SOUTHAVEN, Miss. – The Mississippi RiverKings (18-15-2) rolled the Columbus Cottonmouths, 5-1, Tuesday afternoon at the Landers Center as part of the RiverKings second FaceOff Field Trip of the season. Students from the Mid-South filled the building to enjoy both a hockey game get lessons in different school subjects through the day.
The RiverKings wasted little time before jumping on top of Columbus. Just 1:02 into the first Paul Ciarelli potted his third goal in the last two games on a rebound in front of the 
net for a 1-0 lead. 10 minutes later the RiverKings went up 2-0 when Leo Thomas scored a shorthanded goal. He knocked the puck loose at the defensive zone blue line then raced in on a breakaway before snapping a shot under the crossbar for a 2-0 lead on his 12th goal of the season. Just a few minutes after that Devin Mantha redirected a shot from Dylan Quaile for a 3-0 advantage heading to the first intermission.
The Cottonmouths came with some early pressure to start the second, but the RiverKings worked through that and then took a 4-0 lead less than halfway into the period. Daniel Sobotka forced a shot towards the net and Bryon Paulazzo followed with a few shots on the rebound. His second attempt went under goalie Andrew Loewen and Mantha stashed it home for his second of the game and a four-goal lead. Just over a minute later Joey Holka got on the board with his first pro goal to make it 5-0. Ryan Marcuz sent a pass to Thomas at the right circle. He then found a cutting Holka who had an easy tap in at 10:45 of the period.
Columbus ended Adam Courchaine’s shutout bid early in the third. While on their sixth power play of the game Tyler MacPherson sent a slap shot from the right circle that went past Courchaine to make it 5-1. Columbus wouldn’t get any closer as Courchaine made 12 saves in the third, and 27 in the game, for the 5-1 RiverKings win.
Notes: The RiverKings went 1-1 in their two FaceOff Field Trip games in 2014-15… The team took warmups in Derek Landmesser jerseys from previous seasons for his birthday… Leo Thomas added a goal and assist and is now on a six-game scoring streak (5g, 6a)… The RiverKings now lead the SPHL with four shorthanded goals.
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