Cottonmouths Add Former Viper Beller To Teams Protected List:

The SPHL released the names of the players who rights were proteced by each team for the upcoming 2012-13 season.  The Columbus Cottonmouths are one of nine teams that have added and protected 13 players from their roster, including former Vernon Vipers forward Greg Beller.  In 33 regular season games with Columbus Beller collected (16-20-36) while putting up (5-5-10) in six playoff games this season. Beller played one season in Vernon (2007-08) playing in 23 regular season games collecting (10-10-20). Beller left Yale University during the 2007-08 season joining the Vernon Vipers midway through the regular season. 

Beller finished his first season with Columbus but also played with three different teams this season (Idaho, Augusta and Columbus) Beller signed with the Columbus Cottonmouths back on November, 12th 2011. Beller was named to this years SPHL All-Rookie team as well as setting a new SPHL postseason record with a +12 rating, eclipsing the mark of +9 held by Chris Greene (Mississippi, 2010) and Ryan Aikia (Columbus, 2005).  Beller also scored the game winner as the SPHL Columbus Cottonmouths defeated the Pensacola Ice Flyers 3-1 sweeping the best of three championship series 2-0 to win the SPHL Championship this season and their second Championship since 2005.  Beller & the Cottonmouths finished the season on a nine-game win streak, winning their final three regular season games and going a perfect 6-0 in the playoffs. Its the team's third franchise championship and second as members of the SPHL.  Beller was selected by New York Rangers in round 6 #178 overall in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.

Greg Beller's Player Profile:

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=87902

This is posted on the SPHL website:

SPHL Announces Protected Lists

Date: May 16, 2012

CHARLOTTE, NC – The Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL) today released the names of the players whose rights were protected for the 2012-2013 season:

Columbus:  Derek Pallardy, John Sullivan, James Durham, Sam Bowles, Greg Beller, Jordan Braid, Levi Lind, Daniel Amesbury, Bret Tyler, Andrew Krelove, Tom Maldonado, Kevin Kessler, Andrew Loewen