For immediate release

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

Knoxville cut an early deficit to one goal on two occasions, but couldn’t draw even as Knoxville fell to Huntsville 4-2 at the Von Braun Center Friday night.

Huntsville scored when it kept a clearing attempt in at the blue line and slipped it behind the defense to Jack Jaunich, who punched the loose puck past Hunter Virostek at 11:36. Phil Elgstam scored a power play goal three minutes later to make it 2-0.

Tyler Williams got Knoxville on the board early in the second period to bring the Ice Bears to within one. With Knoxville on the power play, Derek Osik and Jason Brancheau worked the puck off the right-wing wall and Brancheau slid the puck across to the left point to Williams. Williams fired a wrist shot from atop the left circle that beat Mike Robinson for his 13th of the season.

Charlie Risk scored from the point 16 seconds into the third period to make it 3-1.

Williams netted his second of the night on a cross-ice feed from Jimmy Soper. Dawson McKinney worked the puck up the wing to Soper, who created a two-on-one. Soper’s pass found Williams for an easy goal at 2:27.

Huntsville scored less than a minute later to cap off the scoring with Jaunich’s second of the evening.

Virostek made 21 saves for Knoxville. Robinson made 32 stops for Huntsville.

The two teams square off again in Huntsville tomorrow night.

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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