Snakes Split Opening Homestand; Play Next Five On Road

October 27, 2008 - SPHL (SPHL)
Columbus Cottonmouths News Release


COLUMBUS, Ga. - The Columbus Cottonmouths opened their fifth season in the SPHL last weekend with a pair of home games. The Snakes dropped a 6-2 decision in their home opener on Friday night against the Huntsville Havoc but won a 2-1 overtime thriller on Saturday night against the Knoxville Ice Bears. The Cottonmouths will play their next five contests away from the friendly confines of the Snake Pit, starting with a Friday night game in Winston-Salem, N.C. against the Twin City Cyclones. On Saturday, the Cottonmouths will travel to Huntsville, Ala. for the Huntsville Havoc's home opener and the first of eight games this season in the Von Braun Center. Both games will be broadcast on B2 Networks with both a video and audio feed. There is a nominal fee associated with each game; details can be found at www.cottonmouths.com. In addition, the games will be aired live on WEAM 1580 AM "The Zone" in the Columbus area, with Mike Vee providing the play-by-play action.

CURRENT RECORDS AND STATS

Last Week: 1-1-0

Record: 1-1-0, 2 points (T-3rd Place, SPHL)

4 GF, 7 GA

7.7% PP (6th, SPHL); 80.0% PK (T-3rd, SPHL)

LAST WEEK'S TRANSACTIONS

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UPCOMING GAMES AND PROMOTIONS

Friday, October 31 - Columbus at Twin City, 7:30 PM EDT (Last Season vs. TC: 2-3-1)

The Cottonmouths hope to leave Winston-Salem, N.C. on Halloween night with a two-point treat in the standings against the Twin City Cyclones. Last season, the Snakes got more tricks against the Cyclones than treats, however, winning only two of the six contests between the two teams. Twin City returns forward Allan Sirois, who led the Cyclones in goals last season. Other key off-season acquisitions include former Cottonmouths defenseman Chad Swartzentruber, who actually is third among the team in scoring after the opening weekend, and goaltender Terry Dunbar, who played two seasons previously in the SPHL with Knoxville. The Cyclones had a flair for the dramatic this past weekend with two of their three contests going to overtime; however, they are still searching for their first victory on the year as they are currently 0-1-2.

Saturday, November 1 - Columbus at Huntsville, 8:30 PM EDT (Season Series vs. HSV: 0-1-0)

The Cottonmouths will travel overnight Friday night from Winston-Salem to Huntsville, Ala. to face the Havoc in their home opener in the Von Braun Center. It will mark the second of fifteen contests between the Cottonmouths and Havoc this season and the first of eight of those games in Huntsville. After a last-place showing last season, the Havoc have jumped out of the gate with three straight victories and currently sit atop the SPHL standings. After Saturday night, the Snakes' next game will also be at the VBC in Huntsville with a rare Monday night game on November 10.

UPCOMING GAMES AND PROMOTIONS (cont'd)

Saturday, November 1 - Columbus at Huntsville, 8:30 PM EDT (cont'd)

Showing last season, the Havoc have jumped out of the gate with three straight victories and currently sit atop the SPHL standings. After Saturday night, the Snakes' next game will also be at the VBC in Huntsville with a rare Monday night game on November 10.

COTTONMOUTHS WEEK IN REVIEW

Friday, October 24 - Huntsville 6 at Columbus 2 (Attendance: 3,079)

Ryan McCarthy notched the first goal of the season for the Snakes early in the first period, but a six-goal barrage by Huntsville, three coming via the power play, propelled the Havoc to a 6-2 victory over Columbus. The Huntsville scoring attack was aided late in the first period into the second period by nine consecutive power plays being awarded to Huntsville. Jason Schulz scored a power play goal for the Cottonmouths late in the third period for Columbus's other goal. Helped by several penalties against the Havoc in the third period, the power play totals were almost even with 9 for Columbus and 11 for Huntsville. Chad Rycroft stopped 24 of 30 shots in the loss between the pipes for the Cottonmouths and his first game in goal since April 2007 in the playoffs against Jacksonville. The Snakes outshot Huntsville 41-30 as Tim Haun turned away 39 of 41 shots on goal in net for the Havoc.

Saturday, October 25 - Knoxville 1 at Columbus 2 (OT) (Attendance: 2,704)

After Snakes goaltender Ian Vigier and Ice Bears netminder Kirk Irving traded save for save through the first 48+ minutes of Saturday night's game, Knoxville broke through with a B.J. Pelkey power play goal. However, with Vigier pulled for an extra attacker, Brad Patterson notched the game-tying goal with just 24 seconds remaining in regulation to send the game to overtime. In the extra session, Mat Ponto knocked home the game-winner past Irving after sustained pressure by the Snakes in the Knoxville zone. Irving acquitted himself well, however, stopping 26 of 28 shots in the loss, while Vigier turned aside 36 of 37 shots on goal for Columbus. The Snakes were scoreless on the power play in four chances while the Ice Bears were 1 for 9 with the man advantage.

THREE STARS OF THE WEEK

1. F Ryan McCarthy - McCarthy scored the first goal of the season for the Cottonmouths on Friday night and assisted on Mat Ponto's game-winner in overtime on Saturday night.

2. G Ian Vigier - Vigier stopped 36 of 37 shots on Saturday night to pick up the Snakes' first victory of the season. His 0.99 goals-against average and .973 save percentage are both tops among SPHL goaltenders.

3. F Brad Patterson - Patterson scored the game-tying goal on Saturday night to force overtime against Knoxville and also picked up an assist in Friday night's loss against Huntsville.



SPHL Stories from October 27, 2008


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