EVANSVILLE — What the Evansville Thunderbolts accomplished officially shed any lingering doubts. They're now one of the top franchises in the SPHL.
That distinction comes after securing a spot in league history over the weekend. The 5-seeded Thunderbolts defeated 1-seed Peoria in a five-game series to win the President's Cup for the second straight season. The repeat title comes after falling behind 2-0 and requiring a final stand in the final period of Game 5 to clinch the Cup on enemy ice.
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Only three others in SPHL history, which stretches over 20 years, have won back-to-back championships.
"Let's get real," Evansville coach Jeff Bes said. "It’s so hard to do. Sometimes, after you win the first one, you get a little bit of entitlement. We fought that all season. My expectations were higher. Then, come playoff time, they were there. Everybody bought into what we wanted to be successful. Having that belief is what shows if you can compete and you can win."
How did the Thunderbolts complete what could be the best season in franchise history? Accepting the underdog label.
That mindset lingered after rolling through the SPHL playoffs last year as the 7-seed to win the first Cup in Thunderbolts history. Few anticipated a repeat run despite a strong regular season: 69 points and fourth place were the best ever for the franchise – one victory shy of matching the 2022-23 team with 32.
Evansville needed overtime in Game 3 at Ford Center to beat Pensacola in the opening round, trailing by two goals late in regulation. It later dispatched Roanoke in four during the semifinals. The final step came after losing the first two at Peoria nearly two weeks ago.
"Everyone said (last year) was a fluke," Captain Matthew Hobbs said. "There was a lot on the line for us. To prove to everybody that we earned it last year and earned it again this year. We're making something good here. We proved to everybody that this trophy is ours."
Evansville swept Peoria at Ford Center, 2-1 on May 6 and 3-1 on May 7, to force a deciding Game 5. It was tied 2-2 in the second period before the Thunderbolts ripped off three straight goals. The Rivermen got back within 5-4 with under six minutes remaining before Derek Contessa found the back of the net at 18:02 for a needed two-score cushion.
Hobbs was awarded Playoff MVP honors with 10 points (one goal, nine assists) and a plus-10 rating across 12 playoff games. Evan Miller had a team-high six goals in the playoffs, and Aaron Huffnagle matched Hobbs with 10 points. Isaac Chapman scored twice in the clinching Game 5 victory. Kristian Stead played all 12 games in net with a 2.09 goals against average and a .933 save percentage.
Your 2026 President’s Cup Champions!🏆#LetsGoBolts | #WhoseHousepic.twitter.com/SMZEb970JO
— Evansville Thunderbolts Hockey (@evvthunderbolts) May 11, 2026
Evansville is 10-1 on home ice in the playoffs over the last two seasons.
"We've been trying to beat (Peoria) since I came in the league," Huffnagle said. "Then you get there Game 5 and kind of take on the villain role. We ran with it. We never got too high or too low. We came home after Game 2 and thought, 'You still have to beat us three times.' We kind of felt like we're that team that you can't kill."
The immediate focus is on what Evansville accomplished. The franchise had never won a playoff series (the 2019-20 season was cut short, and the Thunderbolts sat out the following year) until 2024. It's now rocketed up into rarified air within the SPHL and earned deserved respect.
There was already talk inside Ford Center about running it back. No SPHL team has won three in a row.
"We're building a good culture here," Hobbs said. "Taking our job seriously every day. I think we're the hardest-working team in the league, and that's the reason why we've got two wins. My mindset is getting a third."
Kyle Sokeland is a sports reporter for the Courier & Press. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @kylesokeland or email at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Evansville Thunderbolts win back-to-back SPHL hockey championships