Snakes Ring In 2010 With Three Games, Three Nights, Three Cities

Published on December 28, 2009 under SPHL (SPHL)
Columbus Cottonmouths News Release


COLUMBUS, Ga. - The Columbus Cottonmouths went 0-1-1 over the past week, falling at home on Tuesday night to first-place Huntsville and losing in an overtime decision on Sunday in Knoxville, the fifth game out of the past eight for the Snakes that took more than sixty minutes to decide the outcome. This week features three games in three nights in three different cities. The Cottonmouths will be New Year's Eve guests of the Fayetteville FireAntz on Thursday night, will return home for a New Year's Day game against the Pensacola Ice Flyers, and will complete a home-and-home series with Pensacola on Saturday night in Florida. All three 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 are also available. Details can be found at www.cottonmouths.com.

CURRENT RECORDS AND STATS

Last Week: 0-1-1

Record: 9-7-4, 22 pts (6th Place, SPHL)

65 GF, 60 GA

19.1% PP (5th, SPHL); 84.6% PK (3rd, SPHL)

LAST WEEK'S TRANSACTIONS

12/26 - Loaned G Ian Vigier to Florida (ECHL)

12/26 - Signed G Barney Slayton as emergency backup

UPCOMING GAMES AND PROMOTIONS

Thursday, December 31 - Columbus at Fayetteville, 6:00 PM EST (Season Series vs. FAY: 2-2-0)

The Snakes will play a New Year's Eve contest against the Fayetteville FireAntz on Thursday night at the Crown Coliseum, with a special 6 PM EST start time to allow fans to head to festivities after the contest. The two teams have played each other evenly in the four games against each other this season; each team has won a game and lost a game on their home ice. Columbus defeated the `Antz 3-2 in the last meeting between the two teams on December 4 in Fayetteville. The FireAntz' Rob Sich is currently the SPHL scoring leader, tops among all players in goals scored (28) and points (40). Fayetteville has quietly become the second-best team in the league standings, four points behind first-place Huntsville and six points ahead of the Snakes (although both the Havoc and Columbus have three games in hand on the FireAntz).

Friday, January 1 - Pensacola at Columbus, 7:30 PM EST (Season Series vs. PEN: 2-0-1)

The Pensacola Ice Flyers will help the Cottonmouths ring in 2010 on Friday night at the Snake Pit. The Snakes dominated Pensacola in the only game between the two teams so far in Columbus, an 8-1 Thanksgiving night win for the Cottonmouths that set season highs for goals in a game and margin of victory. However, the Ice Flyers have performed an overhaul of their roster since that game, and defeated Columbus in a shootout in the last game between the two teams on December 19 in Pensacola.

PROMOTIONS: First 1000 fans receive a calendar poster, courtesy of Sunshine Banners and Signs.

Saturday, January 2 - Columbus at Pensacola, 8:05 PM EST

The Snakes will conclude their week's schedule of three games in three nights in three cities on Saturday night in Pensacola. The Cottonmouths are 1-0-1 against the Ice Flyers on their home ice, winning the first meeting between the two teams 7-4 on November 7 but dropping a 5-4 shootout decision on December 19, a game that saw former Cottonmouth Lorne Misita come to life against his old club with a two-goal effort but saw the Snakes storm back from a 4-1 deficit with three quick goals in the third period's final minutes.

COTTONMOUTHS WEEK IN REVIEW

Tuesday, December 22 - Huntsville 4 at Columbus 2 (Attendance: 2,808)

The Huntsville Havoc continued their undefeated streak against the Snakes so far this season with a 4-2 victory on Tuesday night in Columbus. Jesse Cole led the Snakes with a goal and assist, while Sam Bowles scored the other marker for the Cottonmouths. Goaltender Dan McWhinney picked up the win in his first start of the year against Columbus, as Mark Sibbald had faced the Snakes in the previous three contests but had been loaned to Laredo of the Central Hockey League. McWhinney finished with 39 saves on 41 shots. Ian Vigier took the loss between the pipes for Columbus with 33 saves on 37 shots. Huntsville was 2 for 6 with the man advantage while the Snakes were 0 for 5.

Sunday, December 27 - Columbus 2 at Knoxville 3 (OT) (Attendance: 3,024)

The Snakes fell 3-2 in overtime to the Knoxville Ice Bears on Sunday afternoon, the first meeting between the two teams this season in the Knoxville Civic Coliseum. All of the Cottonmouths' scoring occurred in a 38-second span in the final minute of the first period, with Tim Green and Dan Leslie scoring a goal apiece. Chad Rycroft deserved a better fate in net for Columbus, stopping 41 of the 44 Knoxville shots on goal he faced. Andrew Gallant picked up his second win of the season against Columbus, turning away 29 of 31 shots on goal between the pipes for Knoxville. Both the Ice Bears and Cottonmouths were scoreless on the power play with Knoxville having five chances and Columbus six.

THREE STARS OF THE WEEK

1. F Jesse Cole - Cole notched a goal and assist in Tuesday's loss to Huntsville and picked up an assist in Sunday's overtime loss in Knoxville.

2. G Chad Rycroft - Rycroft's 41-save effort on Sunday in Knoxville was a big reason the Cottonmouths took a point out of the game for the regulation tie.

3. F Tim Green - Green assisted on both goals Tuesday and scored the first goal for Columbus on Sunday.

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