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SPHL Knoxville Ice Bears

Ice Bears Swept by RiverKings

December 17, 2016 - SPHL (SPHL)
Knoxville Ice Bears News Release


Knoxville, TN Dustin Jesseau and Mike Moran scored 38 seconds apart in the third period to erase a one-goal deficit and the Mississippi RiverKings beat the Knoxville Ice Bears 4-3 on Saturday night. The RiverKings swept the weekend series with the Ice Bears. Knoxville had third period leads in both games, but have lost five of six.

Ryan Marcuz stole the puck at the left point in the Knoxville zone and found Jesseau in the slot who beat the right shoulder of Brian Billet to tie the game at three. Moments later Sam Higgins made a takeaway at the Knoxville blue line and went across the crease pulling Billet out of position. The puck was never cleared and Mike Moran tapped it in to give the RiverKings their first lead of the game.

Knoxville had two power plays after Moran's goal, but failed to convert either one. The latest came with just over two minutes remaining and allowed Knoxville to pull Billet to give the Ice Bears a 6-on-4 with the extra attacker. Brad Barone stopped Trevor Hertz on a backhand from the slot and denied an open one-timer by Danny Cesarz from the left circle.

Mississippi tied the game in the third for the first time with a goal from Robert Lindores. Joseph Manno gave Knoxville a 3-2 lead less than two minutes later when he skated through the neutral zone and fired a wrister from the high slot over the shoulder of Barone.

With the puck behind the Mississippi net, Knoxville brought pressure in the zone and Doug Reid won the puck in the right corner before feeding it to Trevor Hertz at the point. Hertz found Andrew Bonazza alone in front of the crease who beat Barone for the first goal of the game at 8:26 of the first period.

At 10:35 of the second period, Mississippi's Tyler Barr received a five-minute major and a game misconduct for elbowing Spencer Metcalfe near center ice. Midway through the extended power play Luke Sandler committed a slashing minor too nullify the man advantage.

During the 4-on-4 Joseph Manno forced a turnover in the neutral zone and drove the puck through the right circle for a close range shot on Barone. The initial try was blocked, but Berkley Scott followed up on the rebound to give Knoxville a 2-0 lead. Moments after the teams returned to playing 5-on-5 Sam Higgins scored for Mississippi to cut the deficit to one heading into the second intermission.

ABOUT The Knoxville Ice Bears: The Knoxville Ice Bears organization began in 2002 and was an inaugural charter member of the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL) in 2004. As four-time SPHL Champions, the Ice Bears are an experienced and established organization, offering the city and its' visitors a balanced product of highlight-reel hockey, unique and exciting intermission activity and endless fan interaction, presenting the most affordable, family-friendly way to enjoy sports and entertainment.

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