Olympic gold medalist opens Cottonmouths' season as goalie

Two-time Olympic gold medalist Shannon Szabados arrived in Columbus in March 2014, entering her name in the Southern Professional Hockey League's history books as the league's first female player.

Less than two years later, Szabados will take her place in net as Columbus Cottonmouths' No. 1 goalie.

The Snakes open their 20th season in franchise history at 7:30 p.m. tonight against the Huntsville Havoc at the Columbus Civic Center.

"Shannon has proven herself," Cottonmouths coach Jerome Bechard said. "We've been talking all summer. I think she's pleased with how she played last year, but I think she expects more out of herself. Now she'll get the opportunity. She is a world-class athlete and one of the more mentally tough players I've seen."

Szabados, 29, played two games at the end of her first season and a full 2014-15 campaign. She posted a 15-9-1 record last season with a 3.12

goals-against average and a .907 save percentage. Szabados was mentored by fellow goaltender Andrew Loewen, who retired after last season, leaving Szabados the opportunity to earn the top spot.

Szabados, an Edmonton, Alberta native, had already excelled on the world stage, earning Olympic gold for Team Canada in Vancouver in 2010 and Sochi in 2014. She competed with and against men collegiately at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology.

Szabados was confident when she arrived in Columbus that she could earn the starting goalie position.

"I knew a little of what to expect and I knew I could compete at this level," she said. "I just wanted to play well, have fun and be consistent."

Loewen guided Szabados through the indoctrination into the league and city.

"We got along very well," Szabados said. "Before I even got here, he messaged me. I watched the way he carried himself on and off the ice and his professionalism."

Szabados will now have the opportunity to ease the learning curve of either Joel Danyluk or Brandon Jaeger, who are still competing for the back-up spot. Danyluk will play Saturday in Knoxville and Jaeger the following Saturday in Macon.

Kyle Johnson is the team captain and is also a close friend of Szabados.

"She's not a very vocal leader," Johnson said. "She just comes in every day and does her job. She does anything asked of her in the community. She's a fan favorite and a leader."

Szabados had an up-and-down season as she adjusted to the grind of minor league hockey.

"It was a real learning curve," Szabados said. "I had a five-game winning streak and an eight-game winning streak, but I also had a four-game losing streak. There was a lot of travel, but I got used to that."

Szabados was pleasantly surprised at the reception she received in other SPHL arenas.

"I had no idea how I'd be received," Szabados said. "It was great getting to see fans in the different arenas, taking pictures with them and signing things for them."

Szabados and Johnson are among a group of eight returning Snakes. Andy Willigar joins Johnson on the blue line. Returning forwards are Ben O'Quinn, Shawn Bates, Louis Belisle, Patrick McCadden and Craig Simchuk.

The Cottonmouths will put 10 new faces on the ice. Danyluk will take his place in net. New defensemen include Kyle Shapiro, Bryan Dellaire, Kyle Brodie and Rusty Hafner. Chris Rial, Garret Lockeridge, Tyler Henry, Andrew Kolb and Ryan Devine will play up front. For the first time in the team's 12-year SPHL tenure, Bechard will have no veterans on the team. Nine of the 10 new players are rookies.

Szabados and the other returning players are indoctrinating their new teammates into the Cottonmouths way of life.

"It started Day 1 when they all arrived," Szabados said. "We take care of showing them the town and getting them settled in the apartments. We lead by example in showing them how we interact with the community. With the owners (Wanda and Shelby Amos) and coaches we have here, it's a real family atmosphere."

As team captain, Johnson has one major goal for the season's early games.

"We have a track record of starting out slow," Johnson said. "This year with improved communication, I'm hoping we start off better than we usually do."

This story was originally published October 22, 2015 at 10:35 PM with the headline "Olympic gold medalist opens Cottonmouths' season as goalie ."