For immediate release

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

Alex Pommerville scored the overtime game-winning goal in Knoxville’s 3-2 victory over Roanoke Saturday night. PHOTO: Michael King.

Alex Pommerville scored the game-winning goal in overtime and the Knoxville Ice Bears defeated the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs 3-2 Saturday night at the Knoxville Civic Coliseum.

Knoxville rallied from a two-goal deficit in the third period to force overtime. It’s the second straight overtime win for the Ice Bears (3-0-0). The Rail Yard Dawgs (0-2-2) lost in a shootout Friday night at Birmingham.

Pommerville gave Knoxville its first lead of the night when Carter Cowlthorp stole the puck in the Knoxville zone to create a two-on-one. Cowlthorp skated into the zone and fed a pass from the right circle to Pommerville across the slot. Pommerville’s wrist shot beat the blocker of Austyn Roudebush for his first career SPHL goal.

Stefan Brucato scored twice in the third period to help tie the game for the Ice Bears. He tapped in a rebound after a shot from the perimeter by J.B. Baker was stopped by Roudebush’s pad at 9:35. Brucato then made it 2-2 at 14:44 on the power play when he split two defenders in the zone and followed up his own shot with another rebound for his third goal of the season.

Roanoke opened the scoring when Mac Jansen fed the puck from the right circle in front of the crease and Logan Fredericks redirected it over Jimmy Poreda to give the Rail Yard Dawgs an early 1-0 lead at 1:37 of the first.

Nick Ford doubled the lead for Roanoke when Jeff Jones dropped him the puck from the right dot to the top of the right circle. Ford’s wrist shot beat Poreda top shelf at 2:49 to make it 2-0 heading into the intermission.

Knoxville nearly cut the deficit in half late in the first, but a shot from in front of the crease glanced off Roudebush’s stick, hit the crossbar and stayed out of the net.

The Ice Bears nearly had their first goal of the night at 6:43 of the first when Stefan Brucato was tripped on a shorthanded breakaway and given a penalty shot. Brucato skated in towards the right of the crease and lifted the puck over Roudebush’s glove, but hit the left post.

Knoxville failed to convert on four power play chances in the second period, including a 5-on-3. The Ice Bears kept the deficit at two after 40 minutes by killing off three Roanoke power play opportunities and Poreda stopping two breakaways. Poreda finished with 24 saves for the Ice Bears. Roudebush made 26 stops for Roanoke.

Knoxville remains home to host Huntsville on Sunday at 3 o’clock. Roanoke is off until next Saturday when it welcomes Macon.

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, 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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