Knoxville Icebears

Ice Bears extend home winning streak

With six points separating the top five Southern Professional Hockey League teams, the Knoxville Ice Bears know every game counts as they head down the stretch of regular season. That intensity came through tonight as the Ice Bears defeated the Columbus cottonmouths 5-1 tonight in front of 3,317 fans at the Knoxville Civic Coliseum.

Randy Johnston, who has returned to the Ice Bears for another stint, scored his fourth goal of the season with help from Chris Brannen and Mark Van Vliet in the first period. David Segal scored in the final seconds of the period bringing the score to 2-0 Ice Bears. Ice Bears forward Kevin Swider continues his point streak (19 points in the last 11 games) off a pass from Taylor Hustead and Mark Van Vliet just two minutes into the second period. Swdier is fifth in the league in scoring with 24 goals and 28 assists. Segal scored his second goal of the game and his ninth goal of the season to end the period 4-0.

The third period begins like the first two, with an Ice Bears goal – this time from Travis Martell. Columbus denied Ice Bears’ goalie Chad Collins a shut-out when former Ice Bear Tommy McMonagle scored the Cottonmouths’ only goal.

The Knoxville Ice Bears extend their home wining streak to six as they defeat the Columbus Cottonmouths 5-1.