Thunderbolts set to host championship rally

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EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WEHT) — After winning their second President’s Cup in a row, the Evansville Thunderbolts are hosting a championship rally in the Ford Center Tuesday night.

Join us tomorrow – Tuesday, May 12th from 6:00-8:00 pm on the Ford Center Arena Floor to celebrate the back to back championship with the team!

Fans will enter in the main doors of the Ford Center! No ticket required!#LetsGoBolts | #WhoseHousepic.twitter.com/dtWQxa4x0i

— Evansville Thunderbolts Hockey (@evvthunderbolts) May 11, 2026

The Bolts stormed back to beat the Peoria Rivemen in the Southern Professional Hockey League Finals after trailing the series (2-0). Game five was a different style of play compared to the rest in the series, with Evansville coming out on top 6-4 in the high scoring affair. The win solidified the Thunderbolts among an elite group of professional teams to win back-to-back championships.

“Win two championships and win back-to-back, if i was a betting man come on let’s get real. right?” said head coach, Jeff Bes. “It’s so hard to do and if I can bottle it, and sell it I’d be a millionaire right now.”

The team said the fans that made the trip to Peoria from Evansville made the deciding game five feel like a home game. While the performance on the ice was just a special team doing special things.

Bes said, “May not have the top goal scorer, may not have the top defenseman, you know we have really good goaltending, I’ll be honest with you on that. You know and that goes to show our structure, but you know everybody bought in to what we wanted to do to be successful. And sometimes having that group and having that belief is what shows and shows you can compete and you can win.”

President’s Cup MVP and team captain, Matthew Hobbs said he can’t wait to celebrate with the fans and then get back to work with hopes or repeating again.

“I think we’re building a good culture here you know,” he said. “Taking our job seriously every day, working hard. I think we’re the hardest working team in the league and I think that’s the reason we’ve got two wins. Now my mindset is on getting a third one.”

The championship rally will be held in the Ford Center, Tuesday, May 12th, from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.

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