Ice Notes - Segal Suspended

The Ice Bears clinch a southern pro league playoff spot, and end a 4 game losing streak with a pair of victories over the weekend.
The reigning playoff champs will officially defend their back-to-back post-season titles now that they've secured a playoff spot for the 6th consecutive SPHL season.
The league's top 2 goal scorers faced off 2 nights in a row here at the Coliseum, highlighting an Ice Bears sweep of Fayetteville.
Knoxville captain Kevin Swider and the Ice Bears battled Rob Sich and the Fireantz in games Friday and Saturday in downtown Knoxville.
On Saturday, Swider set a Southern Pro League scoring record for most goals in a single period; trailing 1-nothing in the third, Swider scored 4 Times within 10 minutes.
"I think the third one was the biggest," Ice Bears D-man Travis Martell said. "Timmy actually celebrated more for Swider's hat trick goal than he has for any of his own goals, so it was kind of neat to see it that way. Kevin is just a classy individual, respected throughout the whole league, I feel, always works hard, and he's one of those guys you have to watch otherwise he's going to bury you, and obviously he can win games by himself. He got almost more goals in one game than I have the whole season."
Saturday's hat trick is Swider's third of the season. The Ice Bears captain stands in 2nd place among SPHL scorers. Swider has 41 goals and 43 assists for 84 points, He's 9 points behind Fayetteville's Sich, who over the weekend, added to his league record for goals in a single season - Sich now has 59 goals.

The Bears David Segal scored a pair on Friday in the Ice Bears 7-5 victory over the Fireantz, earning him first star of the game.
"It was a good night," Segal said, "We battled through it and got back up to an even game after the end of the first and the team showed a lot of character, everybody from the goalie, to the new guys, to the vets like Swider and stuff, so it was a good game."
Segal will not play in Knoxville's 2 road games this week. On Saturday, Segal was assessed an unsportsmanlike game misconduct after his reaction to officials following an offsides call. The league assessed the Ice Bears forward an automatic 2-game suspension for accumulating his 5th game misconduct of the season.

Another road game change to report - the Ice Bears were originally scheduled to play in Fayetteville on Thursday, march 25th, that game has been moved up a week, to Friday, march 19th. The Ice Bears - Fireantz game originally scheduled for that date was played earlier this month, because of an event conflict at the Crown Coliseum

Defenseman Kevin Harris was once again out of line-up over the weekend. The SPHL all star d-man previously missed several games a couple weeks ago with back spasms.
"I expect him to be back in the line-up this week," Coach Rodgers said. "And hopefully he can get his legs under him to get ready for the playoffs."

The Ice Bears signed a pair of newcomers last Thursday. Defenseman Darcy Rees - who is filling in for Harris - signed a 3 game tryout contract, which expires with Thursday night's game in Columbus. Rees is a 6-foot-5, 195 pounder from Kington, Ontario, in his first year as a pro.
And forward Kyle Bochek signed a season contract. Bochek scored Friday in his first game with Knoxville - he played 18 games earlier this season with the Missouri Mavericks in the central league. Through 18 Mavs games, Bochek recorded 2 goals and 1 assist, with 29 penalty minutes. Former Ice Bears coach Scott Hillman coaches the Mavericks.

"I have a player by the name of John Halverson who's in Knoxville right now, that i have to make a move this coming week," Marc Rodgers told us." He played in Richmond and Corpus Christi last year, and played over the summer in Australia. He's a good player, he's a puck-moving defenseman, he moves his feet very, very well. And you know what, he's got 5 games to get ready, so there's no wasting time."

In recent transactions around the league the Louisiana Icegators picked up forward Don Melnyk after the Ice Bears waived him. And former Knoxville goaltender Dan Earles signed with the Mississippi Surge after being waived when Knoxville net-minder Andrew Gallant returned from injury.

Owners of the newest SPHL expansion team based in Augusta, Georgia named their club the "River Hawks." That name beat out four other finalists: The Chill, The Brigade, The Snipers and The Patriots. The Augusta River Hawks begin SPHL play next season.