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SPHL Mississippi RiverKings

RiverKings Get Even with Cottonmouths

November 12, 2011 - SPHL (SPHL)
Mississippi RiverKings News Release


SOUTHAVEN, Miss. -- The Mississippi RiverKings picked-up their second victory of their inagural Southern Professional Hockey League season in a thrilling 3-2 overtime win against the Columbus Cottonmouths on Friday, Nov. 11 in front of 2,328 fans at the Desoto Civic Center. With the overtime triumph, the RiverKings also evened up their season series with Columbus at a game apiece, with three games left to play in this season's schedule.

With just three seconds remaining in overtime Columbus was given a two-minute minor penalty for too many on the ice, but it wasn't just a power play for the RiverKings. The SPHL rule book states that in the final two minutes of overtime, any minor penalty results in an automatic penalty shot. Mark Magnowski took the penalty shot for the RiverKings and sealed the win with his second goal of the season to end the contest.

Rob Sich opened the scoring for the RiverKings just 48 seconds into the game, blistering a shot past Columbus goalie Ian Vigier for an unassisted goal, Sich's second of the season. Shots were 13-7 in favor of Columbus to the end the period.

Columbus tied the game 5:42 into the second period on a power play goal by Jesse Cole, his first score of the season with an assist by Levi Lind.

The RiverKings answered back, with Sich scoring on a breakaway after leaving the penalty box, taking a pass from RiverKings Captain Darrell Stoddard. The goal was Sich's second of the night and third for the season, and the tally put the RiverKings up 2-1.

Columbus held a slight 8-6 shots on goal advantage in the second period.

The Cottonmouths were able to convert again on the power play late in the third period as John Sullivan netted his fourth goal of the season at 16:42 into the period to tie the game at 2-2. Brett Hammond and Sam Bowles assisted on the score for Columbus. Shots were 14-9 for Columbus for the period setting up for the overtime.

The three on three overtime session went back and forth for both teams with each team's goaltenders providing big saves on odd-man rushes and breakaways, before Magnowski's penalty shot, game winning goal.

The RiverKings improved their record to 2-3 on the season while Columbus fell to 3-1-2 with the overtime loss.

The RiverKings were 0-for-3 on the powerplay while Columbus was 2-for-6 on the man advantage. Goaltender Scott Darling made 36 saves for theRiver'Kings, improving his record to 2-1 on the season. Ian Vigier made 22 saves for the Cottonmouths in the overtime loss with his season record dropping to 1-2.

The RiverKings next game is Tuesday Nov. 15 at the Desoto Civic Center versus the Huntsville Havoc, but off the ice the team will be hosting its ninth annual Face Off Field Trip with 5,000 kids in grades 3-6 packing the arena to watch the game. The game is slated for a special 10:05 AM CST start and will be the only game of its kind in the SPHL in this season. Kids will be given a 32-page workbook, with exercises from the book being performed by RiverKings players throughout stoppages of play.

Season Tickets for the 20th Anniversary Season are still available, as are all other discounted ticket packages for the 26 remaining RiverKings home games. For more information visit www.riverkings.com or call the front office at 662-342-1755!



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