Thunderbolts Re-Sign Captain Matthew Hobbs

Evansville, In.: The Evansville Thunderbolts and Head Coach/Director of Hockey Operations Jeff Bes are pleased to announce the re-signing of captain Matthew Hobbs 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.

Hobbs captained the Thunderbolts to their first President’s Cup title in 2024-25, his third full season with Evansville and first as team captain. In the 2024-25 regular season, Hobbs scored 12 goals and 24 points in 49 games, adding three assists in seven playoff games. 4 of his 12 goals were game-winning goals, which were the most amongst the Thunderbolts and tied for 6th-best around the SPHL. Since the 2021-22 season, when he was acquired late in his first professional season from the Birmingham Bulls, the Burlington, Ontario native has scored 28 goals and 66 points in 151 regular season games with Evansville, along with 1 goal and 8 points in 16 career playoff games.

“The experience of this past playoff run to the Cup is hard to put into words,” replied Hobbs when asked to reflect on this past season’s playoff success. “We had such a great group of guys on and off the ice, we battled together all year through the ups and downs, that’s what made us so tough to play against in the playoffs. In my fourth trip to the playoffs with Evansville, I’m glad we were able to finally bring the Cup to our amazing fan base, hoisting the Cup in the Fordo (Ford Center) was an amazing feeling.” Turning the page to 2025-26, Hobbs continued: “My goals for the upcoming season will be to continue the hard-nosed, tough style we play that has made us successful, help the new guys be the best players and best people they can be, and of course, lift the Cup again at the end of the season. I can’t wait to be back on the ice at Ford Center with the best fans in the league, I’m already counting down the days.”

“I am thrilled that Matt is returning for another season,” replied Head Coach Jeff Bes when asked to comment on the signing of Hobbs. “He is the leader of our team both on and off the ice. Matt’s work ethic is top level and contagious, which makes everyone around him and the team better. We are aligned in our goal of bringing another championship season to the loyal fans in Evansville, and just like last season, it’s a great start to our team with signing Hobbs”.

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

2025-26 Theme Nights

The Thunderbolts announce the official theme nights for the upcoming 2025-26 season! All games are played at the Ford Center. Opponents & Times are TBA.

To purchase season tickets or bring a group of 10+ to any of these nights, please give us a call at 812-422-BOLT or visit our website at evansvillethunderbolts.com!

Sat. Oct 25 - Champions Night (Specialty Jersey Auction Post-Game)
Tues. Oct 28 - Education Day
Fri. Oct 31 - Halloween
Sat. Nov 1 - Disco Night
Fri. Nov 7 - Military Appreciation Night (Specialty Jersey Auction Post-Game)
Fri. Nov 14 - Free Kids Friday/Mascot Night
Fri. Nov 21 - First Responders Night
Sat. Nov 22 - Toy Story Night (Specialty Jersey Auction Post-Game)
Fri. Dec 5 - Teddy Bear Toss
Sat. Dec 6 - A Mickey Mouse Christmas (Specialty Jersey Auction Post-Game)
Sat. Dec 20 - Hockey Holidays
Wed. Dec 31 - New Year's Eve (Jersey Auction Post-Game)
Fri. Jan 2 - Rebrand Weekend
Sat. Jan 3 - Rebrand Weekend (Specialty Jersey Auction Post-Game)
Wed. Jan 14 - White Out Wednesday
Fri. Jan 23 - Faith Night
Sat. Jan 24 - Star Wars Night (Specialty Jersey Auction Post-Game)
Wed. Feb 4 - White Out Wednesday
Fri. Feb 13 - Jurassic Night
Sat. Feb 21 - Hockey Fights Cancer (Specialty Jersey Auction Post-Game)
Sun. Feb 22 - Sunday Funday
Fri. Feb 27 - $3 Tallboys
Sun. Mar 8 - Princess & Pirates
Fri. Mar 13 - Lilo & Stitch (Specialty Jersey Auction Post-Game)
Sun. Mar 15 - Sunday Funday
Sat. Mar 21 - Pucks & Paws
Fri. Mar 27 - Superhero Night
Fri. Apr 3 - Country Night
Sat. Apr 4 - Fan Appreciation Night (Jersey Auction Post-Game)

2025-26 Home Dates

The Thunderbolts announce the official home dates for the upcoming 2025-26 season! All games are played at the Ford Center. Opponents, Times & Theme Nights are TBA.

To purchase season tickets or bring a group of 10+ to any of these nights, please give us a call at 812-422-BOLT or visit our website at evansvillethunderbolts.com!

Sat. Oct 25
Tues. Oct 28
Fri. Oct 31
Sat. Nov 1
Fri. Nov 7
Fri. Nov 14
Fri. Nov 21
Sat. Nov 22
Fri. Dec 5
Sat. Dec 6
Sat. Dec 20
Wed. Dec 31
Fri. Jan 2
Sat. Jan 3
Wed. Jan 14
Fri. Jan 23
Sat. Jan 24
Wed. Feb 4
Fri. Feb 13
Sat. Feb 21
Sun. Feb 22
Fri. Feb 27
Sun. Mar 8
Fri. Mar 13
Sun. Mar 15
Sat. Mar 21
Fri. Mar 27
Fri. Apr 3
Sat. Apr 4

2025 Evansville Thunderbolts Protected List

Evansville, In.: Nearly two weeks after winning the first President’s Cup Championship in franchise history, preparation for the Thunderbolts’ 2025-26 title defense season officially got underway on Tuesday as the protected players list was unveiled.

Eight forwards were included on the protected list, Scott Kirton, Tyson Gilmour, Logan vande Meerakker, Myles Abbate, Isaac Chapman, Aidan Litke, Jordan Simoneau, and Derek Contessa. Four defensemen were protected, Cameron MacPhee, Bronson Adams, Will van der Veen, and Anthony Hora. Goaltender Cole Ceci holds the final spot on the protected list. The Thunderbolts will hold exclusive SPHL signing rights to the protected players through the entirety of the 2025-26 season. Players who were not protected are still able to re-sign with the Thunderbolts, as several unprotected players did going into 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

It's Ours! Thunderbolts Defeat Knoxville in Overtime to Win the President's Cup

Evansville, In.: The Thunderbolts’ incredible run through the President’s Cup Playoffs came to a victorious end on Thursday night at Ford Center, with Aidan Litke’s overtime goal completing the sweep of the Knoxville Ice Bears in the final series, as the Thunderbolts captured their first-ever President’s Cup Championship.

Late in the first period, the Thunderbolts grabbed the game’s first lead as Logan vande Meerakker scored on the rush on a power play at 19:14 from Nolan McElhaney.  Following a relatively low-event second period, the Ice Bears tied the game 1-1 as Brendan Dowler scored 2:25 into the third period of play.  In overtime, unlike Wednesday night’s Game One in Knoxville which required double overtime, it took only 1:30 for Litke to score the golden goal, as Ethan Price fed Litke with a pass from the near corner to the net-front, where Litke sniped the puck over Knoxville goaltender Stephen Mundinger to finish the climb to the top of the mountain, with captain Matthew Hobbs fittingly earning a secondary assist on the goal as well.  After losing Game One of the first round of the playoffs at Huntsville in overtime, the Thunderbolts did not lose again, finishing the postseason with an astounding 6-0-1 record, the 6-game win streak also being their first since 2019-20, coming in the best possible time of the year.  In goal for every game of the playoffs and finishing with an astronomical .962% save percentage, Cole Ceci was awarded Playoff MVP Honors. 

Vande Meerakker and Litke finished with one goal each, while Ceci finished with 29 saves on 30 shots.  There will be a special rally on the Ford Center Plaza on Tuesday, April 29th from 6:00pm to 8:00pm to celebrate the Thunderbolts’ President’s Cup Championship.

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