Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009

Columbus Cottonmouths cut goalie Steve Bounds, re-sign Chad Rycroft

The Columbus Cottonmouths released rookie goaltender Steve Bounds on Monday and replaced him with Chad Rycroft, who re-signed after being cut last week.

The Snakes had signed Rycroft and Bounds for the 2009-10 season, because goaltender Ian Vigier had moved on, leaving the Snakes after two seasons and signing with the Dayton Gems of the IHL. Vigier, however, wasn’t happy in Dayton and made an unexpected return to Columbus, leaving the Snakes with three goaltending options.

With Bounds and Rycroft already committed to the Snakes, Cottonmouths coach Jerome Bechard decided to bring all three goaltenders to camp. Rycroft and Bounds split playing time during the first exhibition game, each giving up one goal. All three goalies played in the second exhibition game, where Vigier gave up a pair of goals and Bounds and Rycroft each gave up one. Bechard placed Vigier and Bounds on the opening night roster, but the competition wasn’t over. Bounds got the start Saturday, facing 47 shots as the Snakes fell 4-3 to the FireAntz.

“Bounds faced a lot of shots on Saturday, and I think he would have liked to have a couple of those goals back,” Bechard said. “... Unfortunately for Steve, Chad Rycroft is a proven No. 1 goaltender, and with him and Vigier both back, we have two of the best goalies in the league.”