The Thunderbolts Acquire Aidan Litke in Trade with Birmingham

On Thursday, the Thunderbolts and Head Coach/Director of Hockey Operations Jeff Bes announced the trade acquisition of forward Aidan Litke from the Birmingham Bulls in exchange for future considerations.

Currently in his rookie professional season, Litke played 6 games with the Bulls, scoring one goal and one assist for two points.  Prior to arriving in the SPHL with Birmingham, Litke began the season in the ECHL with the Wichita Thunder and Iowa Heartlanders, skating in 8 games before joining the Bulls.  The Winnipeg, Manitoba native had a solid major junior career in the Western Hockey League, playing for the Portland Winterhawks between 2020-2023 and the Edmonton Oil Kings in 2023-24, scoring 35 goals and 78 points in 132 total regular season games, and adding a goal along with 4 points in 13 WHL playoff games.

In additional transaction news, forward Aiden Wagner has been placed on 14-Day Injured Reserve.

Thunderbolts Bounce Back in 5-2 in Macon

Macon, Ga.:  The Thunderbolts went down to Georgia for the only time this season and took care of business, responding from Friday’s loss with a statement 5-2 victory over the Mayhem in Macon on Saturday.  The Thunderbolts’ next home game will be on Friday, February 7th against the Peoria Rivermen at 7:05pm CT.

In the first period, Evansville carried over their strong finish from Friday’s game, outshooting Macon 16-8 and scoring the lone goal of the period as Scott Kirton scored with a bank shot off a Macon defender at 9:09, assisted by Logan vande Meerakker and Bronson Adams.  Evansville again heavily outshot Macon in the second period by a 23-12 margin, however the Mayhem managed to tie the game twice, starting with a power play goal by Yaroslav Yevdokimov at 4:27.  Evansville answered back at 10:45, as a Nolan McElhaney shot deflected in off a Macon player to make it 2-1 Evansville, assisted by Cameron MacPhee and Matthew Hobbs.  Macon managed to tie the game again at 15:14, with Alexei Monakhov scoring on a rebound chance.  At 18:02, Evansville took the lead back for good as Isaac Chapman scored his first professional goal on a 2-on-1 rush, assisted by Derek Contessa.  In the third period, Evansville put the game away with a pair of goals, starting at 6:48 as Matt Dorsey was left alone in front and scored, assisted by Kirton, followed by Jordan Simoneau finishing off a wrap-around chance from Hobbs and Grayson Valente at 13:44 to make it a 5-2 score.

Kirton finished with one goal and one assist, while McElhaney, Chapman, Dorsey and Simoneau each scored one goal.  Hobbs finished with a pair of assists, while Cole Ceci finished with 23 saves on 25 shots on goal for his 9th win of the season.  The Thunderbolts and Mayhem do not meet again this season, with Evansville winning the regular season series 2-1.

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, Vesalainen shine in 2-1 Thunderbolts Win over Ice Flyers

Evansville, In.:  Behind outstanding goaltending from Cole Ceci and two clutch goals from Vili Vesalainen, the Thunderbolts secured a 2-1 win over the Pensacola Ice Flyers in front of over 4,100 fans at Ford Center on Friday night. The Thunderbolts’ next home game will be on Saturday, January 25th against the Pensacola Ice Flyers at 7:05pm CT.

The first period featured no goals or power plays, but did feature a solid middleweight fight at center ice between Evansville’s Bronson Adams and Pensacola’s Sam Dabrowski.  The Thunderbolts did put the puck in the net late in the period as Vesalainen stormed the crease, however the goal was waived off due to incidental contact with Pensacola goaltender Brody Claeys.  Vesalainen found the back of the net once again in the second period, with a power play goal from Matthew Hobbs at 3:01 to put Evansville ahead officially, 1-0.  Despite facing a barrage of 15 shots on goal and several high quality opportunities in the second period, Ceci continued to stand tall to keep Pensacola at bay.  4:16 into the third period, Vesalainen struck again to extend the Thunderbolts lead to 2-0, tucking the puck around Claeys and inside the post, assisted by Nolan McElhaney and Cameron MacPhee.  With only 2 seconds remaining, Houston Wilson scored for Pensacola to spoil Ceci’s shutout, resulting in a 2-1 final, a victory regardless.

Vesalainen scored both Evansville goals while Cole Ceci finished with 37 saves on 38 shots on goal for his 8th win of the season.  The Thunderbolts and Ice Flyers meet again on Saturday, January 25th 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 Isaac Chapman to a Standard Contract

On Wednesday, the Thunderbolts and Head Coach/Director of Hockey Operations Jeff Bes announced the signing of forward Isaac Chapman to a standard contract.

Chapman turns professional with the Thunderbolts following three and a half seasons of college hockey with Norwich University in 2021-22 and Alvernia University since 2022-23.  In total, the Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia native scored 27 goals and 58 points in 75 total games between the two schools and was a teammate of Thunderbolts forward Logan vande Meerakker between 2021-2024.  In 2023-24, Vande Meerakker and Chapman finished first and second respectively in team scoring at Alvernia as linemates.  Prior to college, Chapman played three seasons of junior hockey in the MJAHL with Pictou County and Edmundston, scoring 58 goals and 105 points in 119 games between 2018-2021.

Dominant Special Teams Effort Leads Bolts Over Peoria, 4-3

Peoria, Ill.:  Behind a season-best three power play goals along with a perfect night of penalty killing, the Thunderbolts emerged in the third period to defeat the Peoria Rivermen 4-3 in Peoria on Friday night . The Thunderbolts’ next home game will be on Friday, January 24th against the Pensacola Ice Flyers at 7:05pm CT.

The Rivermen scored in the opening minute, as Jordan Ernst gave Peoria a 1-0 lead 45 seconds into the contest.  A few minutes later, the Thunderbolts gained a spark as Brady Lynn squared off against Peoria’s Frankie Trazzera, more than holding his own as he fought to a draw against the larger Trazzera.  The momentum shift helped lead to the tying goal, scored by Scott Kirton at 7:10, unassisted.  The Rivermen gained a major power play midway through the period, and although they did not score on the power play, they scored immediately afterward as Nick Gullo made it 2-1 Peoria at 16:10.  Evansville scored the second period’s lone goal, as Logan vande Meerakker scored on a major power play from Anthony Hora and Matt Dorsey to tie the game once again at 2-2.  In the third period, Evansville scored a pair of power play goals to gain a 4-2 lead, as Jordan Simoneau scored on a rebound from Lynn at 9:19, followed by a net-front deflection by Dorsey at 14:14 from Vande Meerakker and Kirton.  Peoria responded at 18:01 as Daniel Chartrand scored to make it 4-3, however the Thunderbolts held down the fort the rest of the way for the victory, their second win in Peoria this season.

Kirton, Dorsey, and Vande Meerakker each finished with one goal and assist, while Simoneau finished with one goal.  In goal, Cole Ceci finished with 15 saves on 18 shots for his 7th win of the season.  The Thunderbolts and Rivermen meet again on Saturday, January 18th 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