Thunderbolts Sign Forward Nolan Dawson to PTO

On Thursday, the Thunderbolts and Head Coach/Director of Hockey Operations Jeff Bes announced the signing of forward Nolan Dawson to a Professional Tryout (PTO).

Dawson turns professional with the Thunderbolts from Western New England University, where he just completed his five year collegiate career.  This season, the native of Airdrie, Alberta scored 6 goals and 15 points in 20 games while also serving as alternate captain, with his 15 points tied for the most on the team and his 6 goals tied for 2nd most.  Dawson played with Western New England between 2023-2025, preceded by two seasons at Curry College between 2021-2023 and one season at Saint Mary’s University in 2020-21.  In 89 total collegiate games, Dawson scored 16 goals and 41 points.  Prior to college, Dawson played four seasons of Junior A hockey in Canada between 2016-2020 with the AJHL’s Calgary Mustangs, Drayton Valley Thunder and Old Grizzlys, the SJHL’s La Ronge Ice Wolves, and the MJHL’s OCN Blizzard, Virden Oil Capitals and Selkirk Steelers, scoring 25 goals and 73 points in 170 Junior A games.

Thunderbolts sign Defenseman Jurgeneit; Waive Eriksson

On Wednesday, the Thunderbolts and Head Coach/Director of Hockey Operations Jeff Bes announced a pair of transactions, led by the signing of defenseman Jake Jurgeneit.

Jurgeneit joins the Thunderbolts following the conclusion of his fourth collegiate season at Trinity Western University in British Columbia.  The native of Simcoe, Ontario scored 2 goals and 9 points in 93 total games between 2021-2025.  Prior to college, Jurgeneit played three seasons of junior hockey in the CCHL between 2017-2020 with the Rockland Nationals, Navan Grads, and Nepean Riders, scoring a goal and 17 points in 159 games.

In additional transaction news, defenseman Robin Eriksson has been placed on waivers. 

Gilmour/Ceci Named SPHL Co-Players of the Week

HUNTERSVILLE, NC (February 18, 2025) – The SPHL announced today that Cole Ceci and Tyson Gilmour of the Evansville Thunderbolts have been named the Warrior SPHL Co-Players of the Week for February 10-16.

In leading the Thunderbolts to a pair of wins, Ceci went 2-0-0 with a 2.00 goals against average and a 0.934 save percentage while Gilmour scored three goals, including one game-winner, and was +3.

On Friday, Gilmour opened the scoring with a goal midway through the second period and closed it with the game-winner with seven minutes remaining while Ceci made 29 saves in Evansville’s 3-2 win over Quad City. Ceci stopped 28 of 30 Peoria shots and Gilmour netted his third goal of the weekend in a 4-2 win over the Rivermen.

Gilmour is currently tied for second among rookies in goals (13) and game-winning goals (three) while ranking sixth in points (25 - tied). Ceci has recorded 11 wins for the Thunderbolts, with a 3.27 goals against average and 0.900 save percentage.

Jeff Bes Joins SPHL's 300 Win Club as Thunderbolts Defeat Rivermen, 4-3

Evansville, In.:  The Thunderbolts broke a 2-2 tie in the third period with two goals from Matthew Hobbs and Isaac Chapman to defeat the Peoria Rivermen 4-2 on Sunday afternoon at Ford Center, as Head Coach Jeff Bes became the 4th head coach in SPHL history to achieve 300 coaching victories.  The Thunderbolts’ next home game will be on Friday, February 28th against the Quad City Storm at 7:05pm CT.

The Rivermen took the game’s first lead, as Daniel Chartrand scored at 10:12 of the first period.  In response at 14:29, Tyson Gilmour scored at the side of the net from Logan vande Meerakker and Scott Kirton to tie the game at 1-1.  Shortly after a power play chance at 12:20 of the second period, Evansville grabbed a 2-1 lead as a shot by Cameron MacPhee deflected and arced over everybody and into the net, with assists going to Vande Meerakker and Nolan McElhaney.  During the celebration, Peoria’s Tristan Trudel punched Kirton unprovoked, and as a result Trudel was handed a match penalty and game misconduct.  In the third period, Zach Wilkie tied the game at 3:48, but Evansville again battled through adversity and retook the lead at 6:29, as Hobbs scored from Brady Lynn to give Evansville their second lead of the game.  At 10:56, Evansville gained some insurance as Chapman scored on a breakaway from Hobbs to make it 4-2 Evansville, the lead sticking following a late 6-on-5 push from Peoria.

Hobbs scored the game-winning goal plus an assist, Chapman, Gilmour, and MacPhee scored one goal each, while Vande Meerakker tallied a pair of assists.  In net, Cole Ceci finished with 28 saves on 30 shots for his 11th win of the season.  With the win, Head Coach Jeff Bes picked up his 300th SPHL win, 125 of them with Evansville, joining Glenn Detulleo (312), Jerome Bechard (368), and Jean-Guy Trudel (389) as the 4th member of the SPHL’s 300-Win Club.  The Thunderbolts and Rivermen meet for the final time this regular season on Sunday, March 30th at Ford Center.

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

Gilmour Scores Twice in Return to Lead Thunderbolts Over Storm

Evansville, In.:  Back from ECHL call-up, Tyson Gilmour picked up two goals, including the game-winner with seven minutes remaining in the third period, to lead the Thunderbolts over Quad City 3-2 on Friday night at Ford Center.  The Thunderbolts’ next home game will be on Sunday, February 16th against the Peoria Rivermen at 12:00pm CT.

                The game remained scoreless through the first period and a half, until Gilmour opened the scoring for Evansville off a cross-ice feed from Scott Kirton at 12:40 of the second period, also assisted by Logan vande Meerakker.  On the power play and following a big save by Cole Ceci on a Storm shorthanded rush, Brady Lynn extended the lead to 2-0 at 16:01, assisted by Joey Berkopec and Isaac Chapman.  Quad City mounted a comeback however, starting with Tommy Tsicos’ goal at 18:17 to make it a 2-1 game going into the second intermission.  2:58 into the third period, Tsicos scored once again off a turnover to tie the game.  With the next lead up for grabs, Gilmour scored his second goal of the game, on the rush at 12:55 from Vande Meerakker to give Evansville the 3-2 lead, which stuck after one more successful penalty kill and a late 6-on-5 push by the Storm for a big 4-point swing to propel Evansville back over Quad City in the league standings.

Gilmour scored two goals on the night, Lynn scored Evansville’s power play goal, and Vande Meerakker tallied a pair of assists.  In net, Cole Ceci finished with 29 saves on 31 shots for his 10th win of the season.  The Thunderbolts and Storm meet again on Friday, February 28th at Ford Center.

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