IceBears training camp

[Humpzilla]

Hockeytime in Tennessee has officially arrived! The defense of both SPHL Championship Cups begins Tuesday when up to 30 hopefuls come to the Knoxville Civic Coliseum in hopes to make the squad of 18 to earn the right to be called Ice Bears.

Coach Bermingham has assembled quite an impressive group of players to continue the tradition of success here in Knoxville. Among the group, there are three goalies, twelve forwards, and nine defenseman.(subject to change) The players will have a pre-camp meeting tonight, before beginning the exhaustive two a day sessions beginning at 10am Tuesday October 17th at the Civic Coliseum. The afternoon sessions will begin daily at 4pm. Both sessions will be the same time each day and last abut two hours. They will also be open to the public.

On Friday October 20th, the Ice Bears will face the rival Huntsville Havoc in an exhibition game sponsored by Hall's Salvage beginning at 7:30 pm at the Knoxville Civic Coliseum. Great seats are still available and every seat in the house is only $7! For ticket information, you can call the Ice Bears office at (865)525-PUCK (7825) or log on to the Knoxville Ice Bears Website at www.knoxvilleicebears.com. Bring a friend and come support your 2006-2007 defending SPHL Champion Knoxville Ice Bears! The Ice Bears will then take to the road on Sunday October 22nd to once again take on the Huntsville Havoc in exhibition play. Game time in Huntsville is 3pm EST and ticket information can be obtained there by calling the Huntsville Havoc office at (256)518-6160.



2006-2007 Training Camp Roster

FORWARDS (12)

Mike Craigen 24 5-6 195 Knoxville

Nathan Daly 22 6-0 180 Knoxville

Marcus Forsberg 25 5-7 170 Knoxville

Jeff Hansen 25 6-2 225 Knoxville

Chris Kovalcik 23 6-4 200 Knoxville

Aaron Lewis 30 5-11 200 Knoxville

Ben Manny 27 5-10 200 Knoxville

Bob Rangus 27 6-3 210 Knoxville

David Segal 21 5-10 170 Meltfort- (SJHL)

Kevin Swider 28 5-10 177 Knoxville

Matt Tremblay 23 5-11 190 Groningen (NED)

Michael Tuomi 21 5-10 200 Kitchener (OHL)


DEFENSEMEN (9)


Patrick Carriere 22 5-11 185 Knoxville

Sean Castagna 22 5-10 188 Buffalo State

Nick Fouts 25 6-0 200 Memphis (CHL)

Aaron Hockley XX 6-3 215 U. of Br. Columbia

Curtis Menzul 30 6-3 225 Knoxville

David Mullins 23 6-0 200 St. Michael's College

Doug Searle 34 6-4 220 Knoxville

Dan Wafer XX 5-10 XXX Ryerson College

Cole Zahn 22 6-1 210 Selkirk (MJHL)


GOALTENDERS (3)

Terry Dunbar 26 6-2 220 Rio Grande (CHL)

Ervins Mustukovs 22 6-0 160 Metalurgs Liepaga

Luke O'Shell XX XX XXX XXXXXXXX

[Humpzilla]

Competition expected to be keen at Ice Bears' camp
Defensemen getting competition this time

By NICK GATES, gates@knews.com
October 17, 2006


For the first time in the Knoxville Ice Bears' five-year history, there will be intense competition for jobs at all positions when training camp opens today.
The Ice Bears usually have had to scramble to have enough defensemen to fill the roster. They are worth their weight in gold, especially at the bottom rung of the minor league ladder.


At least 24 players will be on the ice at 10 a.m. at Civic Coliseum for the first of two two-hour workouts. An afternoon session is scheduled for 4 o'clock.

Jim Bermingham, who begins his third season as Knoxville's coach, believes the more competition, the better the odds of his Ice Bears successfully defending their Southern Professional Hockey League championship.

At least 12 forwards will be competing for nine or 10 jobs. The Ice Bears will start with nine defensemen and keep no more than seven.

It's more cut and dried in goal.

The bulk of playing time should go to Terry Dunbar, who returns to the Ice Bears after a year in the Central Hockey League. Ervins Mustukovs and Luke O'Shell will be vying for the other spot.

Brad Smith could join the mix, if he fails to make the New Mexico Scorpions. The 23-year-old rookie from Detroit had a 7-7-2 record with a 2.86 goals-against average and .906 saves percentage for the University of Connecticut last season.

"My biggest concern is to make sure that I have a goalie to push Terry like Terry pushed Jamie Ronayne in 2004-05," Bermingham said. "That's my priority."

Dunbar beat out Ronayne, who was in goal for Knoxville's President's Cup run last season, and would have started the playoffs in 2005.

But Dunbar was suspended for the first round after an altercation during a game at Columbus.

Rookie defensemen Sean Castagna and Andrew Dwyer likely will be no-shows. Castagna, a 24-year-old from Buffalo State, remains in camp with the Fresno Falcons (East Coast Hockey League), while Dwyer, a 22-year-old from Western Michigan University, is in camp with the Memphis RiverKings (Central Hockey League).

Chris Kovalcik remains in camp with the South Carolina Stingrays and won't be back with the Ice Bears until after the ECHL team waives him.

Training camp is open to the public.

Kovalcik was released by the Stingrays...

[Flynn]

I'm planning to swing by the morning session tomorrow... I'll let you know how the guys look.

[Humpzilla]

Originally Posted by Flynn

I'm planning to swing by the morning session tomorrow... I'll let you know how the guys look.

Make sure to keep your eye on David Segal. I want a status report, Flynn!

For some reason i've got a bad feeling that he might get cut....

[Flynn]

Originally Posted by Humpzilla

Make sure to keep your eye on David Segal. I want a status report, Flynn!

For some reason i've got a bad feeling that he might get cut....

I really want to see if he can play some hockey, Birmingham won't waste a roster spot on him otherwise.

[Humpzilla]

Originally Posted by Flynn

I really want to see if he can play some hockey, Birmingham won't waste a roster spot on him otherwise.

Well Andrew Sharp played 5 games with the IceBears last season, although I'm not sure how both players match up hockey skills wise.

I'm curious - are you guys (fans) allowed to talk to the players at Knoxville's rink? The players at the Florida Seals arena are extremely accessible to the fans. You can pretty much just walk up and talk to them.

[Flynn]

Yeah, the guys are pretty accessible, they are around after games, I'm not sure about during workouts and scrimmages.

[Flynn]

I'm happy Chris is coming back, not that I'm surprised.

[Humpzilla]

Bermingham impressed with Ice Bears' talent
By NICK GATES, gates@knews.com
October 18, 2006


Opening day of Knoxville Ice Bears' training camp was a blur for coach Jim Bermingham.
The defending Southern Professional Hockey League champions had a brisk two-hour workout Tuesday morning at foggy Civic Coliseum followed by another two-hour session in the afternoon that began with a 30-minute scrimmage.




Twenty-two players were on the ice, and at least four more are on the way and could arrive in time for today's two-a-day practices.

"I thought for the first day of training camp, it went pretty well," Bermingham said. "The passes were on (the mark) and the tempo was pretty high. There are some good hockey players out there. I'm going to have some tough decisions to make in the next 10 days."

That should be a recurring theme for Bermingham, who begins his fourth year on the job, and has to get down to 18 players.

"There are going to have to be some guys who really step it up in our exhibition games," Bermingham said. "The talent level out there is pretty high."

The Ice Bears' first preseason game is against the Huntsville Havoc at Civic Coliseum at 7:30 p.m. Friday. The teams conclude the preseason Sunday with a game at Huntsville.

Knoxville starts the regular season Oct. 27 at home against the Jacksonville Barracudas.

In practice, Ben Manny and rookie Mike Tuomi made good first impressions.

Manny had seven goals and five assists in 20 games with Knoxville last season. The 27-year-old from Chippewa Falls, Wis., finished the season with the Youngstown Steelehounds and had seven goals and 12 assists in 32 games with the Central Hockey League team.

"He looks like he could have a breakout season for us," Bermingham said.

One order of camp business is finding a forward who can temper the loss of K.J. Voorhees. The Ice Bears' all-time leading scorer signed with Fort Wayne (United Hockey League) after becoming a SPHL veteran. Voorhees had 34 goals and 44 assists last season for Knoxville.

Tuomi could help pick the slack.

"I know it's early, but watching Mike Tuomi, I think he has a lot of potential for a young kid."

The 21-year-old Canadian from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, displayed speed and soft hands. He was on a line with center Kevin Swider, the league's scoring champion the past two seasons, and Manny.

Chris Kovalcik reported after being cut by the South Carolina Stingrays (East Coast Hockey League). Kovalcik, the 11th member of the President's Cup champions to return, is listed as a defenseman but prefers to play forward.

Newcomers Marcel Bourdase, Sean Castagna, Dave Mullins and Jon Hutcheon are en route.

The Fresno Falcons (ECHL) released Bourdase and Castagna, the Gwinnett (ECHL) cut Mullins and Hutcheon is coming from the Rocky Mountain Rage (Central Hockey League).

Bourdase, a 25-year-old rookie forward from Clovis, Calif, had 90 goals and 93 assists in 97 games during his four-year career at Fresno State.

Castagna, 24, is a rookie defenseman from San Jose and the 23-year-old Mullins is a rookie blueliner from Montreal.

Hutcheon also is a defenseman, who played three games for UMass-Boston is 2004-05.

Bermingham also is talking to the agent of rookie defenseman Greg Gallagher. The Hobart College product from Framingham, Mass., was in camp with the Cincinnati Cyclones (ECHL) and is free to sign after clearing waivers.

[Flynn]

I went by the end of the morning session yesterday and then went back and watched all the afternoon session.

Hansen was giving Carriere some fighting pointers after the morning session, otherwise not much to report, no scrimmage, just drills. The one on one drills had a little bit of hard checking, but that was about it.

[Humpzilla]

Here's Jeff Hansen's responses to the subjects of the IceBears' training camp, and Knoxville's new tough guy, David Segal.

Jeff Hansen:

Camp is going well. The team looks great, and we should be pretty tough. Cole Zahn is a big dman (6'2, 220) who is young, but likes to throw em. We have been messin around and I am trying to get him ready for some exhibition tilts. Also Nick Futz should be pretty tough, he played in Memphis last year and didn't fight too much, but his last year junior in the USHL he led the league in majors, which is pretty impressive. Plus we have Kovalchik back now as well. David Segal is a real hard worker and Bermie is real high on him. He may still have a hard time making the team, but I agree he would be a great addition. Great kid, works hard, its just too bad he wasn't bigger. He is probably 165 pounds soaking wet, so he might be a little small to make a huge difference physically at the pro level. I hope he makes it though, cause he would be entertaining to watch, and I am pretty sure he isn't scared of anyone. Talk to ya soon,

Here's what he said about Carriere:

Carriere put almost 20 pounds on this summer, and is gonna be super tough. I worked a ton with him last year, and by the end of the season he was wrecking people. He is a patient lefty who has quick hands and can really surprise people. I would say he is gonna be in the top 10 in the league this year.

[Flynn]

Carriere and Kovalcik both look like they put on some pounds... Chris is creeping up into the heavyweight range.

[Humpzilla]

Preseason games hold key to Ice Bears' jobs
Rookies challenged to show their skills

By NICK GATES, gates@knews.com
October 20, 2006


The Knoxville Ice Bears locker room at Civic Coliseum is overflowing.
There are so many players - 25 at last count and more on the way - that there are not enough dressing stalls to go around and equipment manager Drew Kitts has had to improvise with an annex.





Coach Jim Bermingham might start eliminating the congestion after tonight's preseason game against the Huntsville Havoc. Opening faceoff is 7:30 at Civic Coliseum and tickets cost $7.

Bermingham has implored players each day to "do something to make me notice you."

Rookie forward David Segal took Bermingham's suggestion on Wednesday. He jousted with Mike Craigen during the 1-on-1 contact drills, made an impression and was rewarded.

The 21-year-old from Vancouver landed on a line with returnees Craigen and Marcus Forsberg on Thursday.

Segal's spunk impressed Bermingham.

"He took a run at Craigen in the battle drill," Bermingham said. "He worked really hard."

Scoring a goal or making a nifty pass is eye-opening. But a check to force a turnover doesn't go unnoticed by the fourth-year coach of the Ice Bears. Grit also has its merit.

Bermingham needs to see the same and possibly more in the first of Knoxville's two exhibition games. The Ice Bears and Havoc meet again in Huntsville on Sunday.

"I'll put a lot of weight on how he does in the exhibition games," Bermingham said. "If he plays well, he'll probably earn himself a job. If he doesn't play well, he won't make our team."

The roster must be reduced to 18 before the regular-season opener Oct. 27 against the Jacksonville Barracudas, so Bermingham has lots of talent to judge and little time to do it,

General manager Mike Murray and Jamie Ronayne, who was in goal for the Ice Bears' run to the championship last season, will coach tonight while Bermingham gets a bird's-eye view from the stands.

"Jamie deserves a chance to be behind the bench," Bermingham said.

Each team will be allowed 21 players. Knoxville's roster: Forwards - Mike Tuomi, Kevin Swider, Ben Manny; Segal, Craigen, Forsberg; Aaron Lewis, Nathan Daly, Bob Rangus; Jeff Hansen and Matt Tremblay. Defensemen - Doug Searle, Curtis Menzul, Patrick Carriere, Nick Fouts, David Mullins, Greg Gallagher, Cole Zahn; Goalies - Terry Dunbar, Luke O'Shell, Ervins Mustukovs.

Dunbar will start and play the first period.

Mullins (6-foot, 200 pounds) and Gallagher (6-1, 190) practiced Thursday for the first time and skated well.

"They moved the puck well and have fairly decent size," Bermingham said. "They did well for the first day after getting off a Greyhound bus. I'm going to take a hard look at them in the games."

Forward Marcel Bourdase and defenseman Jon Hutcheon are expected today and play Sunday.

"Bottom line: I'm going to make my decision on who stays and who goes quite possibly after one game, but most of them will be made after both games," Bermingham said.


Family Reunion: Jason Bermingham, the coach's brother and playoff MVP, will be in town opening night to receive his ring and see the SPHL championship banners displayed.

"My mom and dad also are coming," Jim Bermingham said.

The younger Bermingham has retired.

[Humpzilla]

Got this from an article...

Injury Update: Jeff Hansen is eager to accept the role of enforcer. He is fully recovered met the broken thumb he sustained in a fight with Florida's Andy Katzberg last season. The injury forced him to miss the President's Cup playoffs.

"I got my grip strength back as strong in my right as my left I started boxing again and boxed all summer," he said. "It's 100 percent. The specialist says it might be stronger than before."

[Humpzilla]

Ice Bears' Segal is on goal
By News Sentinel staff
October 23, 2006


Rookie David Segal has shown his toughness as he tries to win a job with the Knoxville Ice Bears. Segal displayed his ability to score a big goal Sunday.
Segal scored 13 seconds into overtime against Huntsville goalie Nick Niedert and the Ice Bears concluded their Southern Professional Hockey League preseason with a 5-4 victory.





Mike Tuomi, another rookie forward with aspirations of making Knoxville's opening-day roster, had a goal, giving him four in the Ice Bears' exhibition sweep of the Havoc.

Marcus Forsberg, Chris Kovalcik and Aaron Lewis - members of last season's President's Cup champions - also scored for Knoxville.

Knoxville's Ervins Mustukovs might have won himself a job. The goalie played the first 29:33, allowed one goal and made 13 saves goal. Luke O'Shell replaced Mutukovs and stopped 13 of 16 shots on goal.

Coach Jim Bermingham is expected to begin cutting players from Knoxville's congested roster today. The Ice Bears have 26 players and have to get down to 18 before the season opener against the Jacksonville Barracudas at Civic Coliseum on Friday.