Late Goals Push Ice Bears Past Pensacola
Published on February 14, 2026 under SPHL (SPHL)
Knoxville Ice Bears News Release
Ryan Kuzmich scored the go-ahead goal with less than four minutes remaining to put Knoxville ahead for good, Tim Kent provided an insurance marker in the final minute and the Ice Bears defeated the Pensacola Ice Flyers 3-1 at the Knoxville Civic Coliseum Saturday night.
Connor Green made 37 saves in his professional debut and Robin Liljekvist had two assists for the Ice Bears.
Kuzmich redirected a Carson Vance shot in the slot that deflected past Troy Kobryn at 16:18 of the third to give Knoxville its first lead of the game. Kent sealed the win for the Ice Bears when Tyler Williams fed him a saucer pass across the slot to the right wing where he lifted the puck to the top shelf of the net with 47 seconds remaining.
Green made his two biggest saves of the night midway through the third period. With the score still tied at a goal apiece, Green blocked Zack Jones's wraparound attempt, which bounced off Green's pad and out in front of the crease. Tyler German followed up and shot the loose puck from close range and Green lunged across the crease to stop the rebound before Vance knocked the puck back to the perimeter.
Pensacola took the lead at 6:18 of the first when Dawson Sciarrino received a centering feed from behind the end line by Tim Faulkner and Sciarrino flipped the puck past Green.
The Ice Bears outshot the Ice Flyers 19-8 in the first 20 minutes, but came up empty-handed. Jared Westcott's quick release shot from the right wing hit the crossbar, Kuzmich narrowly missed the far-side post from the left circle and Pensacola goalie Kobryn kicked away Jason Brancheau's redirect from the slot.
Green fought off chances late in the second from the Ice Flyers, making a pad save on Tyler Burnie's one-timer from the right circle and blocking the ensuing rebound from Zack Bross to keep the puck in front of him and keep Knoxville down only a single goal. He then knocked away a redirect from in front of the crease by Sam Rhodes.
Dawson McKinney tied the game at 17:21 of the second when he smacked a loose puck past Kobryn from the left side of the blue ice. With the Ice Bears on the power play, Pensacola's Faulkner tried to get the puck out of the zone from behind his own net, but his clearing attempt hit Rhodes in the back of the leg and bounced in front of the crease where McKinney teed off on it for his third goal of the season. Kobryn finished with 25 saves for Pensacola.
Knoxville concludes the weekend on the road against Huntsville on Sunday. The Ice Flyers return home to host Macon Sunday afternoon.
SPHL Stories from February 14, 2026
- Resilient Rivermen Bounce Back with 3-1 Win in Moline - Peoria Rivermen
- Dawgs Answer Back, Down Marksmen - Fayetteville Marksmen
- Late Goals Push Ice Bears Past Pensacola - Knoxville Ice Bears
- Dawgs Wear Down Marksmen in 4-1 Home Win - Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs
- Dawgs Sign Novotny - Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs
- Former Bull Pizzimenti Joins Mayhem for Rematch in Pelham - Macon Mayhem
- Müller Called up by ECHL's Orlando Solar Bears - Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs
- Slow Start Plagues Macon in Loss to Birmingham - Macon Mayhem
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