COLUMBUS, GA – Over the years, fans of the Columbus Cottonmouths have been treated to entertaining hockey in the Central Hockey League, the East Coast Hockey League and now the Southern Professional Hockey League. In that time, the franchise has seen its share of outstanding players and personalities.
This past weekend, players from the past came home to Columbus for “Legends Weekend”, a celebration of the franchise’s history. As part of the events, the heroes of yesteryear put on a show in a game played ahead of this year’s team hosting the Louisiana Ice Gators. The fans were rewarded times two when in the game that counted, Nick Curry’s goal in the seventh round of a shootout gave the host Cottonmouths a thrilling 5-4 victory.
Once the fun of the reunion was done, it was time for this season’s team to get down to business. It only took the Cottonmouths 5:07 of playing time in the first period to open the scoring when Craig Simchuk beat Louisiana goalie Marco DeFilippo off assists from Patrick McCadden and Mike Switzer. Six minutes later the Ice Gators responded when Shawn McNeil and Bobby Watson helped set up Adam Stuart for a shot that got past Columbus netminder Andrew Loewen.
Tempers flared up twice over the next six minutes leading to two separate fights. In bout number one, Columbus’ Tyler MacPherson squared off with Louisiana’s Luke Kastel. Round two featured the Cottonmouths’ Switzer and the Ice Gators’ Matt Viola. Once the smoke cleared, Columbus was able to take the lead again when Andy Willigar scored with just under three minutes left in the period. Simchuk and Kyle Johnson grabbed the assists on the play.
Louisiana tied the score for the second time just over two minutes into the middle frame when Jeremy Boyer netted an unassisted goal. Columbus responded with a power play score when Neilsson Arcibal set up Bryce Williamson at the 11:06 mark to go in front for the third time in a little over half a game.
The score remained 3-2 Columbus until early in the third period when the Ice Gators struck for two scores in 25 seconds to take the lead. The tying goal came off the stick of Jake Hauswirth who beat Loewen off assists from McNeil and Viola. Seconds later, Bret Peppler notched an unassisted goal of his own to give the visitors their first advantage of the night.
DeFilippo (39 saves) looked like he had slammed the door shut on the Cottonmouths as he held off the Columbus attack until the final minute of regulation. With Loewen pulled for an extra attacker, Willigar and Simchuk combined to set up Levi Lind for the game-tying score.
Neither team was able to score in overtime, sending the contest into a shootout. Lind scored on Columbus’ first shot but Hauswirth answered on Louisiana’s fourth attempt. The shootout went into extra shots where Curry won the game by putting the puck behind DeFilippo.
In picking up the win, Loewen made 40 saves for his third victory in his last five appearances.
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