PEORIA — The Peoria Rivermen are champions again.
The Rivermen defeated the Huntsville Havoc 5-1 in the SPHL Presidents Cup Finals at Carver Arena on Sunday, clinching the hockey franchise's second SPHL championship in three seasons and fifth overall across multiple leagues. did.
Peoria won the 2022 SPHL Presidents Cup with a victory over the Roanoke Railroad Yard Dawgs. Prior to that, the last time the Rivermen won a title was in 1999-2000 when the team won the ECHL's Kelly Cup.
“Two Great Warrior Teams”:How the Rivermen won Game 2 and survived in the SPHL Finals.
Peoria, the historic 1990-91 Turner Cup champions, won a professional hockey record 18 consecutive games in the International Hockey League. The city's first professional hockey championship was won by the Rivermen of the former IHL in the 1984-85 season.
The Rivermen took a 3-1 lead in the first period with goals from Peoria-born captain Alec Hagaman, Mitch McPherson and Meyers Moore.
The Rivermen took a 1-0 lead just 65 seconds after the first faceoff when Hagaman burst through the center of the goal and past goaltender Mike Robinson with a shot from the left hash mark.
The crowd shook Carver Arena, but a few minutes later, at 3:49, Huntsville tied the game when Alex Kierczewski sent a rebound past goaltender Nick Latinovich, who lost his stick. .
The Rivermen were up 2-1 at 7:31. Hagaman worked at the top of the frame, collected his own blocked shot, and slotted a soft shot into the shot, but McPherson hit it against the right post.
Moments later, Peoria winger Braydon Barker intercepted a clearance attempt in the Huntsville right circle and went inside alone, but Robinson stopped him with a glove save.
The Rivermen took the lead at 12:42 when defenseman Moore went up from the left point to the inside edge of the left circle, fired a shot past Robinson, skated to the far corner and slammed the glass in celebration. The score increased to 3-1. fan.
With 2:06 left, Hagaman broke through the right wall and Huntsville's goaltender was replaced with an additional attacker to seal the game. Hagaman filled the empty net and ran toward the bench, throwing his arms up and screaming.
Moore added the winning goal to set the final score.
This story will be updated.
Dave Eminian is a sports columnist for the Journal Star, covering Bradley men's basketball, the Rivermen and Chiefs. He writes his sports column “Cleve In The Eve” for pjstar.com. Contact him at 686-3206 or deminian@pjstar.com. Follow him at X.com @icetimecleve.
