For immediate release

For more information, contact: Joel Silverberg, Director of Broadcasting (865) 525-7825,  joel@knoxvilleicebears.com.

The Knoxville Ice Bears have signed center Ilya Bobo to a PTO for the team’s preseason camp in October. The 5’10”, 182-pound Minsk, Belarus native played two games for Knoxville during the 2018-19 season, scoring one goal. He returns to East Tennessee after spending most of the past three seasons in the Belarusian Extraleague.

“Ilya made a really good hockey team in ’18-19,” said Ice Bears head coach Jeff Carr. “I coached him in Ogden. His strength, his size, his experience now is going to be different. I think getting cut three years ago was a rude awakening for him. He has a chip on his shoulder now.”

Bobko played junior hockey for the Ogden Mustangs in the WSHL from 2014-16. He also competed for the Belarus U20 team and spent some time in Russia during the ’16-17 campaign.

The Ice Bears will hold their Free Agent Showcase at the Knoxville Civic Coliseum Sept. 24 and 25. Preseason Camp will be held in October leading up to the Ice Bears’ opening night on Friday, Oct. 15 against the Macon Mayhem.

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. Season, Partial Season and Flex Tickets are now on sale.  For more information, visit www.knoxvilleicebears.com or call (865) 525-7825.

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