Snakes Return Home For First Time In Three Weeks

Published on November 16, 2009 under SPHL (SPHL)
Columbus Cottonmouths News Release


COLUMBUS, Ga. - The Columbus Cottonmouths faced two of the expansion teams in the league over the last weekend, playing at Biloxi on Friday night against the Mississippi Surge and playing in Lafayette against the Louisiana IceGators Saturday. The Snakes dropped one-goal decisions in each contest, losing 1-0 to Mississippi and 2-1 to Louisiana. The Cottonmouths will try to reclaim their offensive prowess this weekend with a home rematch against Louisiana on Friday and a game at the Snake Pit versus Huntsville on Saturday. Friday night's game will be the first Cottonmouths game on Snake Pit ice in twenty days. Both games will be broadcast on B2 Networks with both a video and audio feed, with a nominal fee for each game. A free audio-only broadcast of the games is also available. Details can be found at www.cottonmouths.com.

CURRENT RECORDS AND STATS

Last Week: 0-2-0

Record: 4-4-0, 8 pts (T-4th Place, SPHL)

23 GF, 20 GA

23.1% PP* (2nd, SPHL); 90.9% PK* (1st, SPHL)

*- Special teams percentages do not include results from Saturday's game @ Louisiana as the game stats had not been made available by the IceGators on Pointstreak as of press time

LAST WEEK'S TRANSACTIONS

11/14 - Signed F Sam Bowles to three-game tryout

UPCOMING GAMES AND PROMOTIONS

Friday, November 20 - Louisiana at Columbus, 7:30 PM EST (Season Series vs. LOU: 0-1-0)

The Snakes will face the Louisiana IceGators for the second straight time on Friday night, this time in the friendly confines of the Columbus Civic Center. Columbus is fresh off dropping a 2-1 decision against the IceGators in Louisiana on Saturday night. Former Huntsville coach John Gibson is now at the helm for the 'Gators, the third coach this season for Louisiana after Ron Handy began the season 0-3-0 and Brent Sapergia replaced Handy, going 2-2-0 in four games. The game will be a homecoming of sorts for Louisiana forward Mike Omicioli, who skated for the ECHL version of the Cottonmouths in the 2001-02 season.

Diaper Derby! Children 1 and under will crawl down the ice, competing for great prizes. Children can be registered at Growing Room or the Cottonmouths office. Registration fee of $20 per child includes two upper level game tickets, race attire and a DVD of the race.

Saturday, November 21 - Huntsville at Columbus, 7:30 PM EST (Season Series vs. HSV: 0-1-0)

Columbus has its second chance in as many nights to avenge a road loss as they will face the Huntsville Havoc on Saturday night. The Havoc defeated the Snakes 4-2 in the only meeting between the two teams so far this season on November 6 in Huntsville. The Havoc are currently tied for first place in the SPHL with Pensacola, who defeated them in two overtime decisions in a home-and-home series this past weekend.

Blanket Drive! Please donate any new or slightly used blankets to help those in need this winter!

COTTONMOUTHS WEEK IN REVIEW

Friday, November 13 - Columbus 0 at Mississippi 1 (Attendance: 2,434)

Matt Zultek's power play goal was all the scoring the Mississippi Surge needed on Friday night as former Cottonmouth goaltender Ryan Senft made it stand up in a 1-0 victory. Senft picked up the first shutout of the season in the SPHL as he turned away all 30 shots on goal he faced. The Snakes' Ian Vigier deserved a better fate in net as he had 34 saves on 35 shots. The Surge was also aided by being awarded ten power plays in comparison to four for Columbus.

Saturday, November 14 - Columbus 1 at Louisiana 2 (Attendance: unknown)*

*- Attendance, power play goals/chances, and number of shots/saves are not available as the game stats had not been made available by the IceGators on Pointstreak as of press time

The IceGators jumped ahead with two goals in Saturday night's contest, and a Jeff Martens goal in the latter stages of the third period was all the offense the Snakes could muster on the weekend as they fell 2-1 to Louisiana. For the second straight night, a stellar goaltending exhibition by the Snakes went for naught as Chad Rycroft only allowed two goals in the contest on several quality scoring chances by the IceGators.

THREE STARS OF THE WEEK

1. G Ian Vigier - Vigier's 34 saves on 35 shots kept the Snakes in Friday night's 1-0 loss at Mississippi until the final buzzer.

2. G Chad Rycroft - Rycroft followed up Vigier's performance on Friday night with a great night in goal himself but took his first loss of the season Saturday night in a 2-1 loss to Louisiana.

3. F Jeff Martens - Martens was the only Cottonmouth to find the back of the net over the weekend, scoring a goal late in the third period of Columbus's 2-1 loss in Lafayette to the IceGators on Saturday night.

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