Founded in 2002, the Knoxville Ice Bears will celebrate their 25th anniversary season beginning this October. In recognition of this milestone, the organization—with input from staff, players and fans—has put together a ranking of the top 25 players in Ice Bears history. Fans were invited to submit ballots of multiple players and write-in players of their choosing as well. Highlighted criteria includes, but is not limited to individual statistics, individual accolades, contributions to team and organizational success, organization-defining moments and tenure.
Over the next several weeks, the rankings will be released in increments of five players each, with the final reveal of the top five players in franchise history concluding the rankings.
Each player listed in the rankings has a limited edition Ice Bears jersey available on DASH that will be auctioned off here.
10. Tim Vitek. LW. 2006-10.
Tim Vitek appeared in 154 games as an Ice Bear putting up 75 goals and 211 points in Knoxville. He was an integral part of Knoxville’s back-to-back President Cup titles in 2008 and 2009. His second period goal in game three of the 2008 President’s Cup Finals broke a 2-2 tie and he later added a third period tally to put the game on ice to help Knoxville seal the championship. In 2009, Vitek provided more heroics in the championship series with a late goal in the third period of game six that forced overtime. The Ice Bears would go on to force a game seven before winning the series and the franchise’s second consecutive title and third overall. He was inducted with Menzul into the Pillar of Champions in 2024.
9. Emery Olauson. RW. 2010-13.
More than a decade later from his last game, Emery Olauson still ranks 10th in SPHL history with 329 points, 199 of which came during his three-year stint as an Ice Bear. His 44-goal output in 2011-12 earned him All-SPHL honors. He’s currently sixth all-time on the SPHL’s goals list with 144. His 86 scores in Knoxville is fourth among Ice Bears.
8. Curtis Menzul. D. 2004-07.
An anchor on Knoxville’s blue line for the first three years of the SPHL era, Curtis Menzul became the league’s first Defenseman of the Year award recipient in 2005 and helped Knoxville to its first President’s Cup the following year. That title run featured point-per-game production from Menzul, scoring two goals and adding eight assists in eight postseason games as the Ice Bears defeated the Florida Seals in the final. He was enshrined in the Pillar of Champions in March of 2024.
7. Berkley Scott. C. 2011-15, 2016-18.
Mike Craigen used to say Berkley Scott “scores goals like a god.” A President’s Cup champion in 2015, Scott spent parts of six seasons in Knoxville, amassing 234 points in 250 games in an Ice Bears uniform. His 96 goals are third in franchise history and he ranks fourth in points with 234. He swept the league MVP and Kevin Swider Leading Scorer awards in 2018 with a 70-point campaign. He scored the game-tying goal with a minute remaining in game two of the 2015 President’s Cup semifinals to force overtime, where the Ice Bears ultimately secured the series. He then scored the game-winner in the third period of game one of the President’s Cup Finals against the Mississippi Riverkings to help the Ice Bears take game one before ultimately sweeping the series and claiming a fourth President’s Cup crown.
6. Jason Price. D. 2013-17, 2019-22, 2023-24.
The SPHL’s all-time leader in games played and points by a defenseman, Jason Price was the 2022 SPHL Defenseman of the Year when he led all blueliners with 46 points and set a league single-season record with a +46 rating. He was a two-time All-SPHL selection and captained Knoxville’s President’s Cup title run in 2015. His 346 career points in the SPHL are eighth in league history.
Players 1-5 will be revealed Fri., Sep. 4. Follow the Knoxville Ice Bears on social media to stay updated on team news and events!
