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Ice Bears release Vitek, Hustead
date: 05/04/2010Forwards Tim Vitek and Taylor Hustead, who combined for 46 goals last season, were among eight players left unprotected by the Knoxville Ice Bears on Monday.
They are free to sign with any other Southern Professional Hockey League team after the expansion draft to stock the Augusta (Ga.) RiverHawks, who will be new to the league in the 2010-11 season. They can be re-signed by the Ice Bears after Aug. 1, if they do not sign with other teams.
Kevin Swider, a six-time SPHL scoring champion who has indicated he will retire, and defensemen Chris Brannen and Kevin Harris, the league's 2009 defenseman of the year, were the three veterans - players with at least 225 games of pro experience - protected by Knoxville.
The Ice Bears also protected goalie Andrew Gallant, forwards B.J. Pelkey, Frank Furdero, Mike Bulawka, David Segal, Travis Hanson and Kyle Bochek as well as defensemen Mark Van Vliet, Travis Martell and Jim Jensen.
The Ice Bears released goalie Chad Collins, forward Mike Kneeland and defensemen Rich Zalewski, John Halverson, Grant Farrell and Darcy Rees.
Nick Gates covers Ice Bears hockey for the Knoxville News Sentinel. He can be reached at (865) 342-6281.
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