Thunderbolts head to SPHL finals for first time in team history
EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WEHT) — For the first time in franchise history Evansville is heading to the SPHL President's Cup finals. The Thunderbolts knocked off the top seeded Peoria Rivermen with a 3-1 victory.
Evansville finished the regular season with a 500 record, it was an uphill climb just to make the seventh seed in the playoffs.
'With 18 games left in the season we all sat down and had a discussion about what we wanted to do,' said Thunderbolts Head Coach Jeff Bes. 'And that's when we made the decision that we wanted to make the President's Cup Finals. The playoffs weren't good enough.'
A hunger and decision that didn't allow this team to quit after falling behind 1-0 in the first period against the top seeded Peoria Rivermen, Evansville didn't flinch.
'We all just had that feeling that we were going to win today,' said Thunderbolts Goalie Cole Ceci. 'Obviously it wasn't the start that we wanted but we were able to catch our bearings and everyone took a look at themselves and said, 'I have a little bit more I can bring.'
Logan Vandamaraker brought his third goal of the postseason ultimately the game winning goal that sent the bolts to the SPHL finals for the first time as a franchise.
As the focus now shifts to the final series but head coach Jeff Bes says nothing on the ice needs to change.
'We just have to keep playing the same way,' said Bes. 'We have to believe. We know we aren't the prettiest team maybe, but we are going out there to outwork them and do what we need to do to be successful and make the city of Evansville successful for us.'
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