Contessa Scores Twice in Loss to Rivermen

Evansville, In.:  It was a big night for Derek Contessa, who scored multiple goals for the first time as a Thunderbolt, however it was a rough night overall as the Thunderbolts fell 8-4 to the Rivermen on Saturday night at Ford Center. The Thunderbolts’ next home game will be on Friday, January 24th against the Pensacola Ice Flyers at 7:05pm CT.

In a great start for Evansville, Contessa opened the scoring with an unassisted power play goal at 2:27.  Minutes later, Matthew Hobbs scored at 5:31 on a net-front play from Tyson Gilmour and Nolan McElhaney to make it 2-0 Evansville.  At 11:39, Contessa deflected in his second goal of the game, assisted by McElhaney and Vili Vesalainen to extend Evansville’s lead to 3-0.  The tide turned as the Rivermen scored a power play goal at 13:01, scored by Jordan Ernst to cut the lead to 3-1.  Ernst scored again at 15:00 to make it a 3-2 game with Evansville holding the lead to the intermission.  In the second period, goals by Carson Baptiste at 2:39, Ernst at 5:07, Baptiste again at 7:50, and Ernst again on a power play at 14:18 put the Rivermen ahead 6-3.  At 14:45, Brendan Harrogate cut the deficit to 6-4 off a face-off from Myles Abbate and Matt Dorsey to get Evansville back within two goals, the goal also extending Harrogate’s point streak to eight consecutive games.  The Rivermen put the game away in the third period with additional power play goals from Baptiste and Ernst to round out the 8-4 final score.

Contessa finished with two goals, Hobbs and Harrogate scored on goal each, and McElhaney tallied a pair of assists.  In goal, Cole Ceci finished with 26 saves on 34 shots.  The Thunderbolts and Rivermen meet again on Friday, January 17th at Peoria Civic Center, face-off set for 7:15pm CT.

Individual game tickets and group packages are on sale for the 2024-25 season.  Season tickets for the 2025-26 season are on sale now.  Call 812-422-BOLT(2658) or visit our website (www.evansvillethunderbolts.com) for details.

About Evansville Thunderbolts: The Evansville Thunderbolts is the area’s only professional hockey team. The Thunderbolts are a proud member of the SPHL.  The team is owned and operated by VW Sports, L.L.C, a subsidiary of VenuWorks, Inc. www.evansvillethunderbolts.com

Ceci Leads Thunderbolts to 5-1 Win Over Quad City

Evansville, In.:  It was a stellar night in goal for Cole Ceci, who turned away almost every big Storm scoring chance in the first two periods before the Thunderbolts pulled away with three late goals in a 5-1 victory over Quad City on Friday night at Ford Center. The Thunderbolts’ next home game will be on Saturday, January 4th against the Peoria Rivermen at 7:05pm CT.

Following some big saves in the first few minutes from Ceci, the Thunderbolts gained the first lead 6:35 into the first period, scored off a rebound by Brady Lynn and assisted by Nolan McElhaney and Jordan Simoneau.  Quad City converted on an early second period opportunity, tying the game 1-1 on a goal from Leif Mattson at 2:34.  Following several saves by Ceci to keep the game tied, Evansville grabbed a 2-1 lead as Matthew Hobbs scored unassisted on a 2-on-1 rush at 6:59.  Late in the third period, Myles Abbate scored on a penalty shot at 16:03 to make it a 3-1 game, followed by an empty net goal from Brendan Harrogate, who scored at 18:05 from Abbate and Tyson Gilmour to further gap the lead to 4-1 and extend Harrogate’s point streak to 7 consecutive games.  At 18:40, the Thunderbolts made it 5-1 as Gilmour scored on another 2-on-1 break, assisted by Lynn and McElhaney.

Gilmour, Abbate, and Lynn scored a goal and assist each, Harrogate and Hobbs finished with one goal each, and McElhaney tallied a pair of assists.  In goal, Ceci finished with 21 saves on 22 shots for his 6th win of the season.  The Thunderbolts and Storm meet again on Friday, February 14th at Ford Center, face-off set for 7:05pm CT.

Individual game tickets and group packages are on sale for the 2024-25 season.  Season tickets for the 2025-26 season are on sale now.  Call 812-422-BOLT(2658) or visit our website (www.evansvillethunderbolts.com) for details.

About Evansville Thunderbolts: The Evansville Thunderbolts is the area’s only professional hockey team. The Thunderbolts are a proud member of the SPHL.  The team is owned and operated by VW Sports, L.L.C, a subsidiary of VenuWorks, Inc. www.evansvillethunderbolts.com

Ceci Leads Thunderbolts to 5-1 Win Over Quad City

Evansville, In.:  It was a stellar night in goal for Cole Ceci, who turned away almost every big Storm scoring chance in the first two periods before the Thunderbolts pulled away with three late goals in a 5-1 victory over Quad City on Friday night at Ford Center. The Thunderbolts’ next home game will be on Saturday, January 4th against the Peoria Rivermen at 7:05pm CT.

Following some big saves in the first few minutes from Ceci, the Thunderbolts gained the first lead 6:35 into the first period, scored off a rebound by Brady Lynn and assisted by Nolan McElhaney and Jordan Simoneau.  Quad City converted on an early second period opportunity, tying the game 1-1 on a goal from Leif Mattson at 2:34.  Following several saves by Ceci to keep the game tied, Evansville grabbed a 2-1 lead as Matthew Hobbs scored unassisted on a 2-on-1 rush at 6:59.  Late in the third period, Myles Abbate scored on a penalty shot at 16:03 to make it a 3-1 game, followed by an empty net goal from Brendan Harrogate, who scored at 18:05 from Abbate and Tyson Gilmour to further gap the lead to 4-1 and extend Harrogate’s point streak to 7 consecutive games.  At 18:40, the Thunderbolts made it 5-1 as Gilmour scored on another 2-on-1 break, assisted by Lynn and McElhaney.

Gilmour, Abbate, and Lynn scored a goal and assist each, Harrogate and Hobbs finished with one goal each, and McElhaney tallied a pair of assists.  In goal, Ceci finished with 21 saves on 22 shots for his 6th win of the season.  The Thunderbolts and Storm meet again on Friday, February 14th at Ford Center, face-off set for 7:05pm CT.

Individual game tickets and group packages are on sale for the 2024-25 season.  Season tickets for the 2025-26 season are on sale now.  Call 812-422-BOLT(2658) or visit our website (www.evansvillethunderbolts.com) for details.

About Evansville Thunderbolts: The Evansville Thunderbolts is the area’s only professional hockey team. The Thunderbolts are a proud member of the SPHL.  The team is owned and operated by VW Sports, L.L.C, a subsidiary of VenuWorks, Inc. www.evansvillethunderbolts.com

Thunderbolts Sign Goaltender Reid Cooper; Taylor to ECHL

On Friday, the Thunderbolts and Head Coach/Director of Hockey Operations Jeff Bes announced the signing of goaltender Reid Cooper to a standard contract.

Cooper appeared in one game with the Pensacola Ice Flyers earlier this season, as well as a game with the Macon Mayhem, played in Evansville against the Thunderbolts on November 9^th in which he stopped 16 of 18 shots.  Cooper has more recently been playing with the Port Huron Prowlers of the FPHL, recording a 3-1-1 record with a .908% save percentage in 9 games played this season.  The Corman Park, Saskatchewan native played two seasons of junior hockey in the BCHL with Coquitlam and Salmon Arm before beginning his college career with Robert Morris University, appearing in 11 games between 2018-2021 before transferring to Curry College for 2021-2023, taking on the starting role and amassing a 32-11-3 record along with a .929% save percentage in 46 games, earning All-Conference First Team and AHCA Second Team All-American honors in 2022-23.  Cooper also appeared as an emergency backup goaltender for the NHL's Washington Capitals during the 2022-23 season and later played 6 games with the ECHL's South Carolina Stingrays in 2023-24, posting a 3-1 record with an .866% save percentage in 6 games.

Thunderbolts Host 5,000+ for New Year's Eve Game

Evansville, In.:  Despite the end result being a 5-1 loss to the Huntsville Havoc, the over 5,000 fans that came out to Ford Center on Tuesday night were treated to some fireworks on the ice, as well as a magnificent fireworks show above the ice after the game. The Thunderbolts’ next home game will be on Friday, January 3rd against the Quad City Storm at 7:05pm CT.

Some early excitement came as a result of a solid fight for captain Matthew Hobbs, getting the better of Huntsville’s Matt Allen only 2:09 into the game.  Despite outshooting Huntsville 15-10 in the opening frame, it was the Havoc who took a 2-0 lead off goals from Connor Fries and Giovanni Procopio.  In the second period, goals from Buster Larsson and Jack Jaunich extended the Huntsville lead to 4-0, before the Thunderbolts got on the scoreboard with Brendan Harrogate’s team-leading 10th goal of the season, assisted by Tyson Gilmour and Grayson Valente.  Evansville heavily led the third period shots 12-4, however the Havoc managed to add one final goal from Charlie Risk, 5-1 Havoc the final score.

Harrogate finished with Evansville’s goal, while Cole Ceci finished with 24 saves on 29 shots.  The Thunderbolts and Havoc meet again on Friday, March 28th at Von Braun Center, face-off set for 7:05pm CT.

Individual game tickets, group packages, and season tickets are on sale for the 2024-25 season.  Call 812-422-BOLT or visit our all-new website (www.evansvillethunderbolts.com) for details.

About Evansville Thunderbolts: The Evansville Thunderbolts is the area’s only professional hockey team. The Thunderbolts are a proud member of the SPHL.  The team is owned and operated by VW Sports, L.L.C, a subsidiary of VenuWorks, Inc. www.evansvillethunderbolts.com