For immediate release

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

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Frankie Ireland scored his first career goal with 31 seconds remaining in overtime and the Knoxville Ice Bears defeated the Fayetteville Marksmen 3-2 at the Knoxville Civic Coliseum Saturday night.

With Knoxville on the power play, Tim Kent found Blake Benson on the left wing in transition. Benson carried the puck behind the net and slipped it out to the right side of the crease for Ireland, who found the far-side post for the rookie’s first career goal.

Fayetteville struck quickly with Austin D’Orazio’s goal 56 seconds into the game. D’Orazio carried the puck into the zone and slid a pass to Ricky Boysen. Boysen fired the puck to the backdoor where D’Orazio had made his way for a backdoor tap-in to put the Marksmen in front.

Ranon Joseph tied the game for Knoxville at 11:30 of the first. Spencer Bellina received a crossing pass in the slot and his shot attempt bounced off Jacob Mucitelli. Blake Tosto collected the rebound and passed it through the circles back to Joseph in the high slot. Joseph snapped a shot past Mucitelli’s blocker for his second of the season.

Knoxville had chances in the early stages of the second, but Mucitelli helped keep the score level through most of the period. Mucitelli blocked Blake Benson’s shot from in front and slid to his left to snag Jack Ring’s follow up chance off the short side post. He later stopped Cam Tobey’s rush attempt from the left circle with a glove save.

Jianing Guo scored in his Ice Bears debut to put Knoxville in front for the first time. Joseph shuffled the puck into the trapezoid and Kolten Olynek worked it out in front of the crease to Guo. Guo’s backhand snuck past Mucitelli at 17:35 of the second.

Stephen Mundinger kept Fayetteville off the scoresheet through the middle frame with a series of key saves. He stopped Shane Murphy’s quick release from the left circle, blocked John Woernle’s close-range attempt from in front and reached out the right pad to block a rebound chance in the blue ice.

Blake Humphrey forced overtime by scoring off a rebound with three minutes remaining in the third.

Mundinger finished with 34 saves. Mucitelli stopped 53 shots for Fayetteville.

The two teams will see each other again Thursday night in Fayetteville.

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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