Hockey fans either loved or hated him - this former Ice Bear was known throughout the league to "stir the pot."
Ice Bears fans got to see one of the league's all-time top penalty getters here at the rink this weekend, former Ice Bear Mike Craigen returned to help judge the Miss Ice Bear competition, and catch up with his former fans and teammates. Craigen's accustomed to seeing his name on the score sheet - but this time, he was the one keeping score.
On Friday, the Ice Bears pressed Craigen into service, although he was in town vacationing. The 26-year-old spent time in the press box providing color analysis for the Knoxville-Fayetteville game webcast.
Then, Saturday - Craigen visited with old teammates, including KJ Voorhees. "He was a good friend of mine,” Voorhees said. “He was kind of the unofficial mayor of Knoxville hockey. He meant a lot to this association, so it is good to have him back."
"Tonight was the first time I was kinda able to sit down and watch, look around and see everybody and see the starting line up, hear Mark Atnip's voice and it's a good crowd and tonight I get the itch a little bit tonight,” Mike Craigen said.
Craigen contributed on the Ice Bears 2006-2007 championship team - but winning his second playoffs last season with Knoxville is the one he treasures. "I didn't know last year was my last year when I won it, so it makes it all that more special that in my last year I got a chance to win it in front of the home crowd and carry the trophy around in front of all these fans."
Craigen retired from pro hockey last season after years of sacrificing personal income by playing in the minor leagues. "It's no big secret that there's not a lot of money in the SPHL,” Craigen said. “It's got nothing to do with the Ice Bears -- it's tough."
The 5-foot-3 former forward now works full-time as a telephone lineman for Bell Canada and he says his customers appreciate him. "You would be surprised how many people are so happy that I even show up. A lot of people don't like the phone company. So yeah, I get cheered sometimes."
Craigen plays in a senior mens' hockey league at home in Buckhorn, Ontario, Canada, which is about 100 miles from Toronto. The crowds at his games now, are much smaller. "It's definitely not the same as being down here with the Ice Bears. Instead of there being three thousand people there's like two hundred people watching, but it's okay." Craigen says he's content with his new career, but he doesn't rule out someday returning to professional hockey.
Craigen's visit brings to mind one of the loudest cheering sections at last season's Ice Bears home games, but with his retirement, "Craigen's Crew" now appears to have disbanded. Section "G" at the Civic Coliseum is relatively quiet these days. Ice Bears season ticket holders who used to band together to cheer on their favorite player have moved their seats closer to center ice ...
"When Craigen left, everybody else left," said Patti Humbard, a former member of Craigen's Crew. Bill Humbard said "It's awful quiet. There's not a lot of people sitting in this section, unless you're just coming in to view a game."
Patti and Bill Humbard from Jefferson City are among the few holdovers still in section "G." They remember the Craigen's Crew years when their section used rock every time number 16 took the ice. "It was unbelievable,” Bill said. “The atmosphere around here, you just couldn't describe it."
"You see a little guy competing physically where most of the other guys are a little bigger, Mike's dad Rob Craigen said. “It's kind of neat, it's like cheering for the underdog."
Craigen tells us he had dinner with his "crew" after Saturday night's game.
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