For immediate release
For more information, contact: Joel Silverberg, Director of Broadcasting (865) 525-7825, joel@knoxvilleicebears.com.
The Knoxville Ice Bears have re-signed goalie Stephen Mundinger for the 2026-27 season. Mundinger returns for his third season in Knoxville and fourth in the SPHL.
“We’re happy to have Dinger back for another year,” said Ice Bears head coach John Gurskis. “He’s been a significant part of our success over the past two seasons and his performance in the playoffs speaks for itself.”
Mundinger is coming off of his strongest regular season in which he set career-bests with a 2.46 goals against average, .928 save percentage and four shutouts. He backstopped Knoxville to a solid postseason run, making 47 saves in a series-clinching win over Huntsville in the opening round and put together back-to-back wins in the semifinals against Peoria by stopping 67-of-70 shots to help push the series to five games. He was named the SPHL Player of the Week for Oct. 27-Nov. 2.
“I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity to come back to Knoxville,” said Mundinger. “Over the past two seasons, this organization, my teammates and our fans have truly made this feel like home. Coming close to a championship the last two seasons has only made me even more motivated to get back to work. I’m thankful for the trust the organization has placed in me, and I’m excited to do everything I can to help bring a championship to Knoxville. I can’t wait to get back in front of the best fans in the SPHL and continue chasing our ultimate goal together.”
Mundinger emerged as Knoxville’s primary goalie during the 2024-25 season where he appeared in 40 games. He helped the Ice Bears reach the 2025 President’s Cup Finals thanks to a 2.14 goals against average and a .948 save percentage over the course of eight playoff games. He has appeared in 107 career SPHL games with a record of 48-39-11 and last season became just the eighth goalie in SPHL history to record ten career shutouts.
The Ice Bears will open their 25th season in franchise history in October.
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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