COLUMBUS, Ga. – The city of Columbus, Georgia sits a couple of hours west of Atlanta where the NHL Thrashers play. If you ask the hockey fans in Columbus, they’ll tell you that they don’t need the NHL as long as they have their Cottonmouths team. Cottonmouths’ General Manager/Head Coach Jerome Bechard is getting set for the new SPHL season by working hard to make sure his team is both as professional as its in-state neighbors as well as a winner. “Our biggest goal here in Columbus – and it always has been from the get go and it doesn‘t matter what level we‘re in whether we’re in the East Coast League, Central League or the SPHL – is to run a professional program,” Bechard said. “We’re treating this likes it’s the NHL. In Columbus, we’re the NHL and we want to show these guys what’s it like to play at that level. Whether you’re in the NHL or the SPHL, I want you to prepare like you are there (NHL).” Following what many in Columbus considered a disappointing season, Bechard is hoping to recapture at least some of the play that led Columbus to the regular season championship in 2007. For the Snakes, it all starts between the pipes and this season that means the tandem of Chad Rycroft and Ian Vigier. Vigier (13-12-4, 3.19 goals against) had a solid rookie season a year ago. Rycroft returns after sitting out last season but if he plays like he did in his previous three years in Columbus, Snakes fans will be more than pleased. “They’re going to put me in a tough position. I know they are.,” Bechard said. “They are going to push each other to play. They both want to play every game, every night but they both understand its going to be pretty much split down the middle. With our crazy schedule – a lot of three games in three nights, four in five – there’s plenty of hockey for both goalies to play.” Last year, Bechard had a defensive corps that was slightly undersized and lacked a lot of pro experience. The Cottonmouths have gotten a huge boost of size and experience this season as Mat Ponto is back in the fold after playing in Europe last year. Add in Andrew Dwyer (5-12-17), Tyler Johnson (2-6-8), Jason Schulz (1-3-4 in 16 games) along with twin towers Chris Stubel and Lance Smith (both players are 6’ 3” tall) and Columbus’ blue liners look to be much more physical this time around. “I think my biggest issue last year was that we were fairly small and inexperienced. This year, we’re definitely not small and we’ve got a whole lot more experience,“ Bechard said. “I think we’re going to be a whole lot more physical in our end and hopefully spend a whole lot less time in our end like we did last year.” Up front, the offense felt the loss of forward Tylor Keller all season as well as various injuries to many of the team’s snipers. When the lineup is healthy, it is potent with the likes of Lorne Misita (27-28-55), Tim Green (15-30-45), Orrin Hergott (22-18-40) and Ryan Rutz (24-19-43) going up and down the ice. New addition Brad Patterson is expected to be a solid two-way player and a much needed spark. “He (Patterson) is going to be that player that we’ve been looking for with poise and a really true playmaker,” Bechard said. “He can take care of his own end and put the puck in the net. He’s just a good, solid all around player.” Once again this year, Bechard will be wearing the hats of Head Coach, General Manager and Chairman of the Board of Governors for the league. With his time spread thin, Bechard decided to bring in two assistant coaches to handle things when he can’t. Barry Dreger and Geoff Beauparlant both have experience working with younger players as well as strength and conditioning, something that Bechard thinks will help the Snakes avoid last season’s lengthy injured list. “I’ve been kind of flying solo the last couple of years. Both of them (Dreger and Beauparlant) are going to take quite a bit of pressure off of me,” he said. “They’ll be working with the guys, getting them a little bit more prepared off the ice in the gym, in the training room stretching, doing different little things to get us at a level where we’re not worried about injuries. Those two are going to be instrumental in getting my guys where they want to be.” If all goes as planned for Bechard and the Cottonmouths, they’ll be able to show the Thrashers what a professional victory parade looks like. Contact the author at don.money@prohockeynews.com
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