Sheridan signs deal with Knoxville Ice Bears

Former Lawrence University hockey star Jon Sheridan has signed with the Knoxville Ice Bears.

Sheridan, a defenseman from Midland, Mich., has signed a tryout agreement with the Southern Professional Hockey League team. It marks the fourth consecutive year a Lawrence player has signed to play professional hockey.

“Jonathon is the perfect example of what we believe a Lawrence hockey player should be,” Lawrence coach Mike Szkodzinski said. “His work ethic and determination have earned him a special opportunity to compete at the professional level.  We will be pulling for him.”

Sheridan, a native of Midland, Mich., was the Vikings’ captain and led the team to the 2009 Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association Northern Division championship. A pre-medicine major and Academic All-Midwest Conference pick, Sheridan led Lawrence to more wins during his three seasons than in any other three-year stretch in school history.

During this past season, Sheridan led the Vikings to the semifinals of the MCHA Harris Cup and was named to the all-tournament team.

Sheridan joins Josh Peterson (Flint Generals), Nick Jennette (Huntsville Havoc) and Billy Siers (Elmira Jackals) as Lawrence players to have played professionally in recent seasons.