Thunderbolts Win The President's Cup!
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Birmingham Bulls | Pelham Civic Complex Click to watch live | ||
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Quad City Storm | Ford Center Click to watch live | ||
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Huntsville Havoc | Ford Center Click to watch live |
Latest News
Thunderbolts Sign Forward Connor Tait
Evansville, In.: The Evansville Thunderbolts and Head Coach/Director of Hockey Operations Jeff Bes are pleased to announce the signing of forward Connor Tait for the 2025-26 season. The Thunderbolts will raise their President’s Cup Championship banner prior to their 2025-26 home opener at Ford Center on Saturday, October 25th against the Quad City Storm.
Tait joins the Thunderbolts following three seasons at Plymouth State University from 2022-2025, where he was a member of Plymouth State’s conference championship teams of 2023 and 2024. Tait, a native of Boyds, Maryland, was one of Plymouth State’s most prolific scoring forwards in his time with the team, scoring 42 goals and 83 points in 73 regular season games following a two game stint with the University of New England in 2021-22. Prior to college, Tait played four seasons of college prep hockey with the Jersey Hitmen and New Jersey Rockets of the NCDC, scoring 49 goals and 116 points in 155 games between 2017-2021.
“Speaking with Coach Bes, I knew that the energy surrounding this organization would make it an awesome place to play,” commented Tait when asked about his decision to sign with the Thunderbolts. Tait went on to say: “I have heard nothing but great things about the organization and the city of Evansville. The Thunderbolts being the reigning champs made the decision even easier for me, I take pride in success as a team, not just individually, and the Thunderbolts have developed a winning culture on and off the ice that I strive to be a part of.” When asked about his style of play, Tait replied: “I like to think of myself as a guy who can make plays anywhere on the ice. I hold myself to a high standard in all three zones and strive to play a full 200-foot game night in and night out.” Looking ahead to the quickly approaching season, Tait concluded by saying: “I am honored and extremely excited to be joining the Evansville Thunderbolts. This is an amazing opportunity, and I am looking forward to contributing to the team’s success both on and off the ice. I can’t wait to get started, work hard, and contribute however I can!”
On signing Tait, Head Coach Jeff Bes commented: “Connor is a big power forward who plays a strong 200-foot game. He has the ability to score goals and produce points while also being very aware of his defensive responsibilities. Connor is a mature player, has high hockey IQ, and the work ethic to compete every day. I predict Connor will become a fan favorite here in Evansville!”
Season tickets and single game 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
Latest News
Thunderbolts Sign Defenseman Colin Tracy
Evansville, In.: The Evansville Thunderbolts and Head Coach/Director of Hockey Operations Jeff Bes are pleased to announce the signing of defenseman Colin Tracy for the 2025-26 season. The Thunderbolts will raise their President’s Cup Championship banner prior to their 2025-26 home opener at Ford Center on Saturday, October 25th against the Quad City Storm.
Tracy joins the Thunderbolts following five seasons of college hockey at Plymouth State University between 2020-2025, where he was a member of Plymouth State’s conference championship teams of 2023 and 2024. Tracy scored 5 goals and 35 points while recording a very strong +37 rating in 93 regular season games at Plymouth State and served as team captain in the 2023-24 season. Born in Manchester, New Hampshire, Tracy played the entirety of his hockey career from high school to college in his home state. At Bow High School from 2015-2017, Tracy scored 9 goals and 45 points in 33 games, before joining the Seacoast Spartans club in 2017-18, scoring 3 goals and 17 points in 49 games. Tracy played two final seasons of junior hockey with the New Hampshire Avalanche of the EHL, scoring 7 goals and 34 points in 66 games between 2018-2020, before enrolling at Plymouth State.
On signing with Evansville, Tracy commented: “I chose to sign with Evansville because I wanted to be a part of a winning team with a great culture and fanbase around them. I have heard that the team is really close, like a family, and the guys are serious competitors who expect the best from each other day in and day out.” Commenting on his style of play on the blue line, Tracy said: “I would describe myself as a hard-nosed two-way defenseman who likes to be play physical and move the puck.” In closing, Tracy looked ahead to 2025-26 by saying: “I am extremely excited to be coming to Evansville and joining the Thunderbolts. I hope to add whatever I can to the team both on the ice and off!”
On adding Tracy, Head Coach Jeff Bes commented: “I just enjoy the way Colin plays the game. He is a smart, hard working player who competes every single time he is on the ice. He is a high character player, a player that will do anything to contribute to our team’s success. He is a little bit of a throwback, he can play strong defense and contribute offensively as well.”
Season tickets and single game 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
Latest News
Thunderbolts Sign Defenseman John Woernle
Evansville, In.: The Evansville Thunderbolts and Head Coach/Director of Hockey Operations Jeff Bes are pleased to announce the signing of defenseman John Woernle for the 2025-26 season. The Thunderbolts begin the 2025-26 season and raise their President’s Cup Championship banner at Ford Center on Saturday, October 25th against the Quad City Storm.
Woernle, a native of Wellesley, Massachusetts, joins the Thunderbolts following four seasons of college hockey at Assumption University between 2021-2025. With Assumption, Woernle scored 7 goals and 60 points in 108 regular season games, earned conference Defensive Player of the Year and First Team All-Conference honors in 2023-24, and was twice part of Assumption’s conference championship teams in 2021-22 and 2023-24. Prior to college, Woernle played two seasons of junior hockey with the EHL’s New England Wolves, scoring 6 goals and 24 points in 84 games.
“I think I’m a really solid skating 200-foot defenseman that handles pucks well and can contribute offensively, while also being reliable in the defensive zone,” replied Woernle when asked about his style of play. On his decision to sign with Evansville, Woernle commented: “I had some really good talks with Coach Bes, and everyone I talked to mentioned what a great spot it was, that they treat you like a pro and that the team is a contender each and every year, everyone had nothing but good things to say about the organization. Pair that with the facilities and all that the Thunderbolts have to offer, and it was a no-brainer. I’m really excited to get out there and join a winning culture in Evansville!”
“John is a player that has been on my radar for some time, I am pleased that he is joining our team this season” commented Head Coach Jeff Bes in response to signing Woernle. Coach Bes continued: “He skates very well, is a solid defender, but can also contribute offensively. He has really good vision and passing skills which give him the ability to control the play and quarterback on the power play.”
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
Latest News
Thunderbolts Re-Sign Defenseman Joey Berkopec
Evansville, In.: The Evansville Thunderbolts and Head Coach/Director of Hockey Operations Jeff Bes are pleased to announce the re-signing of defenseman Joey Berkopec for the 2025-26 season. The Thunderbolts begin the 2025-26 season and raise their President’s Cup Championship banner at Ford Center on Saturday, October 25th against the Quad City Storm.
Berkopec joined the Thunderbolts as a free agent prior to the 2024-25 season after beginning his professional career with the Macon Mayhem in 2023-24. In the 2024-25 regular season, Berkopec scored 2 goals and 13 points while registering a +2 rating in 54 games, and played in all in seven playoff games, providing strong defensive coverage in Evansville’s run to the President’s Cup with a +4 rating. Berkopec’s 54 games played were the most amongst all Thunderbolts defensemen and tied for most amongst all Evansville skaters alongside forwards Logan vande Meerakker and Matt Dorsey. In two total SPHL seasons between Macon and Evansville, the Oakville, Ontario native has scored 4 goals and 18 points in 96 regular season games.
“Winning a championship with this group was special, and it’s something I’ll never forget. The support from the fans, the atmosphere in the (Ford Center), it was electric all season long,” commented Berkopec when discussing his first year with the Thunderbolts. In preparation for his second season with Evansville, Berkopec continued: “My job is not done in Evansville, I’m focused on continuing to grow my game and taking the next step as a player. I can’t wait to get back to work with the guys, I want to continue to build on what we accomplished last season and help bring another championship to Evansville.”
“We are excited to bring Joey back this season,” commented Coach Bes, who further highlighted Berkopec’s play in 2024-25 by saying: “He is such a good skater and defender, who had a solid regular season, but was exceptional in the playoffs. He found another gear in his game, his confidence grew, and he was dominant against other teams’ top players. We’re looking forward to Berks continuing his success this 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
Latest News
Thunderbolts Re-Sign Forward Scott Kirton
Evansville, In.: The Evansville Thunderbolts and Head Coach/Director of Hockey Operations Jeff Bes are pleased to announce the re-signing of forward Scott Kirton, who will take on an expanded role with the team in 2025-26. The Thunderbolts begin the 2025-26 season and raise their President’s Cup Championship banner at Ford Center on Saturday, October 25th against the Quad City Storm.
The 2025-26 season will be Kirton’s fifth season with Evansville, and he will take on added responsibility in the upcoming year, including assisting in practice, video breakdown, and more. The native of Scarborough, Ontario, who has played his entire SPHL career with the Thunderbolts, is the franchise’s all-time leader in goals (66), points (145), power play goals (16), and game-winning goals (9), while also ranking 2nd all-time in regular season games played (159), assists (79), and shorthanded goals (4). In 2024-25, Kirton recorded 14 goals and 40 points in 47 regular season games, before adding a goal and 4 points in Evansville’s playoff run to the President’s Cup. Kirton also suited up in 5 games with the ECHL’s Cincinnati Cyclones, bringing his ECHL career total to 35 games with Cincinnati, Norfolk, Newfoundland, and Maine, scoring 1 goal and 4 points. Prior to turning pro with Evansville in 2021-22, Kirton played four seasons of college hockey at the University of Toronto from 2017-2021, preceded by three seasons of junior hockey with the OJHL’s Whitby Fury from 2014-2017.
Reflecting on his four previous seasons with Evansville culminating in the President’s Cup championship, Kirton commented: “I have seen my fair share of highs and lows, winning the Cup being the highest high. To win the President’s Cup on home ice was so special, as one of the more veteran players I felt so proud of getting the job done here in Evansville.” Looking forward to helping the Thunderbolts defend their title, Kirton continued: “Our goal hasn’t changed a bit, it is to win back-to-back President’s Cups. The only thing that has changed is that now we have a bigger target on our backs, everyone will want to beat us even more. I am hoping to increase offensive production both personally, as well as from a team standpoint, particularly with getting our power play rolling at a higher percentage.” In closing, Kirton finished by saying: “I am excited to get back to Evansville and get the season going. Summer is always great, and being back home in Toronto with my friends and family has been nice, but I’m looking forward to training camp and another big season for our team!”
“Having Scott Kirton return for his fifth season with the Thunderbolts is such a positive for our team and for the community” commented Head Coach Jeff Bes. On Kirton’s role in the upcoming season, Coach Bes continued: “With his experience and knowledge, the natural progression is for him to take on more responsibility within our team. As a player, we continue to expect Scottie to be one of the top players in the league, and with this expanded role, I am excited to have Scottie assist me on the coaching aspect this season as well.”
Season and single-game 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
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The
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Team roster
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Experiences
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Fan Experiences