Knoxville Icebears

Ice Bears fall to IceGators 7-5

Kevin Swider’s hat trick couldn’t help snap the Knoxville Ice Bears 4-game losing streak as they fall to the Louisiana IceGators 7-5.

Louisiana dominated the first period with 11 shots on goal and two power play goals.  The Ice Bears were unable to convert on two power play opportunities against the league’s worst penalty kill team.  The first period ended 2-0, Louisiana.

Louisiana once again took control in the second period with their third goal of the night.  Kevin Swider scored Knoxville’s first goal of the game off a pass from Mark Van Vliet and Bobby Joe Pelkey on a power play at 14:02 into the second.  Rich Zalewski scored his first goal of the season just four minutes later with help from Frank Furdero.  Swider tied the game at three with his power play goal in the last minute of play.

Kevin Swider found the net at 1:44 into the third for a hat trick and his 30^th goal of the season.  Louisiana answered back with three consecutive goals, including an empty netter.  Knoxville’s Bobby Joe Pelkey mounted a comeback with 47 seconds left in the game and an extra attacker on the ice.  But Louisiana sealed the deal with their second empty netter of the night to end the game 7-3.

The Ice Bears have lost the last three games at home and are in the middle of 7 games in 10 days.  Their next game will be this Saturday as the Ice Bears take on the Columbus Cottonmouths with the Miss Ice Bears contest taking place during intermissions.