Cottonmouths Week in Review

Published on November 7, 2011 under SPHL (SPHL)
Columbus Cottonmouths News Release


COLUMBUS, Ga. - The Columbus Cottonmouths took advantage of the eight-day break in games on Sunday with a 3-1 home win over the visiting Fayetteville FireAntz, pushing their winning streak to three games. The Snakes have ascended to third place in the SPHL standings, one point behind second-place Knoxville with a game in hand on the Ice Bears and six points behind first-place Augusta with three games in hand on the RiverHawks. The Snakes will pay for the light schedule this past week with the SPHL scheduling gauntlet of three games in three nights in three different cities this weekend. Columbus plays at Southaven, Miss. against the Mississippi RiverKings on Friday night before traveling up I-40 to Knoxville to face the Ice Bears on Saturday night, then will return home for another Sunday afternoon game, again against the Fayetteville FireAntz. 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 107.7 FM.

CURRENT RECORDS AND STATS

Last Week: 1-0-0

Record: 3-1-1, 7 pts (3rd, SPHL)

16 GF, 14 GA

27.8% PP (1st, SPHL); 88.9% PK (3rd, SPHL)

LAST WEEK'S TRANSACTIONS

10/31 - Waived F Morgan James

11/5 - Signed F Jesse Cole

UPCOMING GAMES AND PROMOTIONS

Friday, November 11 - Columbus at Mississippi RiverKings, 8:05 PM EST (Season Series vs. MRK: 1-0-0)

The Snakes return to the scene of their only road game so far this season on Friday night, again facing the SPHL newcomers, the Mississippi RiverKings, at the DeSoto Civic Center. Columbus defeated the RiverKings 4-3 on October 29 in Mississippi after spotting them a 3-0 first-period lead. After a decisive victory in their home opener against Pensacola, the RiverKings are currently on a three-game losing skid. PROMOTION: Viewing Party at Illusions on Veterans Parkway. Fans can watch the Snakes in action on the road with other Cottonmouths fans; admission is free, must be 21 to enter.

Saturday, November 12 - Columbus at Knoxville, 7:35 PM EST (Last Season vs. KNX: 5-0-1)

Columbus visits east Tennessee for the first time on Saturday night, taking on the Knoxville Ice Bears at the Civic Coliseum. The arena used to be a nemesis for the Cottonmouths, but the Snakes have broken the curse in recent years and went 2-0-1 in Knoxville last season. Columbus won both exhibition matchups against Knoxville on October 13 and 14, but many key players were not on the bench for the Ice Bears, including SPHL all-time leading scorer Kevin Swider, veteran forward Emery Olauson, and defenseman Mark Van Vliet, whose 12 points and 10 assists currently lead all SPHL players on the season to date. Swider's 10 points on the season is good for a second-place tie with Fayetteville's Chris Leveille, while Olauson is tied for fourth in the league with nine points. PROMOTION: Viewing Party at Illusions on Veterans Parkway. Fans can watch the Snakes in action on the road with other Cottonmouths fans; admission is free, must be 21 to enter.

Sunday, November 13 - Fayetteville at Columbus, 4:00 PM EST (Season Series vs. FAY: 1-0-0)

For the second straight Sunday afternoon, the Cottonmouths will entertain the Fayetteville FireAntz in the Snake Pit. The Snakes snapped Fayetteville's modest two-game winning streak with Sunday's win after the FireAntz started the season 0-2-1. Like the Snakes, the FireAntz also have three games in three nights, with a back-to-back series Friday and Saturday night in Huntsville against the Havoc. PROMOTION: Burger King Kids Day! Fans can stop by area Burger Kings to pick up a free child's ticket to the game (12 and under.)

COTTONMOUTHS WEEK IN REVIEW

Sunday, November 6 - Fayetteville 1 at Columbus 3 (Attendance: 1,957)

The Snakes continued their winning ways with a 3-1 victory over Fayetteville on Sunday afternoon. Jordan Braid led the way with a pair of even-strength goals while Sam Bowles added a power play marker. Andrew Loewen improved to 2-0-1 on the season with the win in net for Columbus, stopping 28 of the 29 shots on goal he faced, while Matt Hache had 28 saves on 31 shots on goal in the losing effort for Fayetteville. The Cottonmouths were 1 for 3 on the power play while holding Fayetteville scoreless in their five chances.

THREE STARS OF THE WEEK

1. F Jordan Braid - Braid logged the Snakes' first multiple-goal game of the season on Sunday with a two-goal effort against Fayetteville.

2. F Derek Pallardy - Despite not lighting the lamp, Pallardy chipped in offensively on Sunday with a pair of assists in the game.

3. G Andrew Loewen - Loewen turned in a solid effort in net on Sunday, turning away 28 of the 29 FireAntz shots on goal. The game helped to propel him to the top of the SPHL charts with a league-best 1.94 goals-against average so far this season. Loewen's .928 save percentage trails only Peter Skoggard of Augusta (.932) for tops in the league in that category as well.

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