NEWS

Date: Sep 07, 2010

Furdero Returns To Ice Bears For Craigen

By Dave Link, Knoxville News Sentinel

Frank Furdero was in Livonia, Mich., - his hometown - a few months ago, unsure where his hockey career was headed.

Would he return to the Knoxville Ice Bears for the third year? Would he go elsewhere?

That all changed when former Ice Bears player Mike Craigen (2004-08) was introduced as the team's new coach Aug. 2 to replace Marc Rodgers, who was not retained after one season.

"I wasn't sure if I was coming back because of all the drama," Furdero said Friday. "I looked in the mirror and heard Mike Craigen would be the coach, and I changed my tune real quick. I knew I wanted to come back and play hockey in Knoxville."

Furdero, who runs a landscape company and teaches private hockey lessons at his hometown in the offseason, couldn't be happier to return.

"It sounds like a cliche, but everybody says the fans (in Knoxville) are great," Furdero said. "It's a great atmosphere. You'd have to be crazy not to want to come back. From the coaching staff, the players, to Mike Murray (Ice Bears President/General Manager), all the way down to the trainers, they've got a great organization. I feel like I'd be missing out if I'm not a part of it."

However, much has changed since the 2009-10 season.

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