Ice Notes

An update on this weeks roster moves, including suspensions and whose on the IR.

Ice Bears captain Kevin Swider sat out all 3 weekend games with an upper body injury. He was hit January 10th in the twin city game by the cyclones' Brady Heintz. "I thought it would be better not to push it.” Swider said. ”It didn't feel good enough to go, so I couldn't say a hundred percent that I'd be alright, and we're just being on the safe side." Swider says he fully expects to be in the lineup next weekend.

Swider continues to lead the SPHL scoring race, despite missing this past week of play. Swider's 57 points is 8 ahead of teammate Tim Vitek, who's tied for second with Fayetteville's Rob Sich.

Vitek scored a hat trick on Sunday, notching 3 of the Ice Bears 4 goals in the win against the cottonmouths. "Obviously it feels really good to put three in,“ Vitek said. ”The boys played well tonight."

Linemate Mike Carter performed that same feat on Friday against the renegades. It was Carter's first professional hat trick. "Just one of those games where everything clicked for me” Carter said, “Vlieter and Timmy made some great plays - and it just worked for me that night."

Forward Chris Rebernik returned to the line-up Saturday night, scoring a goal in his first game, after missing 7 weeks of hockey. Rebernik injured his left leg on thanksgiving night in Columbus. "I was more nervous than I've pretty much ever been” Rebernik said “but I just think that's because of the knee, but after a few hits and stuff I was fine."

Forward Frank Furdero is still on the mend and last week, had the hard cast removed from his injured right leg, Furdero's now fitted with a walking cast. "I'll have an air cast on for two weeks," Furdero said. "I'm putting weight on it, things are looking good."

A couple of newcomers entered the Ice Bears line-up on Friday; former Fayetteville forward Justin Keller picked up a couple assists on Saturday. "So far everyday feels like I'm fitting in more and more," said Keller. "It's been a good transition. The guys have been treating me really good. I really wanted to be in Knoxville and it happened and I'm really excited about it."

Defenseman Clay Lewis suited up for his 3 game tryout. "it was good to be back out there” Lewis said. “I missed it - I took about two weeks off in the whole transition from Richmond to here."

Pictures Courtesy of Haas Designs Photography and Laura Adkins via Volzeye.com