For immediate release
For more information, contact: Joel Silverberg, Director of Broadcasting (865) 525-7825, joel@knoxvilleicebears.com.
Jimmy Poreda made 25 saves for his second consecutive shutout, Anthony McVeigh scored at 2:56 of the third period and the Knoxville Ice Bears held off the Birmingham Bulls 2-0 at the Civic Coliseum Friday night.
The Ice Bears (11-2-1) have now won six straight. The Bulls (2-9-4) have lost five in a row.
McVeigh scored when a shot from the left point hit a body in the slot and the puck landed on his stick. He slid the puck towards the net as he was falling down and it slipped between the pads of Austin Lotz to put Knoxville ahead for good.
Birmingham nearly tied the game midway through the third, but Poreda fought through traffic to make a kick save, dove with his back to the shooter to block a rebound, then regained his footing to deny Russell Jordan’s follow up try.
There was no scoring in the first period despite Knoxville outshooting the Bulls 17-4. Razmuz Waxin-Engback nearly gave the Ice Bears the lead three and a half minutes into the game, but his one-timer from the right circle was caught by a diving Lotz with the glove. Lotz finished with 34 saves.
Knoxville had a five-minute power play after Alexander Taulien kneed Colton Fletcher, but the Ice Bears couldn’t convert. Birmingham failed to capitalize on its first power play opportunity late in the second and the game remained scoreless at the second intermission.
J.B. Baker scored with 38 seconds left to cap off the scoring.
Knoxville is off until next Friday when it heads to Birmingham. The Bulls are scheduled to host Macon on Thursday.
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.
-xxx-