For immediate release
For more information, contact: Joel Silverberg, Director of Broadcasting (865) 525-7825, joel@knoxvilleicebears.com.
The Knoxville Ice Bears have signed returning forward Tim Kent for the 2026-27 season. Kent returns to Knoxville after joining the Ice Bears late last season through a trade acquisition with Birmingham. He appeared in 17 games in an Ice Bears uniform, scoring five goals and adding eight assists. He added a hat trick in the playoffs and finished with five points in seven postseason games.
Kent totaled 33 points in 42 SPHL games last season while playing for Knoxville, Birmingham and Fayetteville. He also played six games in Germany before returning to North America. As a rookie in 2024-25, he totaled 11 points in 14 games for Roanoke and spent 22 games with Iowa in the ECHL.
Prior to his pro career, the Fort Lauderdale, Fla. native spent four years at Curry College. He was a two-time All-CCC First Team selection and received All-American honors from the American Hockey Coaches Association in 2023. He finished his collegiate career with 70 points in 61 career games.
The Ice Bears open their 25th anniversary season Friday, October 16 at home against Evansville at the Knoxville 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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