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For more information, contact: Joel Silverberg, Director of Broadcasting (865) 525-7825, joel@knoxvilleicebears.com.
Dino Balsamo scored two goals, Bailey MacBurnie made 22 saves in his first start for Knoxville and the Ice Bears defeated the Vermilion County Bobcats 4-2 at the Knoxville Civic Coliseum Saturday night.
The Ice Bears snapped a three-game skid with the win and completed a sweep of the Bobcats for the regular season.
Vermilion County struck early when Gianni Vitali found Justin Portillo from the blue line in front of the crease. Portillo received the pass, turned and slid the puck underneath MacBurnie at 2:19 of the first.
Knoxville nearly tied the game on several occasions before the first intermission, but Vermilion County’s Brett Epp stopped multiple quality chances to keep the Bobcats in front. Epp stopped a diving effort in front by Jagger Williamson, denied a one-timer by Justin MacDonald and tipped a shot by Balsamo just over the crossbar as the first period expired.
Kyler Matthews tied the game for Knoxville on the power play just 27 seconds into the second period. Knoxville rotated the puck around the perimeter and back to Matthews in the high slot. Matthews’ blast hit a body in front and deflected past Epp to knot the game at one goal apiece.
Austin Albrecht put Vermilion County back in front a minute and a half later when his shot from the top of the left circle beat MacBurnie up high.
Knoxville drew even when a MacDonald one-timer from the right circle was redirected underneath Epp by Balsamo. Matthews slid the puck across the zone to setup MacDonald and Balsamo was screening in front before getting his stick on it at 7:25.
Balsamo scored his second of the night to put Knoxville in front for the first time when Jagger Williamson found him in the neutral zone on the rush. Balsamo skated to the high slot and released a wrist shot that found the top shelf at 13:57.
Knoxville appeared to extend its lead early in the third when a shot by Sacha Roy was redirected underneath Epp, but the goal was disallowed after it was ruled to have been played by a high stick.
The Bobcats had a chance to tie the game when Tyler Dill was awarded a penalty shot at 5:16 of the third, but MacBurnie blocked Dill’s attempt with the pad and kept the Ice Bears in front.
MacDonald scored on an empty net in the final minute to seal the win for Knoxville. MacDonald finished with a three-point night. Epp had 27 saves for Vermilion County.
The Ice Bears remain home to face Birmingham on New Year’s Day. The Bobcats are off until Friday when they take on Peoria.
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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