For immediate release
For more information, contact: Joel Silverberg, Director of Broadcasting (865) 525-7825, joel@knoxvilleicebears.com.
Anthony Cinato had three assists, Derek Osik and Dawson McKinney each had a goal and an assist, but the Ice Bears fell to the Birmingham Bulls 9-3 at the Knoxville Civic Coliseum Saturday night.
The Ice Bears have lost six straight and were eliminated from playoff contention with the loss. It’s the first time in franchise history the Ice Bears won’t appear in the postseason.
Knoxville generated some big chances in the first period, despite heading into the locker room scoreless. Justin Levac nearly slid the puck into the net from the left side as he controlled a cross-ice lob pass from Troy Murray, before being met with Hayden Stewart’s blocker. Soon after, Dawson McKinney’s breakaway shot from the right circle was thrown off course by the short side post, before it slid across the crease, almost putting Knoxville on the board.
The Ice Bears scored three times in the third period. McKinney scored from the right circle at 2:44 in the third period to put Knoxville on the board. Derek Osik fed a cross-ice pass to Anthony Cinato in the far corner, where he sent the puck to McKinney setting up the goal. Zac Masson scored from the slot later in the third period giving the Bulls their ninth goal of the night. Knoxville once again worked a cross-ice pass when McKinney found Cinato in the far circle. Cinato sent the puck to Osik in the slot to secure another goal at 15:00. Cole McKechney scored with 30 seconds left to conclude the scoring detail.
Scott Donahue beat Zane Steeves with a wrap-around shot from the right side of the net at 5:06 in the first period. Donahue recovered his initial deflected shot from the left side, before sweeping behind the goal to put the Bulls up 1-0.
Nikita Kozyrev scored from the high slot at 12:52 in the first, giving Birmingham a 2-0 lead going into the second period. The Bulls outshot the Ice Bears 9-6.
Troy MacTavish rebounded Ryan Romeo’s shot from the point as it banked off the boards and into his possession at the right side of the crease. MacTavish snuck the puck behind Steeves at 1:14 in the second period to make it 3-0.
Brendan Dowler deflected Carson Vance’s shot from the right circle but Vance regained control of the moving puck and scored from the slot at 6:40 in the second period. Donahue and Vance each scored their second goals of the night before Carson Rose beat Dowler in a one-on-one at 14:22 in the second period. Rose scored again at 16:32 to close out the second period with Birmingham up 8-0.
Steeves left the net with 17 total saves, and Kristian Stead finished with 13 as the Ice Bears were outshot 39-17.
The Ice Bears will take on Quad City on Sunday night at home.
Sophia Schoenfeld contributed to this report.
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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