Columbus' Matt Gingera Named Easton Player of the Month
Published on February 5, 2013 under SPHL (SPHL) News Release
HUNTERSVILLE, NC (February 5, 2013) - The Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL) today announced Matt Gingera of the Columbus Cottonmouths is the Easton Player of the Month for January.
Gingera led all players in points last month, scoring 13 goals and adding four assists as the Cottonmouths continued their climb up the standings with a January record of 8-3-1. Gingera scored goals in nine of Columbus' 12 games, including five game-winners (two in overtime). He also finished the month with a +11 rating.
A native of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Gingera became just the third player in SPHL history to record hat tricks in consecutive games. On Friday, January 18, Gingera's third-period goal gave him his first professional hat trick and proved to be the eventual game-winner as the Cottonmouths doubled up Pensacola 4-2. In a 4-2 win over Augusta two days later, Gingera recorded his second consecutive hat trick, joining Matt Whitehead (Pensacola) and Matt Zultek (Mississippi Surge) who accomplished the feat in November 2010.
Gingera currently leads the SPHL in shooting percentage, scoring on over 30% of his shots. He is also tied for the league-lead with seven game-winning goals and ranks second with 20 lamp-lighters. Gingera signed with Columbus on December 10 after playing 17 games for Tulsa (CHL), where he logged a goal and four assists. Before turning pro, he played four seasons collegiately at Sacred Heart University alongside current Snakes teammate Chris Bailer and led the team in goals his junior and senior seasons. Gingera played junior hockey in Manitoba with the hometown Winnipeg Saints, where he led entire MJHL in goals (66) in 2007-08 and finished as all-time leading goal scorer in Saints history (149).
Also Nominated: Matt Auffrey, Augusta (11 gp, 4g, 7a), Josh McQuade, Fayetteville (13 gp, 10g, 5a, 2 gwg), Tyler Fernandez, Knoxville (12 gp, 7g, 9a, 3 ppg), Jeremy Boyer, Louisiana (10 gp, 6g, 6a, 3 gwg, 3 otg), Todd Hosmer, Mississippi RiverKings (9 gp, 5g, 6a) and Jay Silvia, Mississippi Surge (10 gp, 10g, 6a, +11, 2 gwg)
SPHL Stories from February 5, 2013
- IceGators Shut out Surge, Regain Top Spot in SPHL - Louisiana IceGators
- Ice Flyers Edge RiverKings 3-2 in Overtime - Pensacola Ice Flyers
- RiverKings Pick up Point against Pensacola - Mississippi RiverKings
- Columbus' Matt Gingera Named Easton Player of the Month - SPHL
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