Snakes Win In Fayetteville; Host Augusta Thursday

Published on December 21, 2010 under SPHL (SPHL)
Columbus Cottonmouths News Release


COLUMBUS, Ga. - The Columbus Cottonmouths went 1-2 over the past week, losing games at home against Huntsville and on the road against Augusta on Thursday and Friday nights, respectively, before posting a 5-4 comeback victory in Fayetteville against the homestanding FireAntz. This week features a light schedule with two games, one the day before Christmas Eve and the other the day after Christmas Day. The Snakes will host Augusta on Thursday night before returning to Fayetteville for another game against the FireAntz on Sunday afternoon. Both games will be broadcast on America One Networks with both a video and audio feed, with a nominal fee for each game. A free audio-only webcast of the games is also available. Details can be found at www.cottonmouths.com. In addition, road games are now broadcast locally in the Columbus area on 106.9 WRCG-FM.

CURRENT RECORDS AND STATS

Last Week: 1-2(0)

Record: 8-13(2), 16 pts (T-6th, SPHL)

57 GF, 67 GA

18.8% PP (4th, SPHL); 89.1% PK (1st, SPHL)

LAST WEEK'S TRANSACTIONS

12/13 - F Brent Clarke returned from Cincinnati (ECHL)

12/13 - Placed D Brody Malek on 30-day injured reserve

UPCOMING GAMES AND PROMOTIONS

Thursday, December 23 - Augusta at Columbus, 7:30 PM EST (Season Series vs. AUG: 1-3(0))

The Snakes will face the Augusta RiverHawks on Thursday night at the Snake Pit. The home team has held true to form in all four games the two teams have played each other so far this season, with Columbus defeating Augusta at home on Thanksgiving night and the RiverHawks emerging victorious in all three games versus the Snakes in Augusta, holding Columbus to just four goals in those three contests. The RiverHawks enter this week's action at an even 10-10 on the season, good for fourth place in the SPHL standings.

PROMOTIONS: $2 Beer; World's Largest Gift Exchange-stop by area Walmarts and purchase a gift valued at $5 or more. When you checkout, ask the cashier for a voucher, good for a $2 ticket to Thursday's game. Bring your unwrapped gift with you to the game and you will receive a gift to take home!

Sunday, December 26 - Columbus at Fayetteville, 4:00 PM EST (Season Series vs. FAY: 1-1(1))

Columbus heads to the Crown Coliseum in Fayetteville, N.C. for a Boxing Day showdown with the Fayetteville FireAntz. Unlike the Columbus-Augusta series, the road team has taken the win in both games the Snakes and 'Antz have faced each other so far this season, both of them by 5-4 scores. After an abysmal 5-11 start, Fayetteville has picked up the pace of late with victories in four of their past six games.

COTTONMOUTHS WEEK IN REVIEW

Thursday, December 16 - Huntsville 4 at Columbus 2 (Attendance: 1,742)

In a game delayed two hours due to transportation issues on the part of the Havoc, the Snakes scored the first two goals of the game but allowed Huntsville to reel off four unanswered to win going away 4-2. Jordan Braid and Matt Kinnunen scored the goals for the Snakes. Andrew Loewen took the loss in net for Columbus with 23 saves on 26 shots, while Mark Sibbald picked up his second win in as many games against the Snakes with 31 saves on 33 shots between the pipes for Huntsville. The Havoc were 1 for 10 with the man advantage while the Cottonmouths were 2 of 8.

Friday, December 17 - Columbus 1 at Augusta 3 (Attendance: 1,157)

For the second straight night, Columbus got on the board first courtesy of a Daryl Moore first-period goal, but for the second straight night, the result was the same: a two-goal loss, this time a 3-1 defeat at the hands of the Augusta RiverHawks. Ian Vigier acquitted himself well in the Columbus goal despite the loss with 36 saves on 39 shots, while Jon Olthuis turned away 25 of the 26 shots on goal he faced in net for Augusta. Both teams were scoreless on the power play with Columbus having six chances on the power play and Augusta eight.

Saturday, December 18 - Columbus 5 at Fayetteville 4 (Attendance: 2,420)

Again, the Cottonmouths drew first blood on Saturday night with a Matt Kinnunen goal to open the scoring, and again, the opponents charged back to take a two-goal lead. This time, however, the Snakes sprang to life, scoring four of the game's final five goals to earn a 5-4 victory in Fayetteville Saturday night. Sam Bowles scored a pair of goals with Jordan Braid and Brett Hammond lighting the lamp once apiece. Mitch Wall led all scorers with a three-point night, all coming off assists. Andrew Loewen picked up the win in net for the Snakes with a 33-save effort on 37 shots on goal; Adam Avramenko took the loss for Fayetteville with 34 saves on 39 shots. Both teams scored once on the power play as Columbus was 1 for 3 and Fayetteville was 1 for 4.

THREE STARS OF THE WEEK

1. F Matt Kinnunen - Kinnunen was the only Cottonmouth to score in all three games over the past week, scoring the first goals of each game on Thursday and Saturday and assisting on the Snakes' lone goal Friday.

2. F Sam Bowles - Bowles notched a power play goal and the game-winner on Saturday night in Fayetteville.

3. F Jordan Braid - Braid picked up a goal and assist in both Thursday's and Saturday's games.

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