For immediate release
For more information, contact: Joel Silverberg, Director of Broadcasting (865) 525-7825, joel@knoxvilleicebears.com.
Brett Mecrones scored with 3:53 left in the 3rd and the Knoxville Ice Bears defeated the Macon Mayhem 3-2 Friday night at the Knoxville Civic Coliseum.
The Ice Bears have won four of their last five games. Macon has dropped four straight.
Knoxville took the lead for good when Riley Robertson carried the puck up the left wing and made a centering pass to Dawson McKinney. McKinney’s shot was deflected to the backdoor and Mecrones put the loose puck on net for his 18th of the season.
Justin Cmunt scored the only goal of the first period on the power play with a wrist shot from the high slot. He collected the puck in his own end, exchanged a quick give-and-go with Jake Goldowski and carried into the zone where his shot got by Zane Steeves’ blocker at 7:25.
Knoxville had chances to tie the game before the break, but Jimmy Poreda stopped Mecrones from the left circle and blocked Rex Moe’s attempt from in front of the crease. Mecrones missed an opportunity from the right side and McKinney finessed his way to the crease before his backhand sailed wide.
The Ice Bears tied the game early in the second when Derek Osik got the puck through a screen and found the net. Brandon Picard poked the puck free in the Macon zone and Osik took it across the high slot. Sam Dabrowski screened Poreda and Osik’s shot had eyes for his sixth goal of the season.
Macon nearly retook the lead before the second intermission, but Billy Jerry’s snapshot from the right circle hit the short-side post. Justin Levac and Dabrowski each had breakaway chances for Knoxville, but were each denied by Poreda.
Levac scored early in the third to give the Ice Bears their first lead of the game. Picard’s shot from the right circle was blocked and the puck came right to Levac’s stick. Levac slid a backhand that beat Poreda five-hole at 2:09.
Cmunt tied the game on the power play with a slap shot from the right circle at 10:24.
Dan Winslow was called for roughing with less than two minutes remaining and the Mayhem never threatened while shorthanded. Steeves and Poreda finished with 23 saves each.
The two teams will square off for the final time this regular season at the Civic Coliseum on Saturday night.
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.
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