PEORIA, Ill. – The Peoria Rivermen captured their second SPHL President’s Cup championship in three years Sunday with a dominant 5-1 win over the Huntsville Havoc in front of a crowd of over 5,800 at Carver Arena.
Playoff MVP and captain Alec Hagaman opened the scoring for the Rivermen 65 seconds into the game. Following a game-tying goal by Huntsville, the Rivermen scored two more goals for a 3-1 first period lead. The score remained until the Rivermen added two empty-net goals in the closing minutes of the third period.
Hagaman’s hat trick Saturday led the Rivermen to a 6-4 win in Game 2 to set up the decisive third game. Hagaman became the third Rivermen player in the franchise’s SPHL era to record a playoff hat trick.
The Rivermen become the first team to win a three-game SPHL championship series after losing the first game.
It is the second league championship in the SPHL era for the Rivermen and fifth league title in franchise history.
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