KNOXVILLE ICE SPORTS
Scott Evers Memorial Classic
June 4, 2023
(Formerly SUMMER SLAM)
In October of 2022, Scott Evers passed away suddenly while playing in a league hockey game. He was loved and respected by both his teammates and his opponents. Renaming the event is a way to honor him as well as the memory of other local players.
The Scott Evers Memorial Classic is a fundraiser for the Knoxville Sled Bears, a hockey organization for players with disabilities. Some team members have been disabled from birth, some from injury or other trauma; several are first responders as well as veterans. It costs an average of $800 to get a Sled Bear outfitted to play; add to that ice time, and travel and tournament expenses.
Money is raised when players pay an entry fee to participate in a one-day, fast and furious, fun hockey tournament. Additional money is received through corporate sponsorships. The last two years we have had 70 players per tournament; this year with the move to a larger facility (Cool Sports in Farragut), our goal is 160 hockey players participating.
Friends
The regular season is over, this event is a great time for friends to check in and catch up.
Sponsors - 2022
We are thankful for our generous sponsors, especially Kiley Thomas with Concord Title, who not only provided great swag and the event T-shirts, she was also actively engaged in all the planning. We also had some large cash donations from fellow players: Richard Montgomery, Jimmy Hickok, Steve Bannach and Roger Monforton. Thanks to big bad Bob Lusby for throwing in additional cash for players who couldn’t afford the entry fee. Another generous cash donation came from Glenda Talbott of Guild Mortgage (the prior year she donated event shirts).
All money raised went to the Sled Bears to help with expenses such as ice time, travel, and tournaments. It costs about $1,200 to get a player in a sled. The Sled Bears are made up of players with disabilities, some from birth, injured first responders, and veterans.
Knoxville Sled Bears
The Sled Bears play hockey on sleds, and they have the opportunity to play in tournaments around the country. The team is made up of players whose impairments include limb loss, traumatic brain injury, and PTSD. There are two wounded warriors and one firefighter who was injured in the line of duty. Additionally, they have one retired firefighter, one active-duty police officer who returned to duty after an incident that required an amputation of the leg, two veterans, and other athletes with compelling stories of survival and resilience. Their mission is to educate, encourage, and inspire individuals with disabilities through actively participating in sports to become more independent and productive, as well as strengthen their physical abilities and emotional well being.