Knoxville Ice Bears

Ice Bears add veteran Brannen

date: 12/24/2008

The Knoxville Ice Bears filled the final veteran spot on their Southern Professional Hockey League roster with defenseman Chris Brannen.

The 28-year-old from Brampton, Ontario, will join the Ice Bears for practice at 10 a.m. today at Civic Coliseum and accompany the team to Columbus on Thursday for their game against the Cottonmouths.

"I played with him for two years at Odessa (Central Hockey League), Knoxville coach Scott Hillman said Tuesday. "He is a prototypical defenseman."

The 6-foot-2 blueliner who weighs 200 played the last three seasons at Odessa, where he averaged 2.3 goals, 8.7 assists and 41 penalty minutes.

Brannen started the season with the Rocky Mountain Rage (CHL), where he had four assists and 20 PIMs in 23 games with a zero plus-minus.

The Rage placed him on team suspension, meaning he was not waived. To create roster room, Brannen was signed to a three-game contract, which will run out after Saturday's game.

Ice Bears Notebook: Veteran forward J.J. Wrobel missed practice Tuesday. . . . The Ice Bears worked on their power play, which has fallen off to 18.9 percent.

www.knoxnews.com

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