COLUMBUS, GA – Any coach will tell fans that getting a top notch effort from every member of the roster is the best way to pile up the victories. On Friday, February 20th, the Columbus Cottonmouths proved that axiom to be true.
Louis Belisle and Nick Curry each contributed a goal and an assist to pace a balanced offensive attack while goalie Shannon Szabados keyed the defense as the Cottonmouths defeated the Huntsville Havoc 4-1 at the Columbus Civic Center.
The two bitter SPHL rivals gave the fans their money’s worth in the first period despite neither one scoring a goal. While Szabados and Havoc netminder Jese Kallechy were stopping everything in sight, the skaters became involed in a battle royale that featured two fights, a couple of equipment violations and a pair of verbal abuse of officials penalties. The fights between Columbus’ Will Aide and Huntsville’s Nicola Levesque and then the Cottonmouths’ Craig Simchuk and the Havoc’s Joe Tolles came just two seconds apart, sending the crowd into a frenzy.
As the rough stuff continued in the second frame with a fight and three continuing an altercation misconducts, Columbus found the time to score three times. The first score was a short-handed tally off the stick of Shawn Bates who found a way to beat Kallechy at the 10:47 mark. Five minutes later, Curry and Mike Switzer combined to set up Belisle for the Cottonmouths’ second goal which was followed by Curry lighting the goal light off an assist from Belisle 26 seconds after the Belisle score.
Matt Gingera notched a power play goal 8:43 into the final period to make it 4-0 in favor of the home team. Assists on the Gingera score were credited to Levi Lind and Bryce Williamson. Tensions were still high but referee Dre Barone was able to maintain control throughout the period, keeping things from breaking out any further.
Szabados, who finished with 25 saves, got into the last two minutes of the game before losing her shutout. The goal was scored by Huntsville’s Luke Grenier while the Havoc were killing a penalty. Drew Akins and Tolles picked up assists on the play.
Kallechy finished with 28 saves in suffering the loss.
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