoxville with just 12 seconds to go in regulation. Ian Vigier picked up his second win in net against Knoxville in as many nights with 18 saves on 21 shots on goal. Nick Niedert took the overtime loss in goal for the Ice Bears, turning away 39 of the 43 Columbus shots on goal he faced in the game. Knoxville was 2 for 8 on the power play while the Snakes were 0 for 6 with the man advantage.

Sunday, January 22 - Mississippi RiverKings 2 at Columbus 1 (Attendance: 1,641)

The Mississippi RiverKings prevented a weekend three-game sweep for the Snakes, defeating Columbus 2-1 on Sunday afternoon at the Civic Center. John Sullivan scored the lone goal in the game for the Cottonmouths. Andrew Loewen played well in net for the Snakes despite being saddled with the loss, stopping 23 of 25 shots on goal. The RiverKings' David Wilson turned away 21 of the 22 shots on goal for the win in net for Mississippi. Both teams were scoreless on the power play as the Snakes had four chances with the man advantage and the `Kings had five power plays on the evening.

THREE STARS OF THE WEEK

1. G Ian Vigier - Vigier turned in two solid goaltending performances over the weekend with two big wins against Knoxville, stopping 46 of 50 shots on goal in the two wins against the Ice Bears.

2. F Sam Bowles - Bowles scored two goals in Friday's win at Knoxville and tallied the game winner in OT on Saturday night at home against the Ice Bears.

3. F Peter MacDougall - MacDougall scored a pair of goals on Saturday night in just his second game back with the team after spending several weeks on injured reserve.

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