Cottonmouths Week in Review

Published on November 8, 2010 under SPHL (SPHL)
Columbus Cottonmouths News Release


COLUMBUS, Ga. - The Columbus Cottonmouths played three games in three days in three different cities last week. After a heartbreaking overtime loss on Thursday morning at home against the Fayetteville FireAntz, the Cottonmouths headed to Huntsville, where the Havoc shut them out 2-0 on Friday night. The Snakes picked up a win on Saturday night in Knoxville, dominating the Ice Bears in a 5-1 victory. This week features a home-and-home series against the Mississippi Surge, with the Cottonmouths playing in Biloxi Saturday night then playing at home Sunday afternoon. Both 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 106.9 WRCG-FM.

CURRENT RECORDS AND STATS

Last Week: 1-2(1)

Record: 2-5(1), 4 pts (T-7th, SPHL)

17 GF, 23 GA

25.8% PP (1st, SPHL); 92.3% PK (1st, SPHL)

LAST WEEK'S TRANSACTIONS

11/5 - Signed D Peter MacDougall to three-game tryout

11/6 - SPHL suspended D Brody Malek one game

UPCOMING GAMES AND PROMOTIONS

Saturday, November 13 - Columbus at Mississippi, 8:05 PM EST (Season Series vs. MIS: 0-1(0))

The Cottonmouths head to the Mississippi Coast Coliseum on Saturday night to take on the Mississippi Surge. This will be the Snakes' second visit to Biloxi as they fell to the Surge 2-0 in the first game between the two teams this season on October 23. The Surge currently sit in a five-way tie for second place in the league behind first-place Huntsville; however, they have played the fewest games in the league to date (4) and only the undefeated Havoc have fewer losses than Mississippi. Saturday's game will be the sixth straight game for Mississippi at home, with their first road game of the season coming Sunday in Columbus. The Cottonmouths are still in search of their first SPHL victory in Biloxi as the Surge won every contest between the two teams in Mississippi last season.

Sunday, November 14 - Mississippi at Columbus, 4:00 PM EST

The Snakes and Surge play the back end of the home-and-home Sunday afternoon at the Columbus Civic Center. While Mississippi was undefeated against the Cottonmouths in Biloxi last season, the Snakes took three of four from the Surge on home ice, although all three wins came in either overtime or a shootout.

PROMOTIONS: Burger King Kids Day - Stop by area Burger Kings to pick up a free child's ticket to the game. Military Appreciation Day - Show your Military ID to receive $5 upper level tickets at the box office. Also, fans are encouraged to Sponsor a Soldier. Each $5 donation will purchase a ticket for a soldier who has recently returned from deployment with the 3rd Brigade. To sponsor a soldier, visit cottonmouths.com or call the Snakes office at 706 571 0086. Every sponsor will be recognized on our Sponsor a Soldier webpage and entered to win two airline tickets, courtesy of American Eagle Airlines. Special military jerseys will be worn and auctioned following the game. Canned Food Drive, presented by Valley Rescue Mission-please bring canned food items to donate to the Valley Rescue Mission and help those less fortunate this holiday season.

COTTONMOUTHS WEEK IN REVIEW

Thursday, November 4 - Fayetteville 5 at Columbus 4 (OT) (Attendance: 5,556)

Chris Leveille's game-winning goal with just 1.2 seconds remaining in overtime gave the Fayetteville FireAntz a 5-4 victory over the Snakes on Thursday morning before 5,556 at the Snake Pit, many of them school-age children in the building for Cool School Day. The loss overshadowed the offensive efforts of both Sam Bowles and Orrin Hergott, who each scored two goals in the game. Andrew Loewen is still in search of his first professional win in net as he stopped 25 of 30 shots on goal in the loss, his first start at home for the Snakes. Adam Avramenko turned away 44 of the 48 shots on goal he faced in net for Fayetteville. The FireAntz were 0 for 2 on the power play while the Cottonmouths were 1 for 4 with the man advantage.

Friday, November 5 - Columbus 0 at Huntsville 2 (Attendance: 2,913)

Goaltender Dan McWhinney picked up the shutout for the Huntsville Havoc on Friday night as he blanked the Snakes 2-0. Ian Vigier kept the game close for Columbus and deserved a better fate, stopping 34 of 36 shots in the loss. Both teams ended the night scoreless on the power play with Columbus having four chances on the PP and Huntsville having five.

Saturday, November 6 - Columbus 5 at Knoxville 1 (Attendance: 3,231)

The Cottonmouths turned in perhaps their most dominating performance over Knoxville on the road since the two teams began in the SPHL, with the Snakes leaving Tennessee on Saturday night with their second win of the season, both coming over the Ice Bears, in a 5-1 decision. Mitch Wall scored a pair of goals for Columbus, with Sam Bowles, Jesse Cole, and Matt Kinnunen scoring a goal each. Ian Vigier picked up his second win of the season between the pipes for the Snakes with 29 saves on 30 shots, while Andrew Gallant took the loss for Knoxville with 26 saves on 30 shots in the first two periods of the game. Brian Hince spelled Gallant in the final period, making eight saves on nine shots on goal. Both teams had four chances on the power play with Columbus scoring twice and holding the Ice Bears scoreless in their chances.

THREE STARS OF THE WEEK

1. F Sam Bowles - Bowles turned in a five-point performance this week with two goals and an assist in Thursday's game against Fayetteville and a goal and assist in Saturday's win in Knoxville.

2. F Mitch Wall - Wall notched a pair of goals, including the game-winner, in Saturday's win at Knoxville.

3. G Ian Vigier - Vigier stopped a total of 63 of 66 shots over two games in Huntsville and Knoxville on Friday and Saturday night, respectively. Since allowing seven goals in the season opener against Pensacola on October 22, Vigier has allowed two goals or fewer in each of his other three starts.

HONORABLE MENTION: Snakes Special Teams - The special teams have indeed been special over the first three weeks of the season, with both Columbus's power play and penalty kill percentages tops in the SPHL. Of particular note is the penalty kill, where the Cottonmouths did not allow a single power play goal in 11 chances last week, boosting their PK efficiency to 92.3%.

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