NOTES FROM THE COACH

 Cottonmouths Head Coach and General Manager Jerome Bechard is glad to welcome the Booster Club to the 2008-2009 season.  He anticipates a great year and promises that we will be well entertained. If you are not a season ticket holder, then this is the year to become one. In addition to skating with the players and discounts, season ticket holders are automatically entered into every drawing and the drawings this year will be fantastic.  Every Friday home game will be Flat Screen Friday with a drawing for a flat screen “something” from Best Buy. It could be a computer monitor – or an HD TV. You gotta be there. Tickets will be ready for pickup sometime during the first week of October.

 This is new:  The Snakes are offering a referral reward.  If you bring in a new season ticket purchaser, you and your referral will both get FREE GAS. This is a new program where  you can get $25 worth of free gas each month for a year.  That’s $300!  To learn more, call Jason at the office.

 Training camp officially begins before the ice appears. If everything works exactly as planned, the guys will have physicals on Monday, Oct 13, work out at the gym on Tuesday, and skate on Wednesday. The ice is supposed to magically appear Tuesday evening. (Keep your fingers crossed.)  Practice will start each morning at 10:00 and is open to the public.  Then, Friday, Oct. 17, an exhibition game at the Civic Center against Huntsville.  Saturday night…an exhibition game at Huntsville.

 The only significant rule change this year from the SPHL is that visors are now mandatory.

 Although the city has stated that the ice rink is in the works for groundbreaking this winter, Jerome asks that you keep reminding them.  If you live in Columbus, call or email your council member and let them know you want the rink.  The phone numbers and email addresses are available at Columbusga.org.  If you don’t live in Columbus, you can still let the City Manager know that we will support the rink.

 Opening night will be Breast Cancer Awareness night in partnership with St. Francis Hospital’s Ladies First program.  The team will wear special jerseys and there will be a jersey auction following the game.  We had better be tough to wear pink and blue jerseys against Huntsville.

 Jerome is pleased with the way the team is coming into place.  He may have the strongest defense the team has had in the SPHL plus two proven goalies in Rycroft and Vigier.

 Mike Vee will be back to do the radio/TV broadcasts, as well as the Coach’s Shows.  Dana Barker will be taking care of the music this year so if you have requests, let Dana know. All of the games should be broadcast via the web this year, although Richmond is not yet confirmed.

   As with the beginning of every year, the roster is not set in stone, but as of today the 18 players listed by the Snakes that will be here for camp are:

  Chad Rycroft Goalie

 Ian Vigier Goalie

 Craig Stahl Forward

 Orrin Hergott Forward

 Ryan Rutz Forward

 Tim Green Forward

 Lorne Misita Forward

 Dan Leslie Forward

 Ryan McCarthy Forward

 Brad Patterson Forward

 Emery Lovse Forward

 Will Barlow Forward/Defense

 Mat Ponto Defense

 Andrew Dwyer Defense

 Jason Schulz Defense

 Tyler Johnson Defense

 Chris Stubel Defense

 Lance Smith Defense

  There will be other players coming in from other camps as they close so expect some names that are not on this list at the Exhibition Game.

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MEET AND GREET

  The Meet and Greet will be at the FOP Lodge on Heiferhorn Way, Columbus, (off Williams Road), Sunday, October 19, 2008, at 4:00 p.m. The cost is $5.00, children 5 and under are free.  You must be a paid 2008/2009 member and you must sign up and pay for the party by October 16 at the next general membership meeting.  Members may bring non-member guests if you sign them up.  The cost for a non-member guest is $10. Guests’ children 5 and under are free.  Cook’s will provide hot dogs and hamburgers with side dishes and desserts provided by the members.  See Donna Hodgins to sign up to bring food.

“Miss Belief”

  Ufortunately, you can only win once and Craig “Miss Belief” Stahl recently ended his reign.  But, the crown is staying in the Cottonmouth family…sort of.  The 2008 winner was none other than Marty, the Cottonmouth’s own “Miss Bobblehead.

  Unfortunately, you can only win once and Craig “Miss Belief” Stahl recently ended his reign.  But, the crown is staying in the Cottonmouth family…sort of.  The 2008 winner was none other than Marty, the Cottonmouth’s own “Miss Bobblehead.