Lightning strikes twice: Thunderbolts win back-to-back President’s Cup finals

TL;DR

The Evansville Thunderbolts won the President’s Cup finals for the second consecutive year, showcasing their resilience and belief in their abilities. Captain Matthew Hobbs and Right Winger Jordan Simoneau emphasized the team's confidence throughout the series.

Key points

Evansville Thunderbolts win President’s Cup finals again
Team displayed resilience and confidence
Captain Matthew Hobbs emphasized belief in the team
Right Winger Jordan Simoneau spoke about their mindset
Thunderbolts achieved back-to-back championships

Mentioned in this story

Matthew HobbsJordan Simoneau

Evansville Thunderbolts

EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WEHT) — Some stories just write themselves, and that’s the case for what the Evansville Thunderbolts just accomplished this week.

“They have a great group, but I think we have a resilient group, and we knew we would come in here and win this game,” says Thunderbolts Captain Matthew Hobbs.

It was that unwavering belief that helped lightning strike twice for the bolts.

“We had a quote up in our room these last three games and it’s, we know what they have, we know we have more,” says Thunderbolts Right Winger Jordan Simoneau. “We just had to believe in ourselves. After those first two games there was never a doubt.”

Many on the outside had their doubts. Evansville found itself in a 2-0 hole, a deficit no SPHL team has climbed out of in finals history going against the best team in the league, one that was 9 points clear of second place but none of the attention was on the bigger picture.

“Short term focus,” says Head Coach Jeff Bes. “We wanted to win the first five minutes on Wednesday and then carry on and win the next five. That mindset was what was really successful for us.”

That mindset isn’t formed overnight. The Thunderbolts have been flying together for some time now.

The core of this team was a part of the championship group in 2025 that now has become just the fourth team in league history to repeat as champions.

“The last few years I have been very fortunate to have such a great group of guys,” says Hobbs. “It’s a group of guys where anyone here could wear a letter. It makes my job a lot easier having leaders around me. I could go through the whole lineup; I have a lot of help around me.”

When you’ve been there before, you also know how to celebrate with one another.

“We’re going to go in and probably drink a beer,” says Bes. “I’m not going to lie to you. We’re going to celebrate, we’re going to enjoy this, we’re going to savor this and have a lot of fun.”

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Q&A

How did the Evansville Thunderbolts win the President’s Cup finals?

The Thunderbolts won the finals by demonstrating resilience and strong belief in their abilities, as highlighted by team leaders.

Who are the key players for the Thunderbolts in the finals?

Captain Matthew Hobbs and Right Winger Jordan Simoneau were key players, providing leadership and motivation for the team.

What does winning back-to-back President’s Cups mean for the Thunderbolts?

Winning back-to-back President’s Cups solidifies the Thunderbolts' status as a dominant team in their league and showcases their consistent performance.