Evansville, In.: The Evansville Thunderbolts and Head Coach/Director of Hockey Operations Jeff Bes are pleased to announce the re-signing of forward Jordan Simoneau for the 2026-27 season. The Thunderbolts return to Ford Center ice for the 2026-27 season on Saturday, October 17th against the Knoxville Ice Bears.
Simoneau returns to the Thunderbolts for his third full professional season, the entirety spent with Evansville. The native of Tisdale, Saskatchewan took a significant step forward in 2025-26, scoring 14 goals and 20 points in 56 regular season games, his 14 goals ranking fourth amongst all Thunderbolts skaters. After finishing the regular season with four goals in the final four games, Simoneau continued his elevated play in the postseason, where he scored 4 goals and 6 points in 12 games, including the goal that forced overtime in Evansville’s dramatic game three comeback victory against Pensacola in the opening round. Since joining the Thunderbolts late in the 2023-24 season from Marian University, Simoneau has scored 20 goals and 34 points in 105 regular season games and is one of the nine members of both President’s Cup-winning Thunderbolts teams of 2025 and 2026.
“It was an easy decision to come back for another season,” commented Simoneau on continuing his career in Evansville. “Last season was special, coming back to Evansville after winning our first championship, the banner raising, and luckily enough being able to run it back and go on another championship run. The culture that Coach Bes has created in Evansville is top-tier, and we are treated so well by the Thunderbolts organization, we couldn’t win without that, or without the support of our fans at Ford Center or on the road; Game 5 in Peoria is a prime example of that, we couldn’t have won without the support they gave us.” Reflecting on his growing role as a veteran, Simoneau said: “I feel I can grow into a larger leadership role and share my knowledge and experience with the newer, younger players, especially in the playoffs. I feel like I’m playing some of the best hockey of my life and still have room to grow, so I’m excited to get back to work and be relied on further in the big moments of the game and be a top power forward in the league. I’m super excited to get the season going and see the fans again at Ford Center; Raising another banner will be a great way to cap off last season’s success, kickstart the new season, and have a chance at being the first team in SPHL history to win three (President’s Cup titles) in a row. The last two seasons have set the bar for success, anything below that isn’t acceptable.”
On re-signing Simoneau, Head Coach/Director of Hockey Operations Jeff Bes commented: “We couldn’t be more thrilled to announce Jordan coming back this season. His leadership and experience will be counted on as an integral part of our team’s continued success. He is a powerful presence both on and off the ice, a fan favorite, and an excellent presence in the Evansville community. I have had the pleasure of watching him grow and mature over the past 2 years and I know he has only scratched the surface, the sky is the limit for him, and I am excited to get going.”
Season tickets for the 2026-27 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