Thunderbolts Sign Forward Brock McLeod to a PTO

On Friday, Head Coach/Director of Hockey Operations Jeff Bes announced several transactions, led by the signing of forward Brock McLeod to a professional tryout, the addition of defenseman Caleb Huffman, and the activation of forward Isaac Chapman from Injured Reserve.

McLeod turns pro with the Evansville Thunderbolts following the conclusion of his six-year collegiate career, playing this season at Toronto Metro University, where he scored 4 goals and 8 points in 27 regular season games before adding 3 goals along with 4 points in 6 playoff games.  The Dartmouth, Nova Scotia native played five seasons at York University between 2020-2025, where he played alongside recent Thunderbolts addition Aiden MacIntosh and Thunderbolts alumni Michael Douglas and Cole Ceci.  In 116 regular season games at York University, McLeod scored 28 goals and 63 points, also serving as team captain in the 2024-25 season.  Prior to college, McLeod played four full seasons of junior hockey split between the MJAHL's Valley Wildcats and Edmundston Blizzard as well as in the major junior level QMJHL with Sherbrooke, Charlottetown and Halifax between 2016-2020.  McLeod recorded 7 goals and 22 points in 84 regular season games in the QMJHL, along with 51 goals and 163 points in 119 regular season MJAHL games, including 25 goals and 81 points in only 48 games in the 2019-20 season with Edmundston, where he played alongside Thunderbolts forward Isaac Chapman.

In other transaction news, forward Sean Bunting has been placed on waivers.  Bunting played 6 games this season with Evansville, recording no points.

Thunderbolts Acquire Defenseman Caleb Huffman from Trade with Macon

On Friday, Head Coach/Director of Hockey Operations Jeff Bes announced several transactions, led by the signing of forward Brock McLeod to a professional tryout, the addition of defenseman Caleb Huffman, and the activation of forward Isaac Chapman from Injured Reserve.

Caleb Huffman's rights where recently acquired in a trade with the Macon Mayhem in exchange for forward Cooper Fensterstock.  Huffman is in his first full professional season, having played 26 games with the Macon Mayhem, scoring 4 goals and 9 points along with an even plus/minus rating.  Huffman turned pro late in the 2024-25 season, playing 6 games with the Wichita Thunder of the ECHL.  The native of Fairbanks, Alaska played three seasons of junior hockey in his home state with the Kenai River Brown Bears of the NAHL, recording 5 goals and 24 points in 86 regular season games and captained Kenai River in 2022-23.  Huffman enrolled at the University of Alaska-Anchorage and played a season and a half of Division 1 NCAA hockey between 2022-2024, scoring 1 goal and 2 points in 42 games before playing a final season of collegiate hockey at Simon Frasier University in British Columbia in 2024-25, scoring 3 goals and 16 points in 20 games before joining Wichita.  

In other transaction news, forward Sean Bunting has been placed on waivers.  Bunting played 6 games this season with Evansville, recording no points.

Thunderbolts Rally to Sweep Storm; Clinch Playoff Spot

Moline, Ill.:  Down 1-0 after the first period, the Thunderbolts rallied to score five-unanswered goals in the second and third periods to defeat Quad City 5-2 on Sunday afternoon at Vibrant Arena, moving back into a tie for second place and clinching their return to the President’s Cup Playoffs.  The Thunderbolts’ next home game at Ford Center will be on Friday, March 27th against the Peoria Rivermen at 7:00pm CT.

It was nearly another scoreless first period, however the Storm grabbed the first lead of the day as Brodie Girod scored on a power play in the period’s final second.  After battling to kill off another Storm power play early in the second period, the Thunderbolts found their legs and began their rally, beginning with a beautiful passing play to Anthony Mollica from Evan Miller and Aiden MacIntosh to tie the game at 10:54.   2:54 into the third period, Mollica stole the puck in the neutral zone and fed Aaron Huffnagle on a rush into the offensive zone, with Huffnagle sniping a shot top-shelf to give Evansville a 2-1 lead.  On the power play, Scott Kirton scored on a back-door pass to make it 3-1 at 9:46, assisted by MacIntosh and Joey Berkopec.  At 14:26, Miller scored to extend the lead to 4-1 off a 2-on-1 from MacIntosh and Kirton.  For good measure, Matt Clark added an unassisted empty net goal with 2:06 remaining to further build the lead up to 5-1.  The Storm got an inconsequential late bounce with Gage Dill scoring at 18:21, shortening Evansville’s final lead to a 5-2 final score.  With the victory, Evansville moved back into a tie for 2nd place with Roanoke and clinched their return to the President’s Cup Playoffs, Evansville’s sixth consecutive season finishing the regular season in playoff position.

Mollica, Miller and Kirton each scored one goal and one assist, while MacIntosh tallied three assists.  In goal, Cody Karpinski finished with 32 saves on 34 shots for his 7th win of the season.  The Thunderbolts and Storm do not meet again this regular season, with Quad City’s season series victory shortened to an 8-7 finish. 

Season tickets, Individual game tickets and group packages are on sale for the 2025-26 season.  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

MacPhee’s Last-Minute Goal Leads Thunderbolts Over Storm

Evansville, In.:  Tied 1-1 late in the third period, Cameron MacPhee’s first goal of the season came at a great time, with 28 seconds remaining, to lead the Thunderbolts over Quad City by a 2-1 score at Ford Center on Saturday night.  The Thunderbolts’ next home game at Ford Center will be on Friday, March 28th against the Peoria Rivermen at 7:00pm CT.

Following a scoreless first period, the Thunderbolts struck first at 4:06 of the second period with Evan Miller scoring off a rebound from Seth Bernard and Scott Kirton on their only power play of the game.  On Quad City’s third power play of six however, the Storm tied the game 1-1 at 8:25, with Davis Kirkendall scoring the goal deflecting a shot by Leif Mattson.  In the final 8 minutes of the third period still tied 1-1, Evansville had to fend off three consecutive Storm power plays, and the league’s top penalty kill team in Evansville proved their appropriate rank by killing off all three opportunities to keep the game tied.  Moments after a successful penalty kill at the onset of the final minute of regulation, MacPhee’s blast from the left boards found daylight through Zane Steeves, assisted by Myles Abbate and Tyson Gilmour to give Evansville the 2-1 lead, a March Madness-worthy buzzer beater to secure the win for the Thunderbolts.  With the victory, Evansville now only needs a maximum of 3 points out of the remaining 12 possible to clinch a berth in this year’s President’s Cup Playoffs and can do so tomorrow afternoon with another victory of any fashion over Quad City.

Miller and MacPhee scored Evansville’s goals, while Cody Karpinski finished with 21 saves on 22 shots for his 6th win of the season.  The Thunderbolts and Storm meet for the final time this regular season on Sunday, March 22nd at Vibrant Arena, with Quad City leading the already-clinched regular season series 8-6. 

Season tickets, Individual game tickets and group packages are on sale for the 2025-26 season.  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

Kirton, Karpinski Lead Thunderbolts to Shutout Victory Against Ice Bears

Evansville, In.:  Behind three Evansville power play goals, a three-point game and game-winning goal from Scott Kirton, and a 21-save shutout performance by Cody Karpinski, the Thunderbolts blanked the Ice Bears 5-0 at Ford Center on Friday night.  The Thunderbolts’ next home game at Ford Center will be on Sunday, March 15thagainst the Huntsville Havoc at 3:00pm CT.

After a scoreless first period, the Thunderbolts offense roared to life as Kirton scored off a loose puck in the crease only 54 seconds into the second period, assisted by Aidan MacIntosh and Evan Miller.  Less than a minute later and only 6 seconds into a power play opportunity at 1:52, MacIntosh redirected a shot from Joey Berkopec into the net to make it a 2-0 game.  Later in the period at 17:59, Evansville scored once again on the power play as Matthew Hobbs scored at the net-front from Aaron Huffnagle and Tyson Gilmour.  Only 1:41 into the third period, Berkopec scored with a clear lane to skate up to the net, assisted by Kirton to make it a 4-0 lead for Evansville.  Finally, at 15:20, the Thunderbolts scored their season-high third power play goal of the night, with Miller scoring off a cross-ice feed from Kirton and Berkopec to round out the score at 5-0, as the Ice Bears were unable to find the back of the net the rest of the way.  With the victory, Evansville now only needs a maximum of 7 points out of the remaining 16 possible to clinch a berth in this year’s President’s Cup Playoffs.

Kirton and Berkopec led the way offensively with a goal and two assists each, Miller and MacIntosh scored a goal and assist each, and Hobbs finished with one goal on the night. In goal, Cody Karpinski finished with 21 saves his 5th win and 2nd shutout of the season, the 5th shutout of Karpinski’s professional career.  The shutout win was Evansville’s 5th of the season, tying a franchise record for most in a single season, previously accomplished in 2022-23.  The Thunderbolts and Ice Bears do not meet again this regular season, with Evansville winning the regular season series 3-2. 

Season tickets, Individual game tickets and group packages are on sale for the 2025-26 season.  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