The Knoxville Ice Bears claimed first place in the SPHL standings Friday night after a 5-2 victory over the Huntsville Havoc.
The win, which Knoxville Ice Bears reported, comes as the team has secured eight victories in their first ten games of the season. This dominant stretch, combined with a loss by Pensacola to Macon, allowed Knoxville to leapfrog their competitors and seize the top spot in the league.
The matchup at the Knoxville Civic Coliseum saw a rapid exchange of momentum. Huntsville struck first just 1:45 into the game when Michael Hodge capitalized on a rebound. The play began when Denis Radchenko shot the puck from the center blue, resulting in a deflection off Mundinger’s pad that allowed Hodge to fire it back on net.
Knoxville responded with a shorthanded goal at the 4:16 mark of the first period. Blake Tosto tapped the puck in behind Huntsville goaltender Brian Wilson following a transition play involving Frankie Ireland and Tosto.
The Ice Bears took their first lead of the night early in the second period. Billy Roche scored just 58 seconds into the frame after Cam Tobey blocked a shot in the defensive zone and sent the puck up the wing to newcomer Henri Schreifels.
Huntsville managed to tie the game at 5:26 when Landry Schmuck scored on a power play from the right circle. However, the momentum shifted back to the home team before the intermission. Schreifels scored his first goal as an Ice Bear at 12:53, redirecting a shot from Spencer Bellina past Wilson to make it 3-2.
The third period saw Knoxville extend their lead through two more goals. Davide Gaeta scored a power-play goal at 12:51 after finding a rebound from a Ranon Joseph shot. Gaeta has now recorded seven goals on the season, the highest total on the team.
Malik Johnson secured the win for Knoxville with an empty-net goal with just over a minute remaining in the game. Huntsville’s Brian Wilson finished the night with 28 saves.
| Player/Statistic | Team | Performance Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Stephen Mundinger | Knoxville Ice Bears | 41 saves |
| Henri Schreifels | Knoxville Ice Bears | 1 goal, 1 assist |
| Frankie Ireland | Knoxville Ice Bears | 3 assists |
| Brian Wilson | Huntsville Havoc | 28 saves |
The Ice Bears, an inaugural charter member of the SPHL in 2004, continue to build on a legacy that includes four SPHL championships and five regular season titles since the organization began in 2002.
The two teams are scheduled to travel to Huntsville for the conclusion of their home-and-home weekend on Saturday night.
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