Knoxville Ice Bears

Knoxville Ice Bears Carter closes out season in style

date: 03/19/2009

Carter Closes Out Season in Style

 

            After clinching the SPHL regular-season championship Saturday and dominating Huntsville in Sunday’s 4-1 win, the Ice Bears returned to Knoxville to find the Coffey Trophy waiting for them—and a red-hot FireAntz team, winners of five straight. Fayetteville proved to be little more than a postseason tune-up as Knoxville stole their momentum with 4-2 victory in the regular season home finale.

            Taking a mere 1:17 off the clock, Mike Carter notched his 24th goal on a give-and-go from Tim Vitek, beating FireAntz goalie Guy St. Vincent. Vitek assisted Carter’s high-percentage shot to give the Ice Bears a 1-0 lead. Kevin Swider tied Fayetteville’s Rob Sich for the league-lead in goals at 36 with 12.6 seconds remaining in the first period. Swider took a pass from Vitek during a powerplay and shot from behind the goal, bouncing the puck off of St. Vincent’s skate and into the net making it 2-0.

            Fayetteville showed their tenacity in the second period when Craig Geerlinks fired in a long-range goal, beating Knoxville’s Andrew Gallant top-shelf. The score cut the Ice Bears lead to 2-1, five minutes into the period.

            The third period opened with a bang as BJ Pelkey extended the Ice Bear lead 3-1 27 seconds into the period. Pelkey sent a centering feed from Derek Pallardy under the crossbar as St. Vincent watched hopelessly. Rob Colangelo answered for the FireAntz pushing a wobbling puck past a sprawled Gallant with 15:34 left, bringing Fayetteville within striking distance, 3-2. Mike Carter capitalized on a fast-break, launching a rocket past St. Vincent once more to stretch the lead 4-2, 11:17 left in the game.

            Fayetteville’s loss combined with Columbus’ 5-2 win over Twin City dropped the FireAntz into third place and vaulted Columbus into second place.

 

 

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