For immediate release
For more information, contact: Joel Silverberg, Director of Broadcasting (865) 525-7825, joel@knoxvilleicebears.com.
Brady Fleurent had a goal and two assists and the Knoxville Ice Bears defeated the Pensacola Ice Flyers 4-2 Friday night at the Knoxville Civic Coliseum.
The Ice Bears have won three straight and extended their point streak to four games. The Ice Flyers have dropped two in a row.
Pensacola took an early lead when Dallas Comeau scored from the slot at 1:16 of the first. Ivan Bondarenko took the puck in the neutral zone, swept through the left corner and found Comeau between the circles where Comeau’s one-timer found the lower right-hand corner.
Knoxville responded quickly with Dino Balsamo’s second goal of the season at 3:26. Fleurent slid the puck across the zone off a backhand and Balsamo’s shot off the backdoor was initially stopped by Hank Johnson. Balsamo collected his own rebound and put it back in the net to tie the game.
Knoxville took the lead when Justin MacDonald scored on the power play at 7:28. Fleurent’s shot from the left circle bounced off of Johnson and MacDonald put the rebound back on net for his eighth goal of the season.
Jagger Williamson netted his first as an Ice Bear when he scored off a loose puck by the crease at 14:47 of the second period. Sacha Roy’s shot from the left point was deflected by Cole McKechney and Williamson put it in to give the Ice Bears a 3-1 lead.
Griff Jeszka scored off a one-timer from the left circle on the power play early in the third to bring Pensacola to within one.
Mike Mercurio appeared to give Knoxville a two-goal lead at 14:29 of the third period, but his redirect in front of the crease was ruled to have been played with a high stick and kept the score at a one-goal game.
Balsamo hit the post on the empty net and the rebound came into the slot where Fleurent buried it for his ninth goal of the season. Poreda finished with 14 saves for the Ice Bears. Johnson made 17 stops for Pensacola.
The two teams will matchup again Saturday night at the Civic Coliseum.
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 and five-time regular season 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.
-xxx-