Evansville Thunderbolts join exclusive club with repeat SPHL championship
Evansville Thunderbolts won their second straight SPHL championship by completing a 2-0 comeback over the weekend.
EVANSVILLE — What the Evansville Thunderbolts accomplished officially shed any lingering doubts. They're now one of the top franchises in the SPHL. That distinction comes after securing a spot in league history over the weekend.
The 5-seeded Thunderbolts defeated 1-seed Peoria in a five-game series to win the President's Cup for the second straight season. The repeat title comes after falling behind 2-0 and requiring a final stand in the final period of Game 5 to clinch the Cup on enemy ice. More: Vote for Courier & Press Athlete of the Week for May 4-9, presented by Orthopaedic Associates Only three others in SPHL history, which stretches over 20 years, have won back-to-back championships.
"Let's get real," Evansville coach Jeff Bes said. "It’s so hard to do. Sometimes, after you win the first one, you get a little bit of entitlement.
We fought that all season. My expectations were higher. Then, come playoff time, they were there.