Knoxville's Dean Balsamo Named Warrior Hockey/SPHL Player of the Week
December 28, 2021 - SPHL (SPHL) News Release
HUNTERSVILLE, NC - The Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL) today announced that Dean Balsamo has been named the Warrior Hockey/SPHL Player of the Week for December 20- 26.
In Knoxville's only game of the holiday week, Balsamo scored a pair of goals, including the shootout game-winner as the Ice Bears defeated Roanoke 3-2. A-ÃËnative of St. Clair Shores, MI, Balsamo scored late in the second period to knot the game at two before going 3-3 in the shootout, clinching the win in the eighth round after also finding the net in the second and seventh rounds.
Acquired from Macon on October 29, Balsamo currently leads the Ice Bears in scoring with 23 points (11g, 12a) in 18 games. Now in his second professional season, Balsamo played collegiately at Adrian College where he was named to the 2018-2019 NCAA III (NCHA) All-Tournament Team and earned NCAA III (AHCA) First Team All-American (West), NCAA III (All-USCHO) Third Team and NCAA III (NCHA) All-Conference Team honors his senior season.
Also nominated: Marvin Powell, Birmingham (1 gp, 1g), Jason Pawloski, Fayetteville (0-0-1, 4 ga, 33 saves), Jacob Barber, Huntsville (1 gp, 1g, 1a, +2), Dillon Kelley, Macon (0-1-0, 3 ga, 38 saves), Sean Kuhn, Pensacola (1-0-0, 1 ga, 45 saves), Mitchell McPherson, Peoria (1 gp, 2g, ppg) and Brady Heppner, Roanoke (2 gp, 3g, ppg)
SPHL Stories from December 28, 2021
- Kostiukov Traded to Roanoke - Peoria Rivermen
- Dawgs Acquire Kostiukov, Hill & Claeys Called up to ECHL - Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs
- Trio of Forwards Loaned to ECHL - Knoxville Ice Bears
- Ice Bears Get Kulczycki from Bulls for Fletcher - Knoxville Ice Bears
- Neudecker Heads South for Call-Up - Huntsville Havoc
- Bulls Trade Kulczycki to Knoxville for Colton Fletcher - Birmingham Bulls
- Balsamo Named SPHL Player of the Week - Knoxville Ice Bears
- Knoxville's Dean Balsamo Named Warrior Hockey/SPHL Player of the Week - SPHL
- Milosek Earns Call Up - Huntsville Havoc
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