Blugold Blog: August 2010

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

From WQOW - UWEC Soccer, Volleyball Previews

The season begins this week for both Blugolds women's volleyball and women's soccer teams.

The WIAC sports information directors have projected 2nd-place finishes for both UWEC programs in 2010.

Last season, UW-Eau Claire women's soccer finished second in the WIAC with a 6-1-1 conference record. The Blugolds only graduated three seniors off that team, but return their top six leading scorers.

Complete Preview with video - http://www.wqow.com/Global/story.asp?S=13070817

From WEAU – UWEC women’s volleyball/soccer previews

The bar is being set high for the UW-Eau Claire women's volleyball team as they start their season this Friday. The Blugolds are ranked 13th in Division 3 heading into this weekend's Labor Day Classic. Rankings and expectations are nothing new for Eau Claire after five straight trips to the NCAA tournament. What is changing are the Blugolds goals, as coach Kim Wudi's squad wants to win the WIAC and make a deep run into the post-season.

Getting back to the playoff is the focus for the UW-Eau Claire women's soccer team this fall. A 1-0 loss in last year's WIAC title game ended a string of four straight NCAA appearances, but the Blugolds only graduated three players from last year. Eau Claire's also confident playing a more aggressive style, one they were still figuring out last season.

Complete previews with video - http://www.weau.com/sports/headlines/101933583.html

From WEAU – Blugolds prepare for season opener against Bethel

The UW-Eau Claire football team kicks off a new season this Saturday when the Blugolds host Bethel College of Tennessee under the lights at Carson Park. Head coach Todd Glaser says his team will have several new faces on both sides of the ball, players ready to make an impact.

Full preview with video - http://www.weau.com/sports/headlines/101845643.html

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Cross Country Teams Regionally Ranked

Heading into the 2010 season, both the men's and women's cross country teams are regionally ranked, according to the preseason U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) rankings.

The women are at the top of the Midwest region. Washington-St. Louis was second while four other WIAC schools appeared in the top 10. The Blugolds captured the Division III national title last year.

The men are tied for 10th in the Midwest region with Chicago and Illinois Wesleyan. The Blugolds took 16th place at the national meet a season ago. Washington-St. Louis leads the region.

The complete announcement can be found at http://www.ustfccca.org/featured/regional-cross-country-preseason-rankings-in-division-iii-unveiled

Monday, August 23, 2010

Women's Soccer to Hold Eighth Annual Blugold Buddies Soccer Clinic

Come enjoy an evening of soccer fun with the UWEC Women’s soccer team and staff

The UW-Eau Claire women’s soccer team will put hold its Eighth Annual Blugold Buddies Soccer Clinic on Monday, August 30.

The two-hour clinic will begin at 6 p.m. that day and is intended for both boys and girls in the five to 12 year old age group. The clinic will take place at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire’s Bollinger recreation complex on field #5, the women’s varsity soccer field.

Registration will take place at the field beginning at 6 p.m.. The cost is $10 per youth with no pre-registration necessary. All participants are asked to bring their own soccer ball, sneakers or cleats, shin guards, water bottle and their game jersey (if possible).

The clinic will be directed by the Blugold women’s coaching staff of head coach Sean Yengo, assistant Kimamo Wahome, and the players on the 2010 Blugold roster. If you have questions please call the phone number below.

Sincerely,
Sean P. Yengo
Women’s Soccer Coach
Senior Lecturer
715-836-4097
yengosp@uwec.edu

Tracy Steffens - softball - birthday wishes!

Birthday wishes go out today to '02 Softball alum, Tracy Steffens! Tracy was our 1B in 2002 when we finished 9-1 in WIAC play. Tracy also didn't believe in the power of a timing swing - until she hit a shot over the centerfield fence in the WIAC Tournament! I guess seeing is believing......

Have a great day!

Coach Huntington

Friday, August 20, 2010

From USTA.com - Kady Monson To Be Inducted Into UW-Eau Claire Hall of Fame

Kady Monson To Be Inducted Into UW-Eau Claire Hall of Fame
August 20, 2010 12:05 PM

USTA Northern Visiting Pro and former staff member Kady (Hickman) Monson is among six athletes entering the UW-Eau Claire Blugold Hall of Fame. Monson joins baseball players Ron Parks and Vic Cable; hockey player Mike Schwengler; softball player Jill (Schoenike) Martin; and track athlete John Mago as part of the Class of 2010.

The 2010 honorees represent the 34th class of men's inductees and the 21st class of women's inductees, bringing the number of athletes, coaches and administrators honored to 180.

Established in 1973, the Blugold Hall of Fame pays tribute, gives deserved recognition and enhances school tradition by honoring former athletic letterwinners, coaches or administrators who showed distinctive, unique or exceptional ability while on the Eau Claire campus and have distinguished themselves professionally or personally since leaving the institution. For women, athletes are eligible 11 years after their final season of eligibility, while men must wait 15 years.

The 2010 class will be recognized at halftime of the UW-Eau Claire/St. John’s football game on September 11, and inducted during a banquet September 12 at the Best Western Trail Lodge Hotel & Suites. A social hour begins at 11 a.m. with lunch at noon and a program at 1 p.m. Banquet tickets, which will also include presentation of the 2009-10 Blugold Super Six Salute Awardwinners and several other recognitions, are $25 and can be obtained by contacting the UW-Eau Claire Alumni Association at (715) 836-3266 or larsojan@uwec.edu. Former WEAU TV 13 sports director Rick Foy will present the 2010 Hall of Fame inductees.

Monson was the conference No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles champion in both her sophomore and junior seasons. She was a member of four consecutive conference championship teams for head coach Marilyn Skrivseth.

As a senior, she won the conference No. 2 singles crown and was also the No. 2 doubles runner-up, as well as being selected the conference Scholar-Athlete for her sport. That year, she played with air cast splints on both legs due to periostitis in her shins. For her career, the former Shoreview, Minn., prep star produced a 59-16 singles record with all but seven matches in the No. 1 spot. She was 53-11 in doubles play, again with all but seven matches in the top position.

Alison Hover and Molly Cope were the only other Blugolds to win a conference No. 1 singles title more than once.

Monson was a two-time Blugold Super Six winner and also recipient of a UW-Eau Claire Outstanding Senior Award in 1997.

Monson graduated magna cum laude with a degree in math education and a coaching minor. She taught at Hudson High School in 1998-99, Stillwater High School in 1999-01, Eau Claire Memorial in 2002-03 and Eau Claire North in 2002-04. She has been in the Rochester Area School District since 2007 as a homebound mathematics teacher.

She has been a tennis teaching professional since 2001 and operated tennis camps in Eau Claire and other cities. She has coached JV and varsity boys and girls tennis at a number of high schools in Minnesota and Wisconsin and has served as a tennis clinic instructor at many camps. Currently she works as a Visiting Tennis Professional for the USTA Northern Section and as a National USTA Recreational Coach Trainer and QuickStart Trainer.

She and her husband, Karl, a tennis pro at the Rochester Athletic Club, have five children: Faith, 6 ½; Asher, 5; Noah, 3 ½; and twins Bethany and Grace, 1 ½. She is also actively involved in her church.

Read full story at www.northern.usta.com

Official UWEC Announcement at http://www.uwecblugolds.com/?view=release&id=3833&sport=gen&season=95

From USTA.com - Kady Monson To Be Inducted Into UW-Eau Claire Hall of Fame

Kady Monson To Be Inducted Into UW-Eau Claire Hall of Fame
August 20, 2010 12:05 PM

Casey Leisgang - softball - Birthday Wishes!

Birthday wishes going out today to '08 softball alum, Casey Leisgang! Casey was a 2nd team All American at 2nd base her senior year, as she helped the Blugolds to the NCAA Division III Softball National Championship!

Have a great day!

Coach Huntington

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Austin Murphy Featured in Rhinelander Daily News

Murphy filling new roles at UW-Eau Claire
Former RHS football player converts to cornerback
By Kevin Damask

During his high school football career, Rhinelander’s Austin Murphy used his unique blend of size, speed and quickness to become one of the Wisconsin Valley Conference’s best running backs. Heading into his sophomore season at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Blugolds coaches are hoping Murphy can use those rare attributes to master an entirely different position –– cornerback.

Unfortunately, Murphy, who played on special teams last year, won’t have much time to prepare for the switch to defense.

The Blugolds started their fall practice on Sunday, the same day head coach Todd Glaser asked Murphy if he would be interested in playing in the secondary.

“The first day we came in to get our equipment and right away, (Coach is) like, ‘Murphy, I need to talk to you,’ and I was like, ‘Oh no, what could this possibly be?,’” Murphy said. “He brought me to his office and said, ‘A couple of corners quit, we’re running low on numbers and we thought we could use a guy on offense and you’re one of the fastest, quickest guys. We could use you, would you want to move over?’ and I was like, ‘Yeah, absolutely.’”

The Blugolds’ season opener is Sept. 4 against Bethel College (Tenn.) in Eau Claire. While Eau Claire’s season is approaching fast, it’s unlikely Murphy will get a lot of time at cornerback, at least early in the season. He’ll start out on special teams, but he could work his way into the Blugolds’ defensive scheme as an extra defensive back on nickel packages.

Despite all the success Murphy enjoyed as Rhinelander’s star halfback, he has no qualms about taking on a different role in college.

“At Rhinelander, we (played) both ways and I always loved hitting people and I loved being on defense and making plays, so when he told me, I wasn’t even mad or anything,” Murphy said. “I’m ready to hit people and that’s my new role on the team and I’m ready to take it on.”

After working hard in the offseason, the 6-1, 178-pound Murphy is physically ready to play defensive back. He’s going to need time to learn Eau Claire’s defensive playbook, but he’s willing to learn and that pleases Glaser.

“He’s a student of the game. He wants to get better, not only physically but mentally. He wants to know the game and that’s half the battle when you’re talking about players; kids have to really want it and Austin wants it,” Glaser said. “He really doesn’t have any weaknesses, it’s just his youth. But he’s a year older this year, he came into camp in really good shape. He’s been very good for us so far and I expect a bright future for him.”

As a freshman, Murphy admitted coming into fall camp feeling more content than he should have felt. While the Blugolds play at the NCAA Division III level, they’re in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, one of the strongest conferences in D-III. The WIAC is home to UW-Whitewater, last season’s D-III national champion, along with several other solid programs. Last season, Murphy had to adjust to playing against bigger, faster players with more talent. He started out on Eau Claire’s scout team and worked his way onto the depth chart. By mid-season, he hit the field as a special teamer and his first play was a memorable one.

“I was a corner on a punt, so I was guarding a gunner. He came right at me and I just locked him up and took him to the ground and I was so jacked. I’ve never even done that before, not even in high school,” Murphy said. “It really set a good tone for the rest of the year for how I was going to play.”

As a running back at RHS, Murphy would handle the ball about 30 times a game, either on carries or receptions. At Eau Claire, those days are over, but Murphy’s been practicing as a kickoff/punt returner, so he could be handling the ball again during games.

Last fall, the Blugolds finished 6-4 and 4-3 in the WIAC. Coming off a solid season, Glaser has high expectations this fall and will look for Murphy to help the Blugolds in any capacity.

Murphy, meanwhile, has goals he wants to meet off the field, too. He’s committed to graduating in four years and becoming either a teacher or athletic trainer. Being a full-time student and athlete at a D-III university garners little glory, but Murphy’s enjoying it.

“If I ever start feeling down or practice is too tough, or if I’m getting tired and don’t want to go to practice, well I just think about how in five years I would have wished I would have tried my hardest,” Murphy said. “So that will push me a lot, to try my hardest every single day in practice to get better.

“I just want to be the best leader I can be and the best guy I can be because in the end, it doesn’t matter who made that big play, it was just about what type of person you are.”

Full article at Rhinelander Daily News

Austin Murphy Featured in Rhinelander Daily News

Murphy filling new roles at UW-Eau Claire
Former RHS football player converts to cornerback
By Kevin Damask

Volleyball Ranked in 2010 AVCA Preseason Poll

The volleyball team found itself ranked 13th in this season's American Volleyball Coaches Association top 25 preseason poll. The complete poll is at http://www.avca.org/divisions/division-three-women/poll-8-19-10/

The Blugolds were also picked to finish second in WIAC this season, according to the league's sports information directors - http://wiacsports.com/volyball/2010Preview.html

The team kicks off the season Sept. 3 when it hosts the UWEC Labor Day Classic. This season's complete schedule is at http://www.uwecblugolds.com/?view=schedule&sport=wvb

Congratulations to former Softball Standout, Jill (Schoenike) Martin!

Congratulations goes out today to former softball standout, Jill (Schoenike) Martin for her induction into this year's Blugold Athletics Hall of Fame! Information on the banquet can be found at www.uwecblugolds.com. We are proud to have another member of the Blugold Softball family being inducted this year!

Also on that day, former player, Katie Stalker, will receive one of the Blugold Athletics Super Six Awards.

Congrats to both of these former softball players!

Coach Huntington

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Birthday Wishes!

Birthday wishes going out today to '07 alum Stephanie (Salter) Sturgis! I'm going to attempt to recognize birthdays through my blog on a regular basis. Working hard to keep as many alums "in the loop" as possible! Please go to our alumnae information page and update your contact information, as well as any of the other info we're requesting. If you've had a baby recently, we have a gift for you, so please let us know what's happening in your life. We're also going to bring back our newsletter this year and we'd like to post birthdays, births, weddings, career milestones, or whatever else is going on with our softball alumnae, but we need your help so we know what is happening with all of you!

Have a great day!

For love of the game,
Coach Huntington

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Wagner competes in national event

From Austin Post-Bulletin

Wagner competes in national event
By Ben Pherson

Austin High graduate Catherine Wagner is a member of the women's golf team at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Wagner will be a sophomore for the Blugolds this fall.

She recently was selected to play in the First Annual Hooters Women's Collegiate Team Championship, presented by the National Golf Coaches Assocation. Wagner's teammate, Katie Maurer, also was selected to play in the event.

The tournament brought together many of the best players in all divisions of college golf. The event was in Achasta, Ga., and featured 55 two-person teams. Each team paired players from the same university in a 54-hole stroke play event.

The format of the Championship was Day 1 (Aug. 3): Alternate Shot; Day 2 (Aug. 4): Best Ball; and Day 3 (Aug. 5): Aggregate score of the two players. Teams were composed of players from all levels of collegiate golf, including 42 Division I, four Division II, six Division III and one NAIA program.

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Wagner and Maurer tied for 40th among the 55 teams. They defeated all but one of the Division III teams (Gustavus Adolphus) and even finished ahead of several Division I teams. Wagner and Maurer finished at 31 over par and improved each day of the tournament.

Last season, Maurer and Wagner led the Blugolds, averaging 79.5 and 80 strokes per round, respectively. Maurer won three tournaments, including claiming WIAC Championship medalist honors, while Wagner won one tournament and finished in the top five at four other tournaments.

UW-Eau Claire will open its fall season Sept. 4-5 at home during the Doug Georgianni Memorial Invitational. The two-round event will be held at Wild Ridge Golf Course in Eau Claire.

Wagner and her Blugolds teammates will make one appearance in Minnesota during the fall season. They play at the Division II Mustang Invitational (Southwest State) in Marshall at Marshall Country Club.

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Josh Gunderson, a 2006 graduate of Pacelli High School and a former standout at St. John's University, recently ran in a 10-mile road race held at Lumberjack Days in Stillwater. Gunderson turned in an exceptional performance, competing against more than 1,000 runners. Out of 1,048 finishers, Gunderson was 13th. Gunderson graduated from St. John's, where he ran track and cross country for four years, last fall. He now lives in the Twin Cities.

The Austin High football team opens practice next week. New coach Matt Schmit and the rest of the coaching staff are conducting their big youth camp this week. It runs through Friday. The Packers open the season on Friday, Sept. 3 at Red Wing High School. Their first home game is Friday, Sept. 10 at Hass Stadium against Rochester John Marshall. Other home games are against Mankato East (Sept. 24), Mankato West (Oct. 1) and Winona (Oct. 15).

Is your kid playing college athletics? How about your neighbor's kid? If you know of any former area standout currently competing in college athletics, please contact Ben Pherson at bpherson@postbulletin.com

Wagner competes in national event

From the Austin Post-Bulletin
By Ben Pherson

D3wrestle.com - Peloquin takes over at Eau Claire

From - D3wrestle.com

Peloquin takes over at Eau Claire

We missed this one from earlier this spring, but Russ Peloquin has taken over for Derek Sikora at UW-Eau Claire after spending six seasons as an assistant at the school. Peloquin has also been a graduate assistant at UW-La Crosse and has assisted at Wabash and Lawrence. He was a 2x All-American for UW-La Crosse in 1998 and 1999. In addition to his coaching duties, Peloquin has been an associate lecturer in the Department of Kinesiology at Eau Claire. Sikora was recently announced as the assistant coach at Division II St. Cloud State University.

Also posted at Examiner.com

Original article from UWEC - http://www.uwecblugolds.com/?view=release&id=3810&sport=wr&season=94

D3wrestle.com - Peloquin takes over at Eau Claire

From - D3wrestle.com

Peloquin takes over at Eau Claire

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Former Hockey Head Coach Now Coaching in American Hockey League

From intotheboards.net

Flames Sign Ward as Assistant Coach for Abbotsford

Blugold Men's Golfers Pictured with Tony Romo

From Hudson Star Observer

This cell phone image is the only picture Hudson’s Jimmy Hutchings has from the day he played Dallas Cowboy quarterback Tony Romo in the WSGA Match Play Championships June 15 in Fond du Lac. From left are Romo, Hutchings and Hutchings’ caddy, Matt Brandenburg. Submitted photo

Former Hockey Head Coach Now Coaching in American Hockey League

From - intotheboards.net

Flames Sign Ward as Assistant Coach for Abbotsford

Calgary, AB - Calgary Flames Executive Vice President & General Manager Darryl Sutter announced today that Troy Ward has been named Assistant Coach for the Abbotsford Heat of the American Hockey League.

Ward joins the Flames organization following three seasons with the Houston Aeros, the Minnesota Wild's AHL affiliate, the past two in the position of Assistant Coach & Assistant General Manager.

Ward served as an Assistant Coach with the Aeros during the 2007-08 season and primarily focused on developing the Aeros young defensive corps. The Aeros' defense allowed a league-low 183 goals and had a team record 32-point improvement. In 2008 his role was expanded to include the Assistant General Manager responsibilities of overseeing the day-to-day t "_blank" hockey operations of the club.

Ward served as the ECHL's Senior Vice President of Hockey Operations in 2001-02 and was also the General Manager/Head Coach of the Dubuque Fighting Saints of the United States Hockey League in 1993.

In addition to his managerial background, Ward has had success coaching at all levels of hockey. Houston was Ward's second stop as an assistant for Kevin Constantine. He served for the National Hockey League's Pittsburgh Penguins for three seasons, from 1997-2000. Ward's other assistant coaching stops include two seasons at Indianapolis of the now-defunct International Hockey League, three seasons at the University of Wisconsin and three at the University of Denver.

He was named the ECHL's Coach of the Year for the 2000-01 season when he led Trenton to the Kelly Cup Finals with a 50-18-4 record. He also joined ECHL Victoria in mid-season in 2005-06, leading the Salmon Kings to a 12-14-8 record.

Ward first became a head coach in 1987, with his Alma mater, the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Ward played four seasons of collegiate hockey at UWEC, which included winning the NAIA national championship in 1984, and was Assistant Coach there for two seasons prior to becoming the Head Coach.

Ward is also the founder and owner of Hockey and Sons, a hockey camp concept for both the parent and child to participate on-ice together. The camp runs three times each summer on the campus of Shattuck St. Mary's in Faribault, Minnesota.

Ward will join the staff of Head Coach Jim Playfair in Abbotsford along with second year Assistant Coach Steve O'Rourke.

Former Blugold Hockey Player Keith Paulsen Hired as Musketeers' Assistant Coach

From - Sioux City Journal

Also a story at LeaderTelegram.com

Paulsen Hired as Musketeers' Assistant Coach

SIOUX CITY -- Keith Paulsen has been promoted from a scout to an assistant coach for the Sioux City Musketeers.

The 32-year old Paulsen, a native of Eau Claire, Wis., scouted for the Musketeers in the 2009-10 season. Prior to working for the Musketeers, he was the head hockey coach for seven seasons at Rice Lake (Wis.) High School. In the 2008-09 season, he guided the Warriors to the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association state tournament for the first time in 29 years and was named the 2009 Section 2 coach of the year.

"We are excited to have Keith Paulsen on board to complete our Musketeer coaching staff," said Musketeers Coach Luke Strand. "Keith is a tireless worker and a passionate hockey guy with head coaching experience that I have had a lifetime of experience with.

"He has been a teammate of mine, a scout for our organization and a man that shares the same dedication with Cam Ellsworth and I to get the job done in our new era of Sioux City hockey."

The Musketeers' assistant coach position became open when Rick Comley left to join United States Hocley League (USHL) player development in a fulltime capacity in the role of director of scouting. Comley was USHL player development coordinator in the 2009-10 season while continuing to serve as an assistant on Strand's staff.

Paulsen attended the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, playing four years of collegiate hockey for the Blugolds and was named an assistant captain as a senior. He was an WIAC honorable mention selection as a defenseman in the 1997-98 season and on the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll in 1999-2000,

Paulsen graduated in 2001 with a Bachelor of Science degree in kinesiology. He recently completed his master's degree in collaborative educational leadership from Fielding Graduate University.

Former Wrestling Coach & Student-Athlete Coaching at St. Cloud State

From - examiner.com

St Cloud State names Derek Sikora assistant wrestling coach

Derek Sikora has been named an assistant wrestling coach at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota.

Sikora had been long associated with the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, as a coach and wrestler, most recently serving as the Blugolds' head wrestling coach.

A two-sport athlete at UW-Eau Claire, Sikora was a 2006 NCAA Division III wrestling champion at 165 pounds, a three-time NCAA All-American, three-year captain, four-year letterwinner and two-time WIAC champion. He also earned four letters in football where he was a two-time First Team All-Conference player, two-time Team MVP, two-time All-Region pick and a team captain.

In 2006 he joined the UW-Eau Claire coaching staff as an assistant football and wrestling coach. During the 2007-08 wrestling season, Sikora was the head assistant wrestling coach at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. He returned to Eau Claire in 2008 as an assistant wrestling coach and took over as head coach in 2009.

"I am very excited to have Derek Sikora as my lead assistant wrestling coach," said St Cloud State head wrestling coach Steve Costanzo. "Derek comes highly recommended on the mat and his passion and dedication to the sport should pay immediate dividends to the Husky wrestling program. I am confident that he will help SCSU wrestling take that next step and get us to where we want to go."

The St. Cloud State wrestling team placed seventh at the 2010 NCAA Division II National Championships, with four individuals earning All-American honors. The Huskies also did well in the classroom as nine wrestlers earned academic awards during the season.

Nicholas Kuqali Signs with Columbus Cottonmouths

From - The Southern Professional Hockey League

Snakes Welcome Pair Of Newcomers

The Columbus Cottonmouths have signed their first newcomers for the 2010-11 season, welcoming forward Matt Kinnunen and defenseman Nicholas Kuqali for their professional hockey debuts.

Kinnunen comes to the Snakes after three seasons (2007-10) with the Melville Millionaires of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, where he played alongside 2009-10 Snakes center Levi Lind for two seasons. A center from Calgary, Alberta, Kinnunen collected 108 points and 249 penalty minutes in 159 games.

Kuqali hails from Pittsburgh, PA, and joins the Cottonmouths after four seasons with the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. The 6-foot-3 defenseman registered 18 points in 104 games.

“Kinnunen is a well-rounded player,” head coach Jerome Bechard said. “He’s got pretty good hands and can put the puck in the net, but also plays with an edge. I look forward to him bringing the in-your-face attitude we’re looking to create with this team. Kuqali is a player I compare to Tommy Upton, who came in at the end of last year. Nicholas is a big defenseman who can be physical and move the puck. He can do a little bit of everything, and anticipate him helping in all aspects of the game.”

The Cottonmouths list of training camp signees for the 2010-11 season is now at eight, including forwards Sam Bowles, Jesse Cole, Orrin Hergott and Kinnunen, defensemen Will Barlow, Kuqali and Kyle Lundale and goaltender Ian Vigier.

Training camp is set to open Saturday, Oct. 9, with the Snakes opening the regular season at home against the Pensacola Ice Flyers Friday, Oct. 22 at 7:30 p.m. Season tickets are on sale now, starting at just $88. Individual tickets go on sale to the public Monday, Oct. 4 at 10 a.m.

For more information, contact the Cottonmouths office at 706 571 0086.