KNOXVILLE, Tenn – The Knoxville Ice Bears clashed with the Fayetteville Marksmen on Friday night during their highly anticipated Teddy Bear Toss event. Knoxville came out strong, netting three goals in the first period to establish a commanding lead. However, Fayetteville managed to respond with a late-period goal, narrowing the deficit to two with just 29 seconds left on the clock.
The Marksmen kept the momentum going, scoring early in the second period to close the gap further. Both teams battled fiercely for the remainder of the period, but the score remained unchanged. Fayetteville struck again early in the third period, leveling the game at 3-3 and setting the stage for a dramatic finish.
In overtime, Knoxville capitalized on a power play opportunity as Derek Osik delivered the game-winning goal. The Ice Bears emerged victorious, defeating the Marksmen 4-3 in a thrilling OT showdown.
Check out this photo gallery from Inside The Rink’s Michael King for highlights from the game.
