Ice Bears Outplay FireAntz But Fall Short
January 10, 2014 - SPHL (SPHL)
Knoxville Ice Bears News Release
Knoxville, TN - (January 9, 2014) The Knoxville Ice Bears hosted the Fayetteville FireAntz in the Civic Coliseum tonight with a crowd of 2,014 hockey fans. Goaltender Cody Rosen made his first start on home ice. Despite Mark Van Vliets three assists, the Ice Bears fell to Fayetteville 5-3.
Knoxville took an early lead in the first period. John Higgins deflected the puck from Mark Van Vliet and pushed it past Fayetteville goalie, Peter Skoggard, at 2:20. Cody Dion was the second assist.
At 7:17, Fayetteville's Brandon Greenside buried a one-timer past Rosen to tie the game at 1. The Ice Bears skated with a power play at the end of the period, but the teams remained tied entering into the first intermission.
Fayetteville wasted no time snatching the lead with a slapshot 27 seconds into the second period. Just under 7 minutes later, Ben Power lit the lamp to tie the game at 2. Van Vliet and Ben Souders were credited with the assist.
At 10:18, Van Vliet was penalized 2 minutes for holding, giving the FireAntz a 5-on-4 advantage. With 8:14 left in the second Rosen deflected a shot and Fayetteville's Derek Elliott found the net on the rebound giving them a 3-2 lead. Fayetteville widened the gap just before intermission, notching their fourth goal with 8 seconds remaining in the second period.
Knoxville's Bryan Hince entered the net for the final period. After 54 seconds on the ice, Ice Bear Eric Satim ripped a short side shot past Skoggard pushing the Ice Bears' score to 3. Souders and Van Vliet were first and second assist.
Knoxville continued to battle, registering 16 shots on goal in the third period to Fayetteville's 6. Despite good effort, Knoxville wasn't able to tie it up. Fayetteville got one shot past Hince to notch their final goal of the game at the 16:34 minute mark.
The Knoxville Ice Bears return to the Coliseum tomorrow night, Friday, Jan. 10, to play the Columbus Cottonmouths. Dress like a ref and get $2 off your ticket for "You Make the Call" night celebrating referees and officials of all sports. The puck drops at 7:30.
Mercedes-Benz 3 Stars of the Game:
1st Star: Derek Elliott (Fayetteville)
2nd Star: Mark Van Vliet (Knoxville)
3rd Star: John Clewlow (Fayetteville)
SPHL Stories from January 10, 2014
- Fox's Pair Down RiverKings in Huntsville - Mississippi RiverKings
- Rivermen Thunderstruck in Bloomington on Friday - Peoria Rivermen
- Ice Bears Fall to Columbus in a Wild Affair - Knoxville Ice Bears
- Thunder Hold off Rivermen - Bloomington Thunder
- RiverKings Get Sobotka Back, Lose Lachance - Mississippi RiverKings
- Ice Flyers Overcome Early Two-Goal Deficit, Win 5-3 - Pensacola Ice Flyers
- Vermeersch Returned from ECHL Fort Wayne - Peoria Rivermen
- Ice Bears Outplay FireAntz But Fall Short - Knoxville Ice Bears
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