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Snakes' road trip continues with weekend split

December 7, 2004 - SPHL (SPHL)
Columbus Cottonmouths News Release


COLUMBUS, Ga. – The Columbus Cottonmouths split the two games they played over the past weekend, defeating Fayetteville 4-2 on Friday night and falling to the Jacksonville Barracudas 5-3 on Saturday night. The Snakes currently sit in sixth place in the eight-team SPHL with 12 points, but only by virtue of playing a league-low 11 games; their .545 winning percentage is good for third-best in the league. Columbus's road swing continues this weekend with games in Jacksonville on Friday night and in Winston-Salem on Saturday night. Along with being broadcast on the Internet via Live365, Friday's game will be aired LIVE on WCJM 100.9 FM with Dana Barker, the "Voice of the Snakes," bringing all the action from the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena beginning at 7:30 PM EST. After the game, the "Fourth Period Show," also hosted by Dana Barker, will debut on WCJM. The show will feature a live call-in segment where fans can call in to 706.645.2991 with questions or comments.

CURRENT RECORDS AND STATS

Last Week: 1-1
Record: 6-5, 12 points (6th, SPHL)
38 GF, 37 GA
20.0% PP (4th, SPHL); 81.0% PK (5th, SPHL)

LAST WEEK'S TRANSACTIONS

12/1 – F Orrin Hergott recalled to South Carolina (ECHL); signed D Joel Pullman

UPCOMING GAMES AND PROMOTIONS

Friday, December 10 – Columbus at Jacksonville, 7:35 PM EST (Season Series: JAX leads 2-1)

THIS GAME WILL BE AIRED LIVE ON WCJM 100.9 FM! The Cottonmouths play their second straight game in Jacksonville on Friday night as they take on the Barracudas. After the Snakes spoiled Jacksonville's home opener with a big 6-1 win on November 26, the Barracudas exacted revenge on Saturday night with a 5-3 victory, snapping the Cottonmouths' five-game winning streak.

Saturday, December 11 – Columbus at Winston-Salem, 7:30 PM EST (Season Series: Tied 1-1)

The Snakes head to North Carolina again for the third time in as many weekends, this time to play the Winston-Salem Polar Twins. The ‘Twins currently sit in last place in the SPHL with a 4-11 record after an 8-0 blowout loss in Fayetteville on Saturday night. Both teams combined for 280 penalty minutes in their last meeting, a 4-2 Snakes win in Columbus on November 13. Winston-Salem's recently acquired netminder, Jomar Cruz, is a familiar face to seasoned Snakes fans. Cruz was the winning goalie for the Macon Whoopee in the first-ever Cottonmouths ECHL home game in the Snake Pit back in October 2001.

COTTONMOUTHS TOP THE TUB WITH TOYS FOR TOTS The Columbus Cottonmouths have teamed with Leisure Lifestyles and the American Red Cross for the 2004 Toys for Tots Christmas Toy Drive. Bring any new, unwrapped toys to Leisure Lifestyles, any Columbus American Red Cross Location, or the Columbus Cottonmouths office by December 21 and receive $3 off any upper level ticket to any of the December home games. Toys that are brought to the December 17th, 18th, or 21st home games will be placed in the Leisure Lifestyles Hot Tub in the Cottonmouths' effort to TOP THE TUB with TOYS FOR TOTS!

COTTONMOUTHS WEEK IN REVIEW

Friday, December 3 – Columbus 4 at Fayetteville 2 (Attendance: 2,239)

The Cottonmouths defeated Fayetteville for the second time in as many games by a 4-2 margin on Friday night. Ryan Haggarty, Chris Rook, Matt Mathias, and Craig Stahl all found the back of the net for the Snakes. Goaltender Chad Rycroft set a Cottonmouths season high with 46 saves on 48 FireAntz shots on goal. Despite only playing a little over five minutes at the end of the second period, Fayetteville goaltender Tyler Nilsson was saddled with the loss by virtue of allowing the game-winning goal. Nilsson made one save on two shots. Chad Collins played the remainder of the game between the pipes for the FireAntz, stopping 24 of 27 shots. Both teams were scoreless on the power play with Columbus having two chances and Fayetteville six.

Saturday, December 4 – Columbus 3 at Jacksonville 5 (Attendance: 2,163)

The Cottonmouths' five-game winning streak was brought to an end on Saturday night via a 5-3 loss to the Jacksonville Barracudas. Columbus put up a valiant effort after going into the third period trailing 2-1. Ryan Haggarty and Craig Stahl both lit the lamp in the final frame a mere 48 seconds apart to briefly give Columbus the lead, but Jacksonville would score three unanswered goals, including an empty-netter in the final 11 seconds of the game, to seal the victory. Newly acquired Joel Pullman scored the first goal of the game for the Snakes. Terry Friesen saved 20 of 22 shots for the Snakes before being replaced due to injury by Chad Rycroft, who took the loss in net and made nine saves on 11 shots. Mike Brusseau was the winning goaltender for Jacksonville, turning away 30 of the 33 shots he faced. The Snakes scored a power play goal in four chances while the Barracudas were held scoreless in their three opportunities with the man advantage.

THREE STARS OF THE WEEK

1. G Chad Rycroft – Rycroft followed up his performance last Sunday in Fayetteville with an even more stellar outing on Friday night, stopping 46 of 48 shots to earn his second straight win in net over the FireAntz.

2. F Tim Green – Green led all scorers over the two-game weekend with four assists, a pair in each game.

3. D/F Ryan Haggarty – Haggarty relished in the role of playing forward after the Snakes found themselves shorthanded up front due to the loss of Orrin Hergott. Haggarty scored a goal in each game over the weekend with Friday's goal in Fayetteville being the game-winner.



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