Knoxville Ice Bears

Get to Know Bobby Joe

date: 08/31/2010

This is B. J. Pelkey’s third year with the Knoxville Ice Bears, but he immediately made a positive impact. It was a combination of his play and the bond that he created with other players during training camp that earned him one of the two assistant captain positions, and he has been on a roll ever since.

B. J. is no stranger to the sport of hockey. He started playing when he was three years old in the Jerry Brown Hockey School. One of B.J.’s favorite hockey memories is when he played at Lake Superior State University (2002-2006).

After contributing to the Knoxville Ice Bears’ 2007-2008 Championship, Pelkey went to play with the New Castle North Stars in the Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL) for their summer 2008 season.  Not only was he the #2 scoring leader in the 2008 regular season, but he was also a factor in their conquest to achieve a fourth national championship title, making him a part of two championship teams in the course of just six months.

B. J., short for Bobby Joe, has been active in the Knoxville community in the short time that he has been here. Some of his community outreach includes reading to students at a local elementary school and participating in a Salvation Army bell-ringing event.

His plans for life after hockey, which he hopes will not be for while, are to own an environmental consulting firm. Pelkey also enjoys playing golf, reading and construction projects.

What are you doing differently to prepare for this season versus last with the Knoxville Ice Bears?

I am not doing much different from last year. Typically, I spend four hours a week skating to stay in shape. However, I think that relaxation is very important to recovering between seasons.

What do you think about Craigen becoming a first year professional coach?

Mike is a good friend of mine. I think his passion for hockey will be key to becoming successful. Mike is also very confident and I am excited about working with him.

What concession food would you suggest to a first time visitor?

I recommend an ice cold beer for the adults. Otherwise, I enjoy hot dogs that are loaded out to the max.

What skills are you focusing on the most to improve your game?

Mentally, B.J. is focusing on patience and confidence. However, he suggests that regular fitness (circuit, agility, and stamina) is crucial to avoiding injury. He truely believes that all parts are equally important and honing in on one aspect will not gaurantee better results.

What is your pre-season motto?

Be your best everyday. Best means setting goals and doing what it takes to achieve those goals. Overall, I want to win games. Winning is addictive and I plan on doing just that.  

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