Forwards Tim Vitek and Taylor Hustead, who combined for 46 goals last season, were among eight players left unprotected by the Knoxville Ice Bears on Monday. They are free to sign with any other Southern Professional Hockey League team after the expansion draft to stock the Augusta (Ga.) RiverHawks, who will be new to the league in the 2010-11 season. They can be re-signed by the Ice Bears after Aug. 1, if they do not sign with other teams.
