Snakes Split; Face Another Back-To-Back Home Weekend

Published on October 27, 2009 under SPHL (SPHL)
Columbus Cottonmouths News Release


Lindsey Gierer Director of Public Relations Columbus Cottonmouths Hockey 706 571 0086 www.cottonmouths.com

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CHL Levins Cup and Adams Cup Champions 1998

CHL Eastern Division Champions 1998, 2000, 2001

SPHL Presidents Cup Champions 2005

SPHL Commissioners Cup Champions 2007

COLUMBUS, Ga. The Columbus Cottonmouths split their opening weekend of games against the Fayetteville FireAntz, taking the opener 4-1 on Friday night but falling to the Antz 4-3 despite a furious third-period comeback. This weekend, the Snakes face another opponent for two straight home games. The defending league champion Knoxville Ice Bears come calling this weekend for a pair of games, with a 7:30 PM EDT puck drop on Friday night and a special 1 PM Halloween start on Saturday. 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 HYPERLINK "http://www.cottonmouths.com" www.cottonmouths.com.

RECORDS AND STATS

Last Week: 1-1-0

Record: 1-1-0, 2 pts Place, SPHL)

7 GF, 5 GA

30.0% PP SPHL); 100.0% PK SPHL)

LAST WEEKS TRANSACTIONS

none

UPCOMING GAMES AND PROMOTIONS

Friday/Saturday, October 30/31 Knoxville at Columbus, 7:30 PM EDT PM EDT Season vs. KNX: 7-6-1)

For the second straight weekend, the Snakes will have a pair of home contests against the same opponent, with the Knoxville Ice Bears spending the weekend in Columbus for two games. The Cottonmouths and Ice Bears opening weekends were mirror images of each other: two games against the same opponent at home Ice Bears had a back-to-back at home against Huntsville), a Friday win allowing only one goal won 4-1 Friday, Knoxville 6-1) and a Saturday loss fell 5-2 to Huntsville on Saturday night), and outscoring the opponent by two goals on the weekend outscored the Havoc 8-6). Perennial scoring leader Kevin Swider has already ascended to the top of the league in scoring with a five-point weekend 3A), tying him with Huntsvilles Justin Rohr for the SPHL lead. Knoxville also has returned many of their components from their Presidents Cup championship season last year, led by Frank Furdero and Tim Vitek at forward, Chris Brannen and Kevin Harris on defense, and last seasons Goaltender of the Year Andrew Gallant between the pipes. The Ice Bears also signed defenseman Paul Lynch, who helped them to their championship in 2007-08, and former Cottonmouth Tommy McMonagle, who has a championship ring from the Snakes 2005 SPHL championship squad.

WEEK IN REVIEW

Friday, October 23 Fayetteville 1 at Columbus 4 2,833)

The perfect mix of veterans and newcomers provided the scoring in a 4-1 Columbus win in their season opener last night, while goaltender Ian Vigier shut the door on all but one Fayetteville shot on goal. Vets Orrin Hergott and Craig Stahl scored a goal each while rookies Levi Lind and Jeff Martens scored the other two goals. Martens was the only multiple-point scorer for the Snakes, adding an assist. Vigier stopped 30 of 31 shots in the winning effort, while Guy St. Vincent took the loss in net for Fayetteville, stopping 34 of 38. The Cottonmouths power play converted on one of five chances while holding the FireAntz scoreless in their six chances with the man advantage.

Saturday, October 24 Fayetteville 4 at Columbus 3 2,240)

After spotting Fayetteville a 4-0 lead, the Cottonmouths stormed back with three unanswered goals but would run out of time to complete the comeback, falling to the FireAntz 4-3. Orrin Hergott scored a pair of third-period markers while Nicolas Boucher tallied a goal for Columbus as well. Levi Lind also joined Hergott with a multiple-point night as he logged two assists in the contest. Rookie goaltender Steve Bounds, playing in his first professional game, acquitted himself well with a 43-save effort on 47 Fayetteville shots on goal. Bryan Bridges picked up the win in net for the FireAntz as he turned away 37 of the 40 shots on goal he faced. The Snakes were 2 for 5 with the man advantage and kept Fayettevilles power play unit off the scoreboard for the second straight night, holding the FireAntz scoreless in three chances.

THREE STARS OF THE WEEK

1. F Orrin Hergott One of the Snakes three veterans and an original SPHL Cottonmouth, Hergott lit the lamp three times over the weekend.

2. F Jeff Martens The rookie scored the game winner on Friday night and also added an assist in both games over the weekend.

3. G Ian Vigier Vigier allowed only one Fayetteville goal on 31 shots Friday night and is the early leader among netminders in the SPHL with a 1.00 goals-against average along with a save percentage.

Honorable Mention: Snakes Special Teams After getting off to a slow start last season, Columbuss special teams had a noteworthy performance over the weekend. The power play currently leads all teams in the SPHL, operating at a 30% efficiency rate goals in ten chances), while the penalty kill was a perfect 9 for 9 against the FireAntz this past weekend.

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