Ice Bears sweep Huntsville to advance to SPHL semi-finals

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) - The Knoxville Ice Bears are moving on to the semi-finals of the Southern Professional Hockey League’s President’s Cup Playoffs following a two game sweep of the Huntsville Havoc.

After defeating the Havoc 5-4 in double overtime on Friday, Knoxville pulled away in the third period of Saturday’s game in Huntsville, taking the series with a 4-2 win.

It’s the second consecutive season that Knoxville has upset a higher seed in the first round. Knoxville is a 7-seed this season. Last year, the 6-seeded Ice Bears made it all the way to the President’s Cup Finals before falling to eventual league champion Evansville.

The SPHL semifinals begin on Friday. Knoxville will travel to top-seeded Peoria to face the Rivermen at 8:15 p.m.. The best of five series will shift to Knoxville for game three on Thursday, April 23. If necessary, game four will also be played in Knoxville on Friday, April 24.