New SPHL Team

It looks like the Champion Ice Bears will have some new competition coming from the Mississippi Gulf.


From TheSPHL.com:

Jim Combs, Commissioner of the Southern Professional Hockey League announced tonight that the Southern Professional Hockey League’s Board of Governors has received an application from an ownership group to operate an SPHL team in Biloxi Mississippi for the 2009-10 season.

The ownership group has secured a lease from the Mississippi Coast Coliseum and is expected to receive final SPHL membership approval shortly pending formal review of their application by the Board of Governors.

Combs stated that “our league’s Governors are delighted about the opportunity to bring the SPHL’s brand of professional hockey to the Mississippi Gulf Coast.” The new Biloxi team will compete against returning SPHL members Fayetteville, Knoxville, Columbus and Huntsville.

Additionally, Combs advised that the SPHL is in active discussions with prospective ownership in Pensacola, Florida and other cities and expects to provide information on additional expansion over the next few weeks.

Combs stated that “while there is still work to be accomplished the Board of Governors is committed to expansion within our league’s geographical footprint within a time frame that allows new members the lead time to prepare for the
2009-10 season.

Former Ice Bear Passes Away

The Knoxville Ice Bears organization is sad to inform you that one of our former players, Caleb Moffat, passed away in his sleep on the morning of Thursday, April 23. Caleb was at his mother’s in Atlanta, GA. An autopsy will be performed. Unfortunately, we do not know anymore information at this time. However, Caleb will be missed by so many that knew him. He was a tough guy on the ice, but a charismatic person off the ice. Even though he only played in Knoxville for a short time, he made an impact on many of us. We send our condolences to his family, and we will pass along any new information that we receive.

Caleb's service will be on Saturday, May 2nd at 1:00 pm. The address is:
777 Robinson Road, Peachtree City, Ga 30269.

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Caleb Chase Moffat, passed suddenly at home in Peachtree City, Georgia. Caleb is the beloved son, brother, grandson, nephew and cousin of his Father, Craig, Mother, Cheryl (nee Hayter) and sister Tawny, Grandparents, Norma Moffat and the late Calvin Moffat of Kincardine, Ontario, Canada and Bryan and Margaret Hayter of Guelph, Ontario, Canada and many Aunts, Uncles and Cousins. Caleb was born is Oakville, Ontario, Canada and moved with his family to the United States in August, 1995.

Caleb’s dream was a career in professional hockey and his hockey journey took him to the four corners of North America in the minor professional leagues of Canada and the United States.

His sudden passing was an incredible and enormous shock to all who knew him for he was called away far too soon. We believe he continues to chase his dream in preparation for when we all meet again to watch him play.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Shepherd Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia or Charity of your choice.

Picture courtesy of Laura Adkins via Volzeye.com

Retirement?

Several players have floated the idea that they may not return after this season; but when asked about retirement after winning back-to-back cups, not one current Ice Bear was ready to call it quits.

Tim Vitek said, "Next year?! I don't know about that right now. It's a long summer, I'll talk to Scotty"

"I have not decided any of that,” Kevin Swider said. “We'll see what happens. There is a lot that goes into it, but I am just going to enjoy this right now and just relax and hang out with these guys before they got to head north."

One recent development that may influence Swider's decision to continue playing Ice Bears hockey is wife Angela Swider is expecting the couple's first child this fall...congratulations Angela and Kevin!

Locker Room Celebrations

After winning the President's Cup, that on-ice celebration continued in the Ice Bears team dressing room with chilled champagne and a number of congratulatory speeches...

Coach Scott Hillman: "Boys I could go down the list. near the top of the list has got to be the goaltending duo that battled friendly amongst each other. We knew this team was a little different than any others we've been involved in -- that you guys have ever been involved in - that adversity would bring the best out of us. We knew that. We believed in you guys. We all came here on a mission and we all accomplished that mission together. Everybody upstairs, downstairs, and around the room boys. We did it as a team boys. Good job boys."

Kevin Swider: "You guys, could not have done this one without all eighteen of us. The little things we saw each night. Coming in -- adversity, game five overtime -- game three overtime this series -- yesterday tying it up with a minute left -- winning in overtime. Thanks to everyone there. All you guys."

Coach Marc Rodgers: “Gentleman, you guys did something that nobody has ever done before. You guys will never forget this day. Right now -- what you guys have done is unbelievable 'til the day you die, you can tell your kids, your grandkids, whoever, right here is what you guys have done. Anybody that'll listen!”

Post Season Celebration

The Ice Bears threw a season-ending bash over the weekend and the event gave Knoxville fans the chance to congratulate the team on another successful season.

The Ice Bears often say their loyal fans are like skating with a 6th attacker, so the team showed their appreciation with a post-season party. Several hundred fans turned out on Saturday for the barbecue banquet, held at the Civic Coliseum Plaza.

“Oh, I think it's great!” Ice Bears fan Buddy Tharp said. “All the fans get together and I have a little eating session. there's nothing like it."

Ice Bears Forward, JJ Wrobel added, "It's nice to kind of be able to come out here and hang out with them, and let them know how much they meant to us in the playoffs." Players visited with fans, signed autographs and posed for plenty of pictures.

"I got to talk to several of the players” Ice Bears fan, Dave Weatherford, said. “Find out sort of what their going to do this summer, things like that." Another fan, Chris Hoosier, added “It's good to have a get-together before, before they all take off."

"it is just great for the city of Knoxville, and all our fans,” Ice Bears Forward, Mike Carter, said. “It's just a great time for us, and I am really happy, super happy that we won it again."

SPHL hardware was also on display - some fans made signs - others shared photos. this championship celebration is becoming an annual Ice Bears event!

Hunnies get an Early Start

The Ice Bears hockey season's just ended, and the Hunnies have already set next year's dance team roster.

The Hunnies have to learn new dance routines in the off-season, so the team got an early start and held tryouts over the weekend. On Saturday, the Hunnies dance team replenished its squad by adding 7 new members for the 2009-2010 season.

"I've seen some jumping and leaping,” Erica Wilkerson, Ice Bears Hunnies captain said. ”So it looks pretty good, so hopefully we're going to have some good additions to the team, and some that can leap better than some of us now, so that's good!"

the auditions included an interview, and a dance performance. “I just really miss being part of a team and I love dancing,” said Hunnies rookie, Noelle Jackson. “So I saw the ad and thought I'd come on out."

The new Hunnies are Noelle Jackson, Bethany Bilyeu, Ashley Robertson, Jessica Anderson, Sarah Richardson, Heather Moore, and Renee' Stanclisse

Another Hunnies rookie, Bethany Bilyeu, said, "I know the Hunnies do a lot of volunteer work and are involved in the community and thought it was a really good organization, and I love the Ice Bears."

Returning Hunnies are Erica Wilkerson, Tiffany Sims, Brittany Edwards, Angela Bryant, and Sequoia Simpson.

One long-time hunnie, Hayley Henry, is going away to law school and will leave the dance team. New members of the Hunnies will participate in their first community function on Saturday June 13th. The Hunnies will hold a car wash at Cici's Pizza on Tazewell Pike, just off Broadway in North Knoxville

Playoff ready

The league honors the Ice Bears, selecting 4 players and its coach for all star recognition...

The Ice Bears open the post-season tomorrow night in defense of the president's cup - looking to become the first SPHL team to win back-to-back playoff championships. Coach Hillman said, "We are trying to get sharper, now we feel like we are getting back to a little more consistent hockey, to where we feel when we enter the game that we are going to win that hockey game, and that is the feeling we need heading into playoffs." The Knoxville hockey club faces its chief rival - the Huntsville Havoc - in round one

The boys got a taste of their success over the weekend when the league commissioner, accompanied by the SPHL's director of operations presented the "Coffey trophy" - honoring the Ice Bears for clinching the regular season title for the 2nd year in a row, and for the 4th time in 5 seasons.

Ice Bears captain Kevin Swider accepted the award - but hockey superstition prevents players from skating the regular season trophy until after the playoffs. "Obviously we accomplished our first goal that we set for the beginning of the year,” Swider said. “You know that's kind of what we've been working for since day one and just getting past that and our focus is just on the playoffs, just kinda getting our feet under us before we get into the playoff run."

The Ice Bears record through the 60-game SPHL regular season schedule is 35 wins, 16 losses, and 9 overtime losses, good for 79 points - that 79 points is an SPHL record for most points in a season.

Another SPHL team is in financial trouble - the Twin City Cyclones are planning to leave Winston-Salem and are now looking for a new city to relocate to. The Winston-Salem journal reports the Cyclones told the Winston-Salem entertainment sports complex that they would be suspending operations for the 2009-2010 season.

The cyclones finished last in league attendance - the North Carolina franchise drew an average 11-hundred fans a game, for a total of nearly 34,000 through 30 games...that's less than one-third the fans the Ice Bears attracted this season.



Picture courtesy of *NAME* via Volzeye.com

Ice Notes

As a team the Ice Bears topped the league, but where did individual players end up in the SPHL regular season awards...

Ice Bears players locked-up 3 of the 6 first team positions in this year's SPHL regular season awards...



SPHL regular season awards
2008-2009

1st team

Defense - Kevin Harris Knoxville
Defense - Dan Vandermeer Richmond
Forward - Kevin Swider Knoxville
Forward - Travis Kauffeldt Huntsville
Forward - Donald Melnyk Twin City
Goalie - Andrew Gallant Knoxville

Making up half of the league's honor roll are Knoxville's Kevin Harris on defense, goaltender Andrew Gallant, and forward Kevin Swider. "We are so proud of these guys,” Coach Scott Hillman said. “Obviously it takes a whole dressing room to have a great year."

To go with the team's regular season championship, Ice Bears captain Kevin Swider locked up his 5th consecutive SPHL scoring title - Swider led the league in assists with 55, and with his 37 goals - tallied a league best 92 points. Swider also led the league in the plus-minus stat, with an impressive plus-28. "individual awards are great and all,” Swider said. “But it is a team game, and I couldn't have had any success without my linemates and our teammates. It shows why we are on top of league as a team"

Swider linemates Tim Vitek and mike Carter finished 4th and 7th respectively in the SPHL scoring race. "Just outstanding awards for these guys and there could have been many more,” Hillman added. “Go down the list, Vitek, Carter, so many more, so many guys had great years."

Knoxville netminder Andrew Gallant is the league's leading goaltender - he finished with a 2.61 goals against average, a 92-percent save percentage, and one shutout. Gallant was between the pipes for 20 wins, 7 regulation losses, and 4 overtime losses. Coach Hillman said, "Believe me both goalies deserve great honors, they can only probably choose one from a team so, Andrew Gallant -- outstanding year." Goalie Kirk Irving - who shared top honors throughout the season - finished 3rd among leading goaltenders.

Rounding out the SPHL first team are Richmond's Dan Vandermeer on defense, and Huntsville's Travis Kauffeldt and Twin City's Donald Melnyk at forward.


SPHL regular season awards
2008-2009
Rookie Team

Defense - Travis Martell Knoxville
Defense - Kyle Lundale Columbus
Forward - Ryan Busby Richmond
Forward - Sam Bowles Columbus
Forward - Michael Richard Twin City
Goalie - Ryan Scott Richmond

The Ice Bears Travis Martell lands on the league's all rookie team, paired with Columbus's Kyle Lundale on defense. Rookie forwards include Richmond's Ryan Busby, Columbus's Sam Bowles, and Twin City's Michael Richard. Rookie goaltender honors go to Richmond's Ryan Scott


SPHL regular season awards
2008-2009

MVP - Travis Kauffeldt Huntsville
Rookie of the Year - Michael Richard Twin City
Defenseman of the Year - Kevin Harris Knoxville
Coach of the Year - Scott Hillman Knoxville

Knoxville's Kevin Harris wraps up the Defenseman of the year award. "I am very proud of the accomplishment,” Harris said. “You know it is an enjoyable thing for myself to have. You know obviously with the great team we have awards like this can be given out -- but now we've got one more goal left to achieve and that is to win the championship"

The MVP goes to Huntsville's Kauffeldt, and Twin City's Richard is rookie of the year. Meantime, Ice Bears head coach Scott Hillman earns coach of the year accolades. " well certainly we're honored for that,” Hillman said. “I say we because Marc Rodgers is a big part of that, and obviously if the players in the dressing room did not perform to the high standards that they did -- there's no consideration for the coaches."

"He should have had it last year, too,” Ice Bears captain Kevin Swider said. “You know the hard work he puts in on and off the ice and another award well deserved."

The Ice Bears special teams finished second in both powerplay and penalty kill - a nearly 19% success rate with a man advantage, and nearly 84% success while shorthanded.

In league attendance, Knoxville finished middle of the pack - 3rd out of 6 teams with a little more than 101-thousand fans for 30 games. That's an average of nearly 34-hundred spectators a game.

Ice Bears forward - turned defenseman - Mark Van Vliet has recovered from a fracture in his lower right leg - he hurt himself while on call-up to Cincinnati of the ECHL. "I just got the boot off yesterday,” Van Vliet said. “I skated this morning. I am going to go on the road this weekend with the guys, but I am not certain if I am going to play or not, but we are going to see how it feels.”

Van Vliet told us that after Thursday's game here in Knoxville - on Saturday, he re-entered the line-up in Richmond and forced overtime by scoring the tying goal. "We think he might be that final boost we need heading into the playoffs,” Coach Hillman added.

To make room for Van Vliet, Coach Hillman moved newcomer d-man Glenn Cacaro to the 30-day injured reserve. Cacaro had skated a 3-game tryout, and signed a season contract before landing on the injured list last week. "I'm having a great time,” said Cacaro. “I appreciate the coaches giving me an opportunity to play. I am just having a blast hanging out with the guys and getting to know them." Coach Hillman added, "We can't speak enough on how Glenn Cacaro stepped in for us, played a great roll, and played five very solid games -- we certainly hope that Glenn will be back with us next fall. He'll be returning to school to finish up his studies."

Earlier in the week, the Ice Bears placed forward JJ Wrobel on the 30-day I-r, which made room for Cacaro. Coach Hillman said, "Unfortunately JJ sustained an injury -- that was going to be too much of a risk for us to go into the playoffs with risks that we might drop down to seventeen players." JJ added, "It's always tough obviously, but with the group of guys we have and the team we have, I think, you know, any guy could be out and you'd still get the same result." Coach says JJ will continue to lead off the ice, in the locker room during the playoffs.




Picture courtesy of *NAME* via Volzeye.com