Columbus Cottonmouths strike quickly in rout of Ice Bears

A week after playing their worst game of the season, the Columbus Cottonmouths proved the force was with them by bouncing back with arguably their strongest performance of the year to defeat Knoxville 6-1 on Star Wars Night at the Columbus Civic Center.

Wielding their sticks like high-scoring light sabers, Columbus jumped out to an early lead, scoring five goals in the opening period.

Before tonight's game, Columbus shook up the roster adding forwards Cody Freeman and Al Graves. Those two registered three of the first five goals with Freeman leading the team with two goals.

Freeman joined the Cottonmouths after playing eight games last year for Evansville in the ECHL. Prior to that, he played collegiately at Canisius, the same college that produced former Snakes goaltender Andrew Loewen. Graves spent training camp with the Snakes prior to the beginning of the season.

The two forwards brought some speed and aggressiveness to the open ice, something coach Jerome Bechard preached all week

in practice.

"Timing is everything. We have two teams that are still trying to find their identity, and we found ours tonight," said Bechard. "Probably the best all-around balanced game we've played as a team this year, and obviously Freeman coming in scoring two goals off the bat was huge. It was fun to watch tonight."

Never letting up, Columbus piled on the second when Craig Simchuk connected on his fourth goal of the year. Forwards Ben O'Quinn and Shawn Bates each accounted for three assists.

Losers of eight out of its last nine, including three straight to Columbus, Knoxville's lone goal of the night came 13 minutes into second period on a power-play goal by Todd Hosmer.

Cottonmouths goaltender Brandon Jaeger turned away 27 of 28 shots on way to picking up his fourth consecutive win of the year and third straight over Knoxville.

"Feels great, every night I've been in there the team has been playing better and better in front of me," Jaeger said. "Such a momentum boost when your team can come out and set the tone early by playing with a lead."

In addition to the signings of Freeman and Graves, the Snakes also released veteran Levi Lind.

"Lind played two great games for us. He kept the game simple for our younger guys and is still a luxury for us possibly down the road," Bechard said.

Columbus closes out its current four-game home stand Saturday night against Macon.

Friday at Columbus Civic Center

Knoxville 0 1 0--1

Columbus 5 1 0--6

First period--1, Columbus, Freeman (Bates, Jackson) 0:34; 2, Columbus, PP-Brodie (O'Quinn) 6:15; 3, Columbus, Freeman (Jackson) 7:28; 4, Columbus, McCadden (O'Quinn, Bates) 9:33; 5, Columbus, Graves (Lockeridge, Bathgate); Penalties--LaRue, Knoxville (Boarding) 4:15; Fulton, Knoxville (Charging) 19:54; Fulton, Knoxville (Fighting-Major) 19:54; McCadden, Columbus (Fighting-Major) 19:54.

Second period--6, Columbus, Simchuk (O'Quinn, Bates) 4:58; 7, Knoxville, PP-Hosmer (Power, Flegel) 13:58; Penalties--Graves, Columbus (Fighting-Major) 5:22; Sicard, Knoxville (Fighting-Major) 5:22; Cousineau, Knoxville (Cross Checking) 7:02; Cousineau, Knoxville (Verbal Abuse-Misconduct) 7:02; Hosmer, Knoxville (High Sticking) 11:14; Freeman, Columbus (Slashing) 13:14.

Third period--Penalties--Bates, Columbus (Slashing) 11:56; Cousineau, Knoxville (Unsportsmanlike Conduct) 11:56; Jackson, Columbus (High Sticking) 19:18.

Shots on goal: Knoxville 11-8-9; Columbus 15-8-6

Power plays: Knoxville 1 of 2; Columbus 1 of 4

Goaltenders: Knoxville, Torris (loss) 60:00 10 7 6. Columbus, Columbus, Jaeger (win) 60:00 11 7 9

Referee: Sitarski. Linesman: D'Loughy, Locicero

Time: 2:20

Attendance: 2,867

This story was originally published December 4, 2015 at 11:06 PM with the headline "Columbus Cottonmouths strike quickly in rout of Ice Bears ."