HUNTERSVILLE, NC (December 28, 2021) – The Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL) today announced that Dean Balsamo of the Knoxville Ice Bears has been named the Warrior Hockey/SPHL Player of the Week for December 20-26.
In Knoxville’s only game of the holiday week, Balsamo scored a pair of goals, including the shootout game-winner as the Ice Bears defeated Roanoke 3-2. A native of St. Clair Shores, MI, Balsamo scored late in the second period to knot the game at two before going 3-3 in the shootout, clinching the win in the eighth round after also finding the net in the second and seventh rounds.
Acquired from Macon on October 29, Balsamo currently leads the Ice Bears in scoring with 23 points (11g, 12a) in 18 games. Now in his second professional season, Balsamo played collegiately at Adrian College where he was named to the 2018-2019 NCAA III (NCHA) All-Tournament Team and earned NCAA III (AHCA) First Team All-American (West), NCAA III (All-USCHO) Third Team and NCAA III (NCHA) All-Conference Team honors his senior season.
Also nominated: Marvin Powell, Birmingham (1 gp, 1g), Jason Pawloski, Fayetteville (0-0-1, 4 ga, 33 saves), Jacob Barber, Huntsville (1 gp, 1g, 1a, +2), Dillon Kelley, Macon (0-1-0, 3 ga, 38 saves), Sean Kuhn, Pensacola (1-0-0, 1 ga, 45 saves), Mitchell McPherson, Peoria (1 gp, 2g, ppg) and Brady Heppner, Roanoke (2 gp, 3g, ppg)
