Cottonmouths Week in Review

Published on November 22, 2010 under SPHL (SPHL)
Columbus Cottonmouths News Release


COLUMBUS, Ga. - The Columbus Cottonmouths took a split out of the two games they played last week. On Friday night, the Snakes fell to Augusta 5-2 in the first-ever meeting between the two teams in the SPHL. On Saturday, Columbus returned home and never trailed in defeating the first-place Huntsville Havoc 3-1. This week features three games in three nights, with the Snakes hosting Augusta on Thanksgiving night and Mississippi on Saturday night. Sandwiched in between those games is a trip to Knoxville to face the Ice Bears on Friday night. All three 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: 1-1(0)

Record: 4-7(1), 8 pts (T-7th, SPHL)

28 GF, 35 GA

22.0% PP (2nd, SPHL); 92.3% PK (1st, SPHL)

LAST WEEK'S TRANSACTIONS

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UPCOMING GAMES AND PROMOTIONS

Thursday, November 25 - Augusta at Columbus, 7:30 PM EST (Season Series vs. AUG: 0-1(0))

The Augusta RiverHawks make their first-ever visit to the Snake Pit on Thanksgiving night. The two teams faced each other on Friday night in Augusta with the 'Hawks emerging victorious by a 5-2 score. Augusta currently finds themselves in a four-way tie for third place in the league standings with Knoxville, Louisiana, and Mississippi, two points ahead of the Snakes. Forwards Matt Auffrey and Neil Graham stole the show for the RiverHawks on Friday against Columbus with a goal and assist apiece; both are among the top 12 in scoring in the league. After Friday's game, Graham was loaned to the South Carolina Stingrays of the ECHL; as of press time, there is no word on his return to the RiverHawks prior to their arrival in Columbus Thursday.

PROMOTIONS: $2 beer specials, Georgia Lottery Night-your chance to win great prizes and a $500 jackpot in instant lottery tickets.

Friday, November 26 - Columbus at Knoxville, 7:30 PM EST (Season Series vs. KNX: 2-0(0))

The Snakes head to Tennessee on Friday night to face the Knoxville Ice Bears. Friday's game will be a return to the scene of the biggest victory of the season so far for Columbus, a feat unheard of in past seasons as the Snakes have historically struggled to win in Knoxville. The 5-1 victory on November 6 in Knoxville is the largest margin of victory by the Snakes to date. The Ice Bears also fell to Columbus in the other meeting between the two teams this season in a game at the Snake Pit on October 29.

Saturday, November 27 - Mississippi at Columbus, 7:30 PM EST (Season Series vs. MIS: 1-2(0))

The Mississippi Surge visit the Snake Pit on Saturday night in the fourth meeting of the season between the two teams. The home team has won each contest so far this season with Mississippi winning both games in Biloxi on October 23 and November 13 and the Snakes taking a victory in Columbus on November 14. The Surge are in a four-way logjam in the SPHL standings with Augusta, Knoxville, and Louisiana, but they have played the fewest games in the SPHL so far and are tied with first-place Huntsville with the fewest losses in the league (3).

PROMOTIONS: City employees night - fans can show their Columbus Consolidated Govt badge and receive upper level tickets for $8 each, only until 5 pm on Saturday.

COTTONMOUTHS WEEK IN REVIEW

Friday, November 19 - Columbus 2 at Augusta 5 (Attendance: 2,200)

The Augusta RiverHawks broke a 1-1 tie wide open with a four-goal third period en route to a 5-2 victory over the Snakes on Friday night in Augusta. The game marked the first-ever meeting between the two teams in the SPHL. Both of Columbus's goals came on the power play, with Jesse Cole and Brett Hammond scoring a goal apiece. Levi Lind led all Columbus scorers as he assisted on both markers. Andrew Loewen picked up the loss in net for the Snakes, stopping 28 of 32 shots as Augusta's final goal was an empty-netter. Jordan McLaughlin turned away 15 of the 17 Columbus shots on goal he faced in net for Augusta. Columbus was 2 for 8 on the power play while the RiverHawks were 1 for 6.

Saturday, November 20 - Huntsville 1 at Columbus 3 (Attendance: 2,401)

The Cottonmouths won their second straight at home and pushed their unbeaten streak in regulation to four games at the Snake Pit with a 3-1 victory over the league-leading Huntsville Havoc on Saturday night. Columbus never trailed in the contest with Matt Kinnunen and Jesse Cole staking the Snakes to a 2-0 lead. Cole also added an empty-netter in the game's final two seconds to seal the victory. Brett Hammond joined Cole with a two-point night as he assisted on the first two goals of the game. Ian Vigier picked up the win between the pipes for Columbus, stopping 25 of 26 shots on goal. Dan McWhinney made 28 saves on 30 shots in the loss for Huntsville. The Cottonmouths were 1 for 5 on the power play and held the Havoc scoreless in their six chances with the man advantage.

THREE STARS OF THE WEEK

1. F Jesse Cole - Cole scored a power play goal on Friday night in Augusta and notched another tally on the PP and an empty net goal on Saturday in the Snakes' win over Huntsville.

2. F Brett Hammond - Hammond scored a goal on Friday in Augusta and picked up two assists on Saturday.

3. G Ian Vigier - Vigier's 25 saves on 26 shots on goal Saturday night stymied the Havoc offense and helped give the Snakes the win over the league's top team in the standings. The game propelled Vigier into the second spot in the league with a 2.83 goals-against average and gave him the league's best save percentage as well among goalies with the requisite minutes played (.9128 compared to .9127 for Louisiana goaltender Scott Darling).

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