For immediate release
For more information, contact: Joel Silverberg, Director of Broadcasting (865) 525-7825, joel@knoxvilleicebears.com.
The Knoxville Ice Bears have re-signed goalie Kristian Stead ahead of Friday’s season opener. Stead was named to Knoxville’s protected list in May and spent the summer in the AIHL in Australia with the Perth Thunder.
The British Columbia native appeared in 34 games for the Ice Bears last season, going 20-9-1 with a pair of shutouts. He also made a franchise-record 60 saves in a win against Birmingham last October.
Stead first joined the Ice Bears ahead of the 2021-22 campaign following his college career at the University of Alaska-Anchorage. He went 18-2-1 during his rookie season with a 2.20 goals against average and a .923 save percentage, earning him All-SPHL Rookie Team honors. He’s 38-11-2 as an Ice Bear with four career shutouts.
The Ice Bears begin their 22nd season in franchise history on Friday, October 20 at Macon. Knoxville’s home opener will be Friday, October 27 against Birmingham.
ABOUT The Knoxville Ice Bears: The Knoxville Ice Bears organization began in 2002 and was an inaugural charter member of the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL) in 2004. As four-time SPHL Champions and five-time regular season champions, the Ice Bears are an experienced and established organization, offering the city and its visitors a balanced product of highlight-reel hockey, unique and exciting intermission activity and endless fan interaction, presenting the most affordable, family-friendly way to enjoy sports and entertainment. Season, Partial Season and Flex Tickets are now on sale. For more information, visit www.knoxvilleicebears.com or call (865) 525-7825.
-xxx-