Columbus, OH - The Columbus Cottonmouths have signed their first player for the 2008-09 season. Former goaltender Chad Rycroft has announced he will return to professional hockey and rejoin the Snakes for his fourth season in Columbus.
Rycroft led the Snakes between the pipes from 2004-2007, the first three seasons of the SPHL's existence. In 2004-05, he guided the Cottonmouths to the inaugural SPHL championship, the second championship in team history. Rycroft was a perfect 5-0 in the playoffs, recording a 1.71 Goals Against Average and .949 save percentage.
In 2005-06, he posted a 26-8-3 regular season record with a 2.90 GAA, and then led the Snakes to a first-place regular season finish in 2006-07 for which they were awarded the Commissioner's Cup. Rycroft finished the 2006-07 season atop the league's goaltender standings with 3.11 GAA and .912 save percentage. For his efforts, he was named the 2006-07 SPHL Goaltender of the Year.
The 29-year old native of Beaverlodge, Alberta retired from professional hockey following the 2006-07 season but remained active on the ice, played senior hockey in Canada last season. This will be his fourth professional season.
"Chad was one of the premiere goalies in our league, and hopefully still is," head coach Jerome Bechard said. "I believe with his in-your-face, confident attitude, he can be one of the driving forces for us to achieve our ultimate goal of bringing back the President's Cup. He leads by example and leaves everything on the ice. I believe he provides great leadership in the locker room as well."
