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.




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