Ice Bears Reassert Control Over Havoc
Published on February 24, 2012 under SPHL (SPHL)
Knoxville Ice Bears News Release
KNOXVILLE, TN - The Ice Bears returned to the Civic Coliseum for their sixth match-up of the season against the Huntsville Havoc. Huntsville has only defeated the Ice Bears once this season. Their return to Knoxville extended their losing streak as Knoxville demolished the Havoc 4-1, serving Huntsville their fifth consecutive loss.
Just 7 minutes into the first period, Huntsville's Mike MacDonald was penalized 2 minutes for cross checking. The Ice Bears capitalized on the power play. Captain Kevin Swider fed the puck to Mark Van Vliet who passed down the center to Emery Olauson who was waiting at the net. Olauson spun around and ripped a shot past Havoc goalie Mark Sibbald for a score of 1-0.
Brad Pawlowski earned a 2 minute penalty for cross checking with 8 seconds remaining in the first period giving Huntsville 5-on-4 advantage to start the second. Segal joined him in the box 57 seconds into play, giving Huntsville with a 5-on-3 advantage, but Knoxville goalie Kyle Rank held them off.
At the 3:51 minute mark, Sibbald was away from the goal after an initial save. Swider, with assistance from Van Vliet and Eric Satim, maneuvered around him and scored before Sibbald could return to position; lifting the Ice Bears to a 2-0 lead.
Huntsville notched their only goal of the night midway through the second period. Stuart Stefan's shot on goal was redirected past Rank at 9:54 of the second period. David Segal and Huntsville's Brad Flynn dropped their gloves for a fight just 1:10 later. After an intense exchange, both players were sent to the penalty box for 5 minutes.
Satim scored his 11th goal of the season 2 minutes later when he caught Sibbald out of position. Sibbald was lying down after a save; Satim corralled the puck and shot it in for an Ice Bears 3-1 lead. Van Vliet and Olauson assisted the goal.
The Ice Bears had a 5-on-3 advantage late in the period, but weren't able to capitalize. Just as Jonathan Lafrance was released from the box, he picked up the puck for a short-handed attempt that was denied by Rank. At the end of two, Ice Bears led 3-1.
The Ice Bears began the final period 5-on-4 to finish out Scott Duncan's 4 minute penalty for high sticking. Segal threw down for his second fight of the game 5:08 into the third after Huntsville's Brian Marks elbowed Satim. Segal skated over and grabbed Marks. Both players were given 5 minutes for fighting and Segal was penalized an extra 2 minutes for instigating.
Huntsville pulled Sibbald at the end of the third in an attempt to draw even, but they were unsuccessful. At 18:41, the Ice Bears picked up the puck at the red line; Segal passed to Satim who fed the puck to Van Vliet, then skated the puck through two Huntsville defenders and shot it into an empty net to finish the game with the Ice Bears winning 4-1.
The Ice Bears travel to Louisiana as they take on the IceGators for a two game series. They will return to home ice on Thursday, March 8 for a game against the number 1 ranked team in the SPHL the Augusta RiverHawks. The $1,000 Thursday is Youth Sports Night and Mascot Mania. The puck drops at 7:30.
SPHL Stories from February 24, 2012
- Ice Bears Reassert Control Over Havoc - Knoxville Ice Bears
- Turnover Proves Costly for Ice Flyers - Pensacola Ice Flyers
- McNeil Goal Pushes Gators Past Surge - Louisiana IceGators
- Surge Fall in Louisiana - Mississippi Surge
- FireAntz Slip Past RiverHawks in Overtime - Augusta RiverHawks
- Surge suffer second straight 3-2 loss - Mississippi Surge
- RiverKings Sign Netminder - Mississippi RiverKings
- Cottonmouths' Charity Event March 6 - Columbus Cottonmouths
- Game Preview - Ice Flyers Vs. Columbus Cottonmouths - Pensacola Ice Flyers
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