For immediate release

For more information, contact: Joel Silverberg, Director of Broadcasting (865) 525-7825,  joel@knoxvilleicebears.com.

Knoxville played a strong first two periods to build a lead and picked up a point to clinch a playoff berth despite a 3-2 overtime loss to the Birmingham Bulls Friday night at the Civic Coliseum. Knoxville solidified a playoff spot following Quad City’s loss to Huntsville.

Kolten Olynek scored the game-winning goal with a wrist shot from the right hash that beat Stephen Mundinger’s glove side for a power play goal at 4:13 of the overtime period.

Jared Westcott put Knoxville in front with a wrist shot from the right circle at 15:45 of the opening frame. Westcott blocked Tyler Braccini’s shot at the perimeter and raced to collect the puck up the right wing. Westcott skated to the right dot before his shot found its way past Talor Joseph for his 11th goal of the year.

Tyler Williams padded Knoxville’s lead late in the second with his team-leading 40th point of the season. Dawson McKinney deflected a breakout pass out of the Birmingham zone and Williams intercepted the puck in the left circle. Williams skated in tight and beat Joseph’s blocker with a quick release at 17:20.

Mundinger helped preserve Knoxville’s lead by stopping C.J. Walker’s wrist shot from the right wing, turning aside Kevin Sadovski’s snap shot from the left circle and holding onto Braccini’s attempt through a screen.

Drake Glover scored 19 seconds into the third period and again at 9:07 to tie the game for the Bulls.

Mundinger made 25 stops in his return from a two-month absence. Joseph made 43 saves for Birmingham.

The two teams conclude the regular season tomorrow night at the Civic Coliseum.

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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