Hit heard around the rink

I hope you had a chance to attend at least one of the Knoxville Ice Bears games this weekend against the Huntsville Havoc, current league leaders.

The Ice Bears won both nights with big numbers from Tim Vitek, Frank Furdero, Mark Van Vliet, Donald Melnyk and especially goalie Andrew Gallant.  Even the new guy, Mike Kneeland, scored- his first goal as an Ice Bear and his first goal of the season.  It was a great weekend for hockey in Knoxville.

One of my favorite aspects of the game are the hits- and boy, there were some BIG hits on Saturday.  One of them was so hard, it knocked the piping off the glass just behind the goal on the zamboni side of the rink.  Here is a photo of the wonderful Coliseum staff trying to fix the glass during a break in the action.

The Ice Bears have two games this week- on Thursday (against Fayetteville FireAntz) and Friday (against Louisiana Ice Gators), so make plans to attend a game.  Thursday is "Two"riffic Thursday with $2 hot dogs, $2 drinks and $2 popcorn.

Player transactions:
Goalie Dan Earles was waived from the Ice Bears.
Goalie Chad Collins signed a contract with the Ice Bears.