Knoxville Icebears

Ice Bears home winning streak comes to an end

The Mississippi Surge proved too much to handle as they defeated the Knoxville Ice Bears 6-3 in a penalty heavy game that ends the Ice Bears home-winning streak at seven.

The first period seemed more like a playoff game with big hits and bigger goals.  Knoxville’s David Segal took a big hit and had to be helped off the ice.  The gloves came off on Segal’s first shift back on the ice in a battle against the Surge’s Ryan Bartle, who leads the league in penalty minutes.  Both were given five minute major penalties for fighting.  Knoxville’s Kevin Harris posted two goals on the scoreboard; the first off a pass from Taylor Hustead and Tim Vitek and the second with help from Kevin Swider and Mark Van Vliet.  Mike Bulawka also scored in the first, assisted by Travis Martell and Mike Kneeland.   Mississippi showed why they lead the league in special teams, scoring on both power plays- a 5-on-3 and a 5-on-4, and again late in the first to end the period tied at three.

The second period brought more big hits and a game misconduct for Segal.  Both teams had trouble capitalizing on the power play, with Knoxville 0-3 and Mississippi 1-4 on the man advantage.  Mississippi’s only goal came 8 minutes into the second from Mat Zultek, who passes Kevin Swider for third in the league in points scored.  The score at the end of the second, 4-3 Mississippi.

Mississippi sealed the deal with two additional goals, both on the power play.

The loss brings Knoxville’s record to 23-15-2 and 17-3-0 at home.