Columbus Cottonmouths Bring Back 3 Returning Names

September 21, 2016 - SPHL (SPHL)
Columbus Cottonmouths News Release


The Columbus Cottonmouths of the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL) have signed two returning forwards and a new forward to their training camp roster, set to begin next month. Newcomer Derek Gingera, the brother of former Cottonmouth and 2015 SPHL MVP Matt Gingera, joins forwards Craig Simchuk and Ben O'Quinn on the Snakes roster. The three forwards join goaltenders Brandon Jaeger and Alex Larson and defensemen Rusty Hafner, Kyle Johnson, Alex Pompeo, and Kyle Shapiro on the Columbus training camp roster, set to begin in less than three weeks.

Gingera will be entering his first professional season this year, coming off a four-year collegiate stint at Castleton University in Vermont. In 88 games at Castleton, Gingera scored a combined 22 goals and 21 assists. The 5'10", 165-pounder also has five seasons of experience in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League, tallying 114 goals and 97 assists in 219 career MJHL games with Selkirk (2007-11) and Winnipeg (2011-12).

"Matt has two brothers at the collegiate level, and he called me about giving (Derek) an opportunity," said Snakes head coach and general manager Jerome Bechard. "He may not be the explosive 30-goal guy his brother was, but I think he'll come in and put up some good numbers offensively and be responsible defensively as well."

Simchuk will be entering his third professional season this year, all of them spent in Columbus. He has notched 15 goals and 22 assists in 77 games as a Cottonmouth in the past two seasons. The 5'11", 205-pound Simchuk also tallied a pair of goals in three postseason games in 2015.

"After his shortened season last year, he immediately was a shot in the arm we needed at the end of last season," said Bechard. "Being a third year guy, I'll be looking to him for leadership in the locker room on and off the ice. We're really excited to have him for a full year."

At 6'1, 200 pounds, O'Quinn will be playing in his third season in Columbus as well, but only his second full season as a Snake. He came to Columbus late in the 2014-15 season, scoring 13 points (5G, 8A) in the team's final 14 regular-season games after appearing in a pair of SPHL games with Fayetteville earlier in the season. He was the only player to play in all 56 games for the Cottonmouths last season, logging nine goals and 17 assists.

"I look for Ben to put up big numbers for us offensively," Bechard said. "That comes with the style of play we need to play, and he needs to utilize his teammates as much as possible."

The regular season opens exactly one month from today as the Cottonmouths will head to their intrastate rivals, playing in Macon against the Mayhem on Friday, Oct. 21. The two teams return to Columbus the next night for the Snakes' home opener on Saturday, Oct. 22. Prior to that, however, the Cottonmouths will host an exhibition game at the Columbus Ice Rink on Saturday, Oct. 15 against the defending SPHL champion Pensacola Ice Flyers. For more information about season ticket or corporate sponsorship opportunities, contact the Snakes at 706.571.0086 .



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