The Knoxville Ice Bears won the William B. Coffey Trophy tonight with a 4 to 2 win over the Huntsville Havoc in front of a crowd of 4,653. With this win, the Ice Bears also clinched first place and home ice advantage in the first two playoff games.

“We are so excited to end the regular like this and secure first place going into the playoffs. There have been so many changes that have taken place with the Ice Bears organization this season, that it is rewarding to win the Trophy. We want to thank all of the fans that have supported us through the season, and we look forward to giving them an entertaining playoff season,” said head coach Scott Hillman.

The William B. Coffey Trophy is in honor of Bill Coffey and his dedication to minor league hockey in the South. In three decades as an owner, he won 3 regular season championships and 3 playoff championships in 3 different leagues and cities in North Carolina. Coffey, Director of Operations for the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL), has been a constant in minor league hockey since 1984 and helped to form the SPHL in 2004. His service and dedication to the SPHL has paved the way for many years of success. The William B. Coffey Trophy is in honor of minor leagues hockey’s founders and visionaries. The Trophy is presented to the SPHL team that clinches the regular season title.

The Southern Professional Hockey League regular season came down to the last game. All six teams playing tonight had a lot on the line. Post season play begins on Friday. March 28, as the Knoxville Ice Bears take on the Columbus Cottonmouths; the Jacksonville Barracudas will play the Twin City Cyclones, and the Fayetteville FireAntz take on the Richmond Renegades. The Ice Bears will play a best-of-5 series before advancing to the Championship round. The second, third, fourth and fifth place teams play two best-of-3 series.

Tickets for the first playoff game are currently on sale. If you still have flex tickets from the 2007-’08 regular season, those tickets will work for all play off games as well. Please keep in mind when you are distributing the flex tickets, they can only be redeemed at the Coliseum box office prior to the start of the game and up to a week prior to the desired game. Coliseum box office is open from 10 am – 5 pm Monday through Friday.

The puck drops at 7:30 p.m. at the U.S Cellular® home ice at the Knoxville Civic Coliseum on Friday and Saturday.

Visit www.knoxvilleicebears.com for more information.

First Place Playoff Schedule:

Round 1--

Game 1 – March 28th @ 7:30 pm at the Knoxville Civic Coliseum
Game 2 – March 29th @ 7:30 pm at the Knoxville Civic Coliseum
Game 3 – Friday, April 4th, 7:30p Columbus
Game 4 – Sunday, April 6th, 4:00p Columbus (if necessary)
Game 5 – Tuesday, April 8th, 7:30p Knoxville Civic Coliseum (if necessary)

Story Courtesy: The Knoxville Ice Bears